[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 63 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COMMENDING PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I commend our former Chief Executive of the 
country--former President Ronald Reagan. I just attended a ceremony in 
the Rotunda of the Capitol honoring former President Ronald Reagan and 
Nancy Reagan. We are from different parties, and we had disagreements 
during his administration. But one thing can be said about 
President Ronald Reagan: Whatever disagreements or agreements you may 
have had on specific policy issues, Ronald Reagan gave this country a 
strong sense of confidence and optimism.

  We had come through a difficult time in the 1970s, with Watergate, 
the Iranian crisis, and the energy crisis that had been debilitating to 
our spirit. Ronald Reagan restored our Nation's confidence in itself. I 
commend the President. I know he is suffering from Alzheimer's, and 
Mrs. Reagan has taken on the heroic efforts of being his eyes and ears 
in the sense of speaking for him where appropriate. It was a very 
moving ceremony in the Rotunda, where both the President and First Lady 
were recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal.
  So as one Democrat, to a former Republican President, but more 
importantly a great American President, I express my gratitude to him 
for his service, and Mrs. Reagan for her remarkable service both to her 
husband and family and this country.

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