[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H346-H350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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RECOGNIZING THE 92ND BIRTHDAY OF RONALD REAGAN
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 19) recognizing the 92nd birthday of Ronald
Reagan.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 19
Whereas February 6, 2003, is the 92d birthday of Ronald
Wilson Reagan;
Whereas Ronald Reagan is the first former President ever to
attain the age of 92;
Whereas both Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan have
distinguished records of public service to the United States,
the American people, and the international community;
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Whereas Ronald Reagan was twice elected by overwhelming
margins as President of the United States;
Whereas Ronald Reagan fulfilled his pledge to help restore
``the great, confident roar of American progress, growth, and
optimism'' and ensure renewed economic prosperity;
Whereas Ronald Reagan's leadership was instrumental in
extending freedom and democracy around the globe and uniting
a world divided by the Cold War;
Whereas Ronald Reagan is loved and admired by millions of
Americans, and by countless others around the world;
Whereas the recent tragic loss of the space shuttle
Columbia and her crew remind us of how, 17 years ago, Ronald
Reagan's eloquence helped heal the Nation after the
Challenger disaster;
Whereas Nancy Reagan not only served as a gracious First
Lady but also led a national crusade against illegal drug
use;
Whereas, together Ronald and Nancy Reagan dedicated their
lives to promoting national pride and to bettering the
quality of life in the United States and throughout the
world; and
Whereas the thoughts and prayers of the Congress and the
country are with Ronald Reagan in his courageous battle with
Alzheimer's disease: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
Congress, on behalf of the American people, extends its
birthday greetings and best wishes to Ronald Reagan on his
92d birthday.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Otter). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) and the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
General Leave
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.J. Res. 19.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Joint Resolution 19, introduced by our
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox),
recognizes the 92nd birthday of President Ronald Reagan.
Last Thursday, February 6, Ronald Reagan became the first President
to reach the age of 92. This resolution honors the man whose very name
represents an era, a leader who saw in America that shining city on a
hill when we had lost our sense of national purpose.
Reagan's legacy transcends the decade in which he served. He has
become the standard bearer of expectations for modern-day Presidents.
And as time passes, history is judging him well. Those who once doubted
Reagan's vision have come to recognize his greatness.
During two terms in office, Reagan bounced back from a would-be
assassin's attack with humor and courage. In an all-too-familiar scene,
he comforted a Nation coping with the loss of our Challenger 7, and he
kept his promises. Reagan campaigned on tax relief, and he delivered
tax relief. In the process, he fueled record growth and expansion.
Reagan's accomplishments were not just on do the domestic front. At
the Brandenburg Gate, he defied the diplomats and said what millions of
Americans were thinking: ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.'' Today,
we know that Communist Russia was shaken to its core by this new type
of a leader, one who was not afraid to stand tall for freedom.
Now I hope this House will join all Americans in honoring President
Reagan's 92nd birthday and, more importantly, his remarkable life.
Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge all Members to support the
adoption of House Joint Resolution 19.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself of such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, a bigger-than-life screen actor and television
personality, Ronald Reagan moved from being Governor of California in
the 1960s to President of the United States and dominating American
politics in the 1980s.
He was the first President to be reelected to a second term since
Dwight Eisenhower. Media-made and media-presented, Ronald Reagan got
millions of Americans to feel proud of their Nation. America's 40-year
Cold War with the Soviet Union cooled considerably and perhaps actually
ended during Reagan's presidency. Many Americans credit him with having
achieved what became a significant outcome.
Born the son of a shoe salesman in small-town Illinois, Reagan's
impoverished but loving parents instilled in him a sense of optimism
that carried him through college as an average student. After
graduation, he worked for a few years as a sports broadcaster in
Midwestern radio before landing a film contract with Warner Brothers,
which took him to Hollywood in 1936. Over the next 30 years, Reagan
made scores of films, including many Army films produced during World
War II. He hosted two popular television series and he actively engaged
in politics as president of the Screen Actors Guild.
In the 1950s, Ronald Reagan changed from being a Roosevelt New Deal
Democrat to a conservative Republican. In 1966, he became Governor of
California. He was reelected in 1970. Using his popularity in
California, Reagan unsuccessfully challenged President Gerald Ford for
the Republican nomination in 1976. He tried again and won the
nomination in 1980, and thereafter defeated the incumbent Democrat,
Jimmy Carter. With his 1984 reelection victory, President Reagan became
the most politically successful Republican President since Eisenhower.
Today, we celebrate former President of the United States Ronald
Reagan's 92nd birthday. We wish him well, and trust that he will
continue to carry on.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), the distinguished sponsor of
this resolution.
Mr. COX. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to commemorate the birthday
of President Reagan. As you know, he turned 92 just a few days ago, and
as you know, Mr. Speaker, we were delayed in honoring him here on the
floor because of the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy. It is fitting that
we remember President Reagan in this context because in his time,
during his presidency, he helped heal and bring together our Nation in
the wake of the Challenger disaster.
Just as his words honored the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger,
President Reagan's eloquence continues to comfort and console us as we
now remember the fallen crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia. President
Reagan's words of January 28, 1986, speak to us 17 years later with all
of their original force and beauty. He said, ``We will never forget
them, nor the last time we saw them, as they prepared for their journey
and waved good-bye, and `slipped the surly bonds' of effort and `to
touch the face of God.' ''
At 92, President Reagan is America's oldest President ever. The
previous record was set by John Adams. You remember, Mr. Speaker, that
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day, and they died,
even more remarkably, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence.
As we think back years from now, as we think back on our founding, on
our founders, on the Declaration of Independence and our great
Presidents, I am quite sure that we will recall Ronald Reagan, for he
has already distinguished himself as one of America's most remarkable
individuals.
Any one of his careers would itself be worthy of recognition by this
Congress. He was an accomplished sports announcer on radio. He was a
very renowned film actor. As you know, he was one of the best-known
actors in America. He was a labor leader, twice elected president of
the Screen Actors Guild. He was a very successful two-term Governor of
California, and a very successful two-term President of the United
States, elected twice in landslides.
He was called the Great Communicator, in part because he spent so
much time on television explaining his policies to us. He was quite
good at it. But it was more than communication skill, because he had
something very important to communicate. Lady Thatcher, then Prime
Minister Thatcher, compared Ronald Reagan to Winston Churchill. She
said, ``Like Winston Churchill, he made words fight like soldiers, and
lifted the spirit of a nation.''
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If the events of September 11 have taught us anything, it is that
America still requires a strong national defense against enemies who
would destroy freedom and democracy.
When Ronald Reagan became President, we had endured an era of
national malaise, bereft of any sense of moral direction. Throughout
his term of office, throughout 8 of the fastest-moving years in
history, President Reagan brought our Nation back with his Irish
twinkle and that homespun style of his, which seemed never to abate. He
brought a new assurance to America.
He not only was America's oldest President, he was one of America's
most active Presidents ever, and he was one of the most energetic
leaders of the Free World that the world has ever seen. With a
toughness that we had not seen in a long time, he stood toe-to-toe with
what he unabashedly described as the Evil Empire. For such moral
clarity, he was dismissed as naive and dangerously undiplomatic.
When he said, ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,'' he was
criticized. The realists among us knew that the Soviet Union was going
to be there forever and we should learn to accommodate it. President
Reagan saw a different future, and he worked hard to bring it about. As
a result, hundreds of millions of people, not just in the Soviet Union,
but throughout Central and Eastern Europe, were liberated.
If he were with us here today, President Reagan would humbly
acknowledge that he appreciated the birthday wishes on the 53rd
anniversary of his 39th birthday.
When former President Clinton was running for office, he once said
America needed a President for the '90s. Perhaps now, if we could
repeal the 27th Amendment, we could have a President in his 90s. Hope
springs eternal.
Mr. Speaker, President Reagan and his vision will not be forgotten.
His love of country and his ability to see the best in all of us
revitalized our common faith in the American dream. President Reagan's
enthusiasm and big-hearted spirit of America continues to inspire us
with a vision of our potential and the limitless possibilities that
dwell just beyond the horizon.
As he said at the end of his D-Day speech in Normandy, we can say of
President Reagan: Mr. President, we will always remember, and we will
always be proud. Happy birthday.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California
for introducing this very worthwhile measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Beauprez).
Mr. BEAUPREZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in recognizing the
92nd birthday of President Ronald Reagan. To many Americans, President
Reagan is more than a man. He is an extraordinary symbol of all that
makes our society great. And as the foundation of President Reagan's
greatness is his character, so it is part and parcel of our Nation's
character as well.
He once said, ``The character that takes command in moments of
crucial choices has already been determined by 1,000 other choices made
earlier in seemingly unimportant moments.''
At this hour, as Congress wrestles with crucial choice, our character
is being tested, I pray vigorously that our response will be founded in
a tradition of great character, of wise choices. May we look to the
character of Ronald Reagan for inspiration.
I will close with these words from his farewell address: ``Because we
are a great Nation, our challenges seem complex. It will always be this
way. But as long as we remember our first principles and believe in
ourselves, the future will always be ours.''
Happy birthday, Mr. President.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart).
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it can be said that
the most important facet and indispensable quality for leadership is to
be able to see the future, at least in its most important aspects, and
the ability to stay the course, despite all the inevitable pressures
leading in other directions in order to reach that future.
I consider it an honor to be able to rise in this House of
Representatives today to wish President Reagan happy birthday on the
occasion of his 92nd birthday.
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The United States of America and, indeed, the world, owes so much to
Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was someone who, at a very critical moment
in the history of the United States, arose and offered himself in
leadership to, in effect, save the Free World. I admire Ronald Reagan
profoundly. Each day, as we have the opportunity to learn more and more
about the history of the tumultuous events that saw his presidency,
that his presidency lived through, as we learn more, we see Ronald
Reagan's greatness more, and not only his importance, but his
indispensable, indispensable contribution to the freedom of the world
and the end of what he rightfully called the Evil Empire as seen in all
its truth.
So I commend my colleagues for having brought this resolution
forward. Happy birthday, President Reagan.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Chocola).
Mr. CHOCOLA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a great man,
our 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, on the occasion
of his 92nd birthday. I believe it is indeed appropriate that I make my
first speech on the House floor in honor of this great man.
If it were not for his principles of limited government, personal
responsibility, and strong fiscal discipline, I might not be here
today. Mr. Speaker, it is with those principles in mind that I decided
to become a candidate for the United States House of Representatives.
It is those principles that I will remain loyal to as long as I am a
Member of this body.
In 1985 President Reagan said, ``We in government should learn to
look at our country with the eyes of the entrepreneur, seeing
possibilities where others see only problems.'' As a former small
business owner, I could not agree more with that sentiment.
So, Mr. Speaker, I am glad that we are here today, able to honor
President Reagan, because it has given me an opportunity to say ``thank
you'' to a great man, and happy birthday, Mr. President.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 92nd birthday of our 40th President,
the honorable and great Ronald Reagan.
We live in a world today that is very similar to the world that
Ronald Reagan faced as President in 1981 to 1989. Just as the President
overcame an economy that at the time was buried in a recession and he
fought to rid the world of communism, so too our President today,
George W. Bush, is working hard to put in place an economic package
that will spur on the economy, while continuing to fight terrorism,
both here and abroad as well.
President Reagan entered the White House in 1981 when the economy was
in a recession. His solution to that problem was dubbed then, and we
still call it today, ``Reaganomics.'' It involved an immediate and
across-the-board tax cut; and it was designed to create jobs, encourage
investment, and provide economic efficiency in this country.
His policies essentially laid down the foundations for a prosperous
and generous society. His tax cuts eventually led to higher government
revenues, not less; greater economic efficiency and, ultimately,
pulling us out of that recession.
President Reagan also took a strong moral stance against communism on
all fronts. Knowing that our Nation faced grave threats on a daily
basis, he provided our military with the resources they needed at that
time to get the job done, and they were able to get the job done.
President Reagan is really one of the greatest figures of our time,
and he will be remembered in the White House and in this Nation as a
man of great talent and great character.
We must honor his legacy today by continuing to ensure that tyranny
is
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conquered by liberty and that every American sees permanent tax relief
in their checkbook.
I believe we do this, Mr. Speaker, by continuing to make every effort
to stand for freedom, defend our citizens, and to help make the world a
safer and better place to live. We do that by bringing terrorists to
justice and spreading prosperity to all Americans with job creation and
immediate tax relief.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), who knew and worked
very closely with President Reagan.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, happy birthday to Ronald Reagan. I am
sure Nancy is watching, and she knows how much we care for and love
Ronald Reagan; and she has been at his side from the beginning.
I met Ronald Reagan when I worked in his campaign for Governor in
1966. I worked on both of his presidential campaigns; and then, after
he won his presidential race in 1980, I went with him to the White
House for 7 years and worked with him as one of his principal speech
writers. Let me note, I had never written a speech for anyone before I
wrote a speech for Ronald Reagan as President of the United States. He
taught me all about speech-writing. We always used to say, if President
Reagan was not a President, he was a good enough writer to be the
President's speech writer.
But more than that, his skill was his principles that counted. He had
principles and ideals. He had a philosophy that included an economic
philosophy and a personal philosophy. He brought about a change in the
national spirit that saved America. He brought about a change in the
economy that saved America. He brought about a change in America's
strategic position that saved the world. His tax cuts turned our
economy around and gave us the longest period of growth in American
history. And yes, there were deficits. But had we not had Ronald
Reagan's economic policy in place, those deficits charted out the way
it was before Reagan would have been twice as big as what happened
under Reagan's period of growth.
Bill Clinton could not even change the direction that Ronald Reagan
started. That is how strong an influence he was on the American people.
Remember, right up here, Bill Clinton declared the era of big growth or
big government is over.
But what is most important, Ronald Reagan, criticized by people on
the other side of the aisle, criticized as a war monger, criticized as
someone who had a bad heart, stood firm and strong, supported freedom
in the world, and demanded that Gorbachev tear down the Wall. This is
what changed the world. It was his strength of character, even when he
was being criticized personally and undermined every step of the way
for political purposes, he stood strong and the will of the Communist
bosses in Moscow crumbled, for the first President they ever had to
stand up, who really believed in freedom and democracy and was willing
to make that part of America's offensive policy against Communist
tyranny.
That changed the world. It has made it safer. It gave us the
opportunity to spend less money, hundreds of billions of dollars less
on a national defense over the years. We would never have had that
respite, except that Ronald Reagan stood firm. When people said, let us
have a nuclear freeze that leaves the Soviet Union in a dominant
position, Reagan said no. If we are going to do anything with nuclear
weapons, it has to leave us both on par. We will have a mutual
reduction of nuclear weapons, and that is exactly what happened. They
said it could never be done, and they called him a war monger for
demanding something that could never happen, that the Communist bosses
would never agree to.
Mr. Speaker, we are all the recipients of Ronald Reagan's wisdom. We
all are benefiting from the strength of character of this man who
carried us from uncertainty and in retreat and left an America on the
rise, an America that was growing economically, but an America that was
reinvigorated in its commitment to freedom and justice and to treat the
people of the world decently. We captured, we captured the hearts and
souls of the people throughout the world, the young people, especially
those in the Soviet Union.
Today, we should take heed of what Ronald Reagan did and remember,
those people in Iraq are our greatest ally. Those people in China are
our greatest ally, those people who want democracy and freedom and
suffer under their tyranny; and we should be on their side and we too
can make this a better and more peaceful world as Ronald Reagan did. We
are grateful to Ronald Reagan. Happy birthday, Ronald Reagan. We are
grateful to you. We really appreciate it.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, for all of the reasons that have been
articulated by my esteemed colleagues, I urge adoption of this measure.
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to recognize
former President Ronald Reagan's ninety-second birthday and his
unceasing commitment to our great nation.
In 2000, Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn, the late Senator Paul
Coverdell, and I introduced legislation to bestow the Congressional
Gold Medal to President Reagan and his beloved wife, Nancy, in honor of
their dedicated service to the United States.
The Reagans formally received their Congressional Gold Medal last
May, at a special ceremony here in the Capitol.
Upon passage of the Reagan Congressional Gold Medal bill, Mrs. Reagan
remarked, ``it means a lot to us to receive so much support at this
difficult time, and we are very honored.''
Yet, honor and fame were never priorities for Ronald Reagan, and his
journey to the White House was not marked by a desire for power or
position.
He preferred to see himself as a simple citizen who was called upon
to serve the nation he so loved.
Ronald Reagan truly is a great American, in every sense.
Led by his belief in the limitless potential of Americans, President
Reagan turned the tide of public cynicism and sparked a national
renewal.
During his eight year tenure, the United States enjoyed a period of
astonishing economic growth, military superiority, and international
change.
Ronald Reagan's contagious optimism and passionate patriotism served
as a inspiration to the entire nation. Under his leadership, Americans
believed, once again, in the American Dream.
As we enter the 21st Century, our Nation still finds its strength in
President Reagan's ideals and his steadfast confidence in democracy,
freedom, and America.
Often, as Americans, we look back at our history to learn from our
mistakes and celebrate our triumphs.
The leadership and accomplishments of President Reagan certainly will
not be forgotten, for they shaped the country we call home and the
world as we know it today.
Thank you President Reagan for your commitment, dedication, and faith
in America and her people.
Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I gladly recognize and congratulate President
Ronald Reagan on his 92nd birthday. However, I voted present because I
could not in good conscience support a resolution that goes beyond
simply offering personal well wishes and endorses President Reagan's
economic policies.
I do not believe President Reagan's legacy of monumental budget
deficits and excessive tax cuts for the rich was good economic policy.
I don't believe his policies renewed America's economic prosperity.
Instead they left too many Americans behind and left a giant bill we
are still paying today.
I am sorry that the authors of this resolution felt it necessary to
insert such partisan language. It would have otherwise been a
completely non-controversial resolution that I would gladly support it.
Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a
great American and our 40th President--Ronald Reagan. He is a man who
not only inspired a generation, but led a Nation through one of its
most challenging eras. His inspiration has carried well beyond his
public years and will influence Americans well beyond our years in
Congress.
Let us never forget that the very policies we fight for every day on
the House floor--increased defense spending, tax relief, homeland
security and fiscal discipline--have the fingerprints of Ronald Reagan
all over them. It was his leadership and ingenuity decades ago that
serve as the very foundation of our legislative agendas today.
Ronald Reagan not only inspired a Nation--He inspired the world to
follow a path of progress and humanity in a decade plagued with the
threat of communist tyranny. Today, we face a similar battle--this time
against the threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. While
Ronald Reagan may not be leading us in this battle, let us follow the
path that he blazed over a decade ago. Should we follow the principles
of his leadership, the blanket of freedom and democracy over America
will only grow stronger.
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Let me also note that it would not be appropriate to honor President
Reagan without honoring the person that has heroically stood by his
side with complete dedication and unwavering commitment. Nancy Reagan's
commitment to her husband, parallels President Reagan's commitment to
this Nation. Her daily struggle to confront a disease that has taken
away the true voice and spirit we continue to rally around is nothing
short of heroic and should inspire this entire Nation.
I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring President Reagan on his 92
birthday by supporting H.J. Res. 19.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) that
the House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res.
19.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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