[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 11 (Tuesday, February 3, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RONALD REAGAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor tonight in honor of the 
93rd birthday of one of our greatest Presidents. Ronald Reagan was 
elected in 1980 on the promise of a new America. His fearless 
determination in the face of the Iron Curtain gave America the hope for 
a better tomorrow.
  Reagan's vision inspired the promise of future leaders and guided our 
country away from big government, high taxes, and economic stagnation 
towards international strength and fiscal responsibility.
  Born February 6, 1911, President Reagan studied economics at Eureka 
College, took a job as a sportscaster, and found his way to Hollywood 
where he appeared in 53 films. One of the most famous films was ``Knute 
Rockne--All American,'' where Reagan played legendary Notre Dame star 
George Gipp. ``Win one for the Gipper,'' Knute Rockne proclaimed as he 
inspired his players to defeat Army for their last and only one of the 
season. This line later became the campaign motto for our 40th 
President.
  Reagan embarked on his journey into politics as president of the 
Screen Actors Guild, and he soon realized his talents were needed in 
the political arena. Reagan went on to become the Governor of 
California in 1966, campaigned for President in 1972 and 1976, and was 
elected President of the United States in 1980, winning 489 electoral 
votes.
  Amidst high inflation at home and hostages abroad, Americans longed 
for renewal, sweeping Ronald Reagan into office. Sixty-nine days after 
his inauguration, Reagan was shot by a would-be assassin. As doctors 
rushed him to surgery, Reagan stated, ``I hope you are all 
Republicans,'' only to hear his doctor reply, ``Today, Mr. President, 
we are all Republicans.''
  Reagan returned balance and exuberance to our government. Suddenly, 
there were two political parties working together towards meaningful 
legislation to renew our economy with tax cuts. Reagan's America was a 
place where all Americans were self-reliant. Reagan showed that big 
government was not the answer, but the problem. Reagan's agenda was to 
reduce the size of our government, cut spending, and reinvigorate our 
economy.
  The success of President Reagan's economic strategy has given us 
direction on how to restore an economy recovering from a recession. In 
1986, Reagan overhauled the income tax code, which eliminated millions 
of people with low incomes from the tax rolls. He knew that the best 
way to encourage economic growth was to give money back to the people. 
Reagan's tax cut sparked one of the most ambitious and fastest-growing 
economies in our history. We are beginning to see similar results under 
President Bush's tax cuts. Reagan proved that tax cuts could spark the 
necessary investment for a new economy.
  In foreign policy, Reagan's motto was ``peace through strength,'' as 
he embarked on a quest to end the Cold War, reunite Germany, reduce 
nuclear arms, and fight terrorism. Reagan is credited for winning the 
Cold War and setting the stage for the fall of the Berlin Wall. 
Although the birth of America's new economy in the 1980s is his 
economic legacy, people that remember the Reagan era recall a spirit of 
patriotism like no other. People rallied behind the banner of American 
ideals in the face of Communism and international insecurity.
  After the threat of terrorism in the late 1970s and early 1980s, our 
Nation needed a reason to feel unity and security. Reagan was there to 
lend his wit and his hope in our Nation to all Americans. He gave us 
hope and promise when we needed it most, and Reagan's true legacy is 
the restoration of the dream that is America.
  Happy birthday, Mr. President.

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