[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 10 (Thursday, February 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S964-S965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE 94TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN'S BIRTH

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise to speak about an American success 
story. It is one that ended, at least his life on Earth, in June of 
last year. It is to the story of a man who rose from humble beginnings 
and surroundings to become a leader. In fact, he became one of, if not 
the greatest leaders, in the 20th century, and I am talking about 
President Ronald Reagan.
  This coming Sunday, February 6, would have been President Reagan's 
94th birthday. I hope this weekend, when so many people in America will 
be watching the Super Bowl and all the festivities surrounding it, they 
will take a moment to remember not only Ronald Reagan's birth but to 
reflect on the positive impacts his life has had on so many people in 
America and around the world.
  He was a man who stood strong for enduring foundational principles in 
the face of conflict and adversity at home and who faced down the 
Communist menace abroad. Through it all, he never lost touch with the 
decency and the morality of America that we aspire for in our leaders 
and indeed all of our citizens.
  A few weeks ago, I took what I called a Ronald Reagan pilgrimage with 
my wife Susan and our three young kids to southern California. We went 
to the gravesite of the Reagan Presidential Library. There is also a 
museum, which is wonderful, and tells his whole life story.
  We also trekked up through all the rains and floods and fog, up to 
Rancho del Cielo, the Reagan ranch. There, at that ranch, you see the 
core of Ronald Reagan, the substance of him. He spent 1 out of 8 days 
as President up at this ranch, which is 600 acres. It is a very humble 
place--small, as far as the housing. It had a small shower. He must 
have been elbowing that shower all the time, trying to take a shower 
there. That is where he rode his horses, cut wood, trimmed trees. You 
could see

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this is how Ronald Reagan kept his common sense. This is where you see 
the essence of the man, why he was so well grounded so that he could 
somehow see the future and keep the inspiration and appreciation of the 
grandeur of God's creation with the beauty of the trees and the rocks 
and mountains and the animals, but also recognizing what is great about 
this country, and the hard work and the personal strength it takes to 
do various things.
  Ronald Reagan was a modern-day hero who embodied all that was great 
about George Washington and the spirits enunciated by Thomas Jefferson. 
His perseverance, his strength, his commitment to principle are lessons 
that taught me and taught many others. He was the person who inspired 
me and many others to get involved in organized politics and into 
public service. Today, thanks to Ronald Reagan, as I saw Ambassadors on 
the House floor from Lithuania, from Romania, throughout Central 
Europe--those were hundreds of millions of people who were behind the 
Iron Curtain. But, thanks to Ronald Reagan's perseverance, for his 
belief in the dignity of all human beings, that all people do yearn to 
be free, to exercise their God-given rights, those people who were 
behind that Iron Curtain, who were enemies, are now tasting that sweet 
nectar of liberty. They are our friends. They are our allies in this 
war on terror. Their numbers are growing, with greater hope and 
prosperity. Ronald Reagan helped make sure this century is the century 
of liberty.
  While President Reagan's life here on Earth is over, his legacy 
continues to endure, motivate, and inspire me and others here in 
America and around the world. I hope on this weekend we will think of 
Nancy Reagan, say a prayer for her, remember and also thank God for one 
of the greatest blessings He has provided to us and that is the birth 
of Ronald Wilson Reagan.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor. I see my wonderful partner and 
colleague from Virginia, Senator Warner, has joined us.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I compliment my colleague for his thoughts 
about Ronald Reagan. With a great sense of humility and modesty, I 
recount one story of an experience I had with him. He loved our State 
of Virginia, by the way. So often on the weekends he would come down 
into the vicinity of where I, in those days, had a farm. He would call 
up and say: Hey, let's go riding.
  He was the President of the United States. I said: Fine, Mr. 
President, where and when?
  He said: Right there, on your place, just set it up.
  Just as you said, Senator Allen, he loved the outdoors. But I 
remember one day we brought the horses in and were getting them ready--
I had a wonderful man who used to be working for me, and my man was 
putting the saddle on my horse and cinching him up. Along came the 
President's horse. I said to my man: Let's go over there and help the 
President put his saddle on the horse. We walked over there and the 
President said: I do my own saddle. No one touches my tack. I am going 
to do it.
  He grabbed that big old western saddle he had, put it on the horse, 
cinched him down, and then he went over to help Nancy put her gear on, 
and off we rode, across the hills of Virginia. Eventually, we stopped 
up on a hill. It was a hot day in August and the flies were bothering 
the horses, and the Secret Service guys were having a dickens of a time 
staying on the horses.
  He checked the horse and looked down in the valley. Senator Allen, he 
recounted to me with great specificity every step of the valley 
campaign. How the northerners marched down the valley and then the 
southern troops, Confederates, would drive them back up, and Stonewall 
Jackson, and on and on.
  Frankly, as much time as I have spent in that valley--I went to 
school at Washington & Lee University--I learned facts from our 
President at that time about the history of Virginia.
  He loved America. He loved the outdoors. He loved his history and he 
loved his people. You captured him beautifully in your remarks. I 
congratulate you, my friend.
  Mr. ALLEN. I thank my colleague.

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