[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    LESSONS RONALD REAGAN TAUGHT US

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 8, 2011

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, liberals loathed him. Conservatives 
idolized him. The middle overwhelmingly loved him. He charmed America. 
His knack to connect was unmistakable. And although many have tried to 
replicate his charisma and appeal, no one has ever come close to being 
Ronald Reagan.
  He made us laugh when we didn't think we could, or should. He always 
had a way to comfort us in the midst of tragedy. He could disarm the 
press with a one-liner; and get a chuckle from even his fiercest 
opponents.
  The first time I saw Ronald Reagan was at the 1968 Republican 
Convention in Miami Beach. Much to the dismay of my dyed-in-the-wool 
Democrat grandmother, I was there as a proud Texas College Republican 
delegate.
  He lost the nomination to Nixon, but I was sold on Reagan from that 
moment on.
  Of course, I instantly like him for his automobile of choice--a jeep. 
I drove the same kind and still do. He appealed to me and other 
renegade conservatives my age, particularly those of us in the yellow-
dog South, because we were a herd without a shepherd. Back then, it was 
taboo to be a Republican in Texas. But then, along came Reagan. We were 
Reagan Republicans.
  Reagan cut the class warfare. He transformed the ``country-club GOP'' 
image, and brought conservatism out of the shadows. It was cool to be a 
conservative. He represented what Americans wanted--Democrats and 
Republicans alike. He wasn't the Grand Old Party leader; he was the 
people's president.
  Reagan's tenure in the White House saw some of the most historic 
events in our country and the world. His line, ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear 
down this wall,'' will probably resonate for time immemorial.
  Although criticized by his foes for being a Hollywood actor, Reagan 
masterfully engineered a feat that so-called political experts had 
little confidence could be accomplished--the end of the Cold War.
  Within minutes of his swearing in, news broke in one of the most 
widely followed situations of that time. President Reagan announced the 
Iran hostage crisis was over. The Americans were coming home. Make no 
mistake--the significance of his election was an intimidating and 
influential factor in their release.
  When the entire country was devastated by the Challenger tragedy, 
Reagan addressed a grieving nation by giving one of his most memorable 
and touching speeches. His ability to heal the brokenhearted was more 
than an admired political attribute. He never talked above the people--
always to the people. It was what made him one of us.
  And of course, there is his most beloved legacy. He single handedly 
made the jelly bean a national treasure.
  Reagan never took himself too seriously. Even when his own life was 
on the line, the leader of the free world was cracking jokes. On his 
way into emergency surgery after the 1981 assassination attempt, he 
looked up at the surgeons and said, ``I hope you are all Republicans.''
  While he was a one-of-a kind politician--the Everyman of our time. He 
was a ``pull yourself up by the boot straps'' kind of guy.
  From union halls to country clubs, everyone felt like Reagan was one 
of them. Being an American meant something to him. He was unabashedly 
unapologetic for our country's success.
  He was the great defender of capitalism. Reaganomics was hailed 
ingenious by the supply-side, pro-growth economists and harshly 
criticized as ``voodoo'' by the big government crowd.
  Reagan proved that lower taxes and leaner government stimulates 
growth, spurs private enterprise, inspires harder work and enables more 
savings and investment.
  The American people got it then, and they want it back now.
  As we celebrated the 100th birthday of President Reagan this Sunday 
(or the 61st anniversary of his 39th birthday; he never missed a chance 
to poke fun at his own age), we should learn from The Great 
Communicator.
  Americans want to be talked to again, not pushed aside by a 
government that talks above them. In Reagan's inaugural address he 
said, ``It is time to check and reverse the growth of government which 
shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed.''
  The Gipper was right then, and he is right now. Happy birthday, Mr. 
President.
  And that's just the way it is.

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