[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 12084-12085]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            MOURNING THE PASSING OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2004

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and mourn the passing of 
one of the greatest Presidents in American history--Ronald Wilson 
Reagan. This leader was a man of clear vision, principle and 
conviction, a great communicator, and an individual who had perhaps one 
of the greatest influences on my life.
  An eternal optimist with a can-do spirit, President Reagan once said 
in my hometown of San Diego: ``You know, the United States was never 
meant to be a second-best nation. We set our sights on the stars, and 
we're going for the gold.''
  He also believed that this forward-looking superpower Nation could 
transform the global picture.
  He came to the job armed with one underlying philosophy: Freedom. 
Freedom for the economy, for individuals, our Nation, and people around 
the globe.
  Ronald Reagan brought our economy back to life. It was his policies 
that ultimately put Congress on a course to the fiscal discipline that 
spurred a balanced budget and economic growth.
  President Reagan followed through on his pledge to restore our 
military, and he brought back the pride associated with serving this 
Nation.
  Despite the rhetoric and good intentions of those on the other side 
of the political spectrum, it was Ronald Reagan who actually initiated 
the disarmament of whole classes of nuclear weapons. Perhaps his 
greatest legacy will be that of bringing an end to the cold war. 
Staring down repressive governments and challenging them to a new way 
of life, he brought freedom to millions of people around the globe.
  Using old Navy terms to describe his first term, President Reagan 
once said, ``We've taken control of the ship of state and changed 
direction. And what are we going to do now? Well the way I see it, it's 
all ahead full, no turning back.''
  For his imprint on history, for his legacy which will be felt for 
generations to come, this Nation owes President Reagan a debt of 
gratitude.
  I am pleased that one of the President's many legacies is the Navy's 
newest nuclear carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan. That ship recently set 
sail from Norfolk for its rightful home in San Diego.

[[Page 12085]]

  Throughout his political career, President Reagan always concluded 
his campaign in San Diego. He called it his ``lucky City.'' It is only 
fitting that our shining city on the hill, San Diego, will be called 
home to the USS Reagan. This ship is perhaps the most fitting tribute 
to Ronald Reagan's legacy of strength and security, to the imprint he 
had on our past and the promise that we hold for the future.
  We anxiously await the arrival of the Reagan, and welcoming it to the 
lucky city. The way I see it, it's all ahead full, no turning back.

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