[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12090]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            MOURNING THE PASSING OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2004

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, along with all of my colleagues here today, I 
rise to honor President Ronald Reagan. I was first elected to Congress 
in 1988, on the same day that President George H.W. Bush was elected. 
Because Members of Congress officially take office on January 3, while 
a new President does not take office until January 20, my first 17 days 
as a Congressman were during the last 17 days Ronald Reagan served as 
President. So when people ask me who was the President when I first 
came to Washington, I reply that it was Ronald Reagan. I had the 
opportunity to see Ronald Reagan in person only one time, with his wife 
Nancy, during the inauguration of President George H.W. Bush. I 
remember thinking that together they had a larger than life presence.
  Although I differed with Ronald Reagan a great deal on domestic 
policy, I nevertheless admired him for the strong leader that he was. 
He had an affable manner that allowed him to interact well with people 
who both supported and opposed his policies. He was a strong leader who 
had a lot of charm, strength and enthusiasm.
  The gulf between the Republican and Democratic policies can sometimes 
seem vast. But the bridge that spans that gulf is our common heritage 
as Americans and belief in this great nation. Ronald Reagan had the 
gift to make that bridge seem very small. I am pleased to honor him 
today.

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