[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12091]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            MOURNING THE PASSING OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2004

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I was deeply saddened to 
learn of the passing of President Reagan over the weekend. My thoughts 
and prayers go out to Nancy and to the Reagan family and friends. This 
is an extraordinarily difficult time for any family, but I hope they 
can find some comfort in the joy and inspiration that President Reagan 
brought to so many around the globe.
  Ronald Reagan was a true American original, a Midwestern boy of 
humble beginnings who chased his dreams of stardom in Hollywood and 
evolved into one of the foremost political leaders of the 20th Century.
  His legacy is so profound and pervasive that it's easy to take for 
granted. But we should not forget that it was Ronald Reagan who 
restored strength to the Office of the President. It was Ronald Reagan 
who reshaped the federal government and ushered in two decades (and 
counting) of lower taxes and economic growth. It was Ronald Reagan who 
bolstered America's strength as a world military power. And it was 
Ronald Reagan who reminded us that America was indeed that ``shining 
city on the hill,'' and we had bountiful reasons to be proud to be 
Americans.
  His love of country was a guiding force throughout his life and his 
political career--he knew America was great because America was free, 
and his sought to shine the light of freedom on corners of the globe 
darkened by the stain of totalitarianism. His demand for Mikhail 
Gorbachev to ``tear down this wall'' is not only a seminal moment in 
Cold War history, but a reminder that America's democratic ideals are 
ultimately stronger than any barriers erected by forces of oppression.
  Quite simply, President Reagan's words and actions helped change the 
world for the better. And I can't think of a greater accomplishment 
than that.
  We lost more than a man on Saturday, when President Reagan ended his 
long journey into the sunset.
  We lost a true giant, and a great American.

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