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Ronald Reagan, “You’re out there on the frontier of freedom.”

June 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Ronald Reagan said to conservatives, “You’re the troops. You’re out there on the frontier of freedom.” 

Reagan Korea

A young soldier stands guard in the cold, looking out over no-man’s-land through to the other side of the demilitarized zone and into North Korea. President Reagan is visiting the troops there that day. During the visit the young soldier turns to the president, salutes and says, “Mr. President, when you get home, tell them we’re on the frontier of freedom.”

Reagan concludes his final speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference with this brief story. He compares the gathered conservative movers and shakers to the “troops” who — like the soldier in the story — are on the forefront of defeating “totalitarianism.”

He tells the story to them, “because,” he said, “you’re the troops.” He illustrates the comparison, telling them, “You’re out there on the frontier of freedom.” He then repeats what the soldier said to him (“Mr. President, we’re on the frontier of freedom.”) And immediately afterwards adds the pithy coda to the very end of the speech, “Well, so are you.”

And so we are. Or should be. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, Economic Liberty and Property Rights, National Security, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , ,

Ronald Reagan on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day, Omaha Beach

June 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.”

by Scott L. Vanatter

In one of his last public speeches, Ronald Reagan returned on June 6, 1994 to Omaha Beach to speak a ceremony commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Invasion of Europe, D-Day. Later that year we learned of the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, and he retired from public view.

He repeated much of what he said ten years previous to this occasion. Again he spoke of the veterans of that Invasion who could share with us the “fear of being on the boat waiting to land.” How their loved ones could later “see the ocean and feel the sea sickness.” With them we “can see the looks on his fellow soldiers’ faces — the fear, the anguish, the uncertainty of what lay ahead.” Reagan then challenged us to “feel the strength and courage of the men who took those first steps through the tide to what must have surely looked like instant death.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, National Security, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , ,

Ronald Reagan on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, Pointe du Hoc

June 6, 2013 By 1 Comment

“These are the Boys of Pointe du Hoc”

by Scott L. Vanatter

Forty years after the Allied forces landed at Normandy, President Reagan spoke commemorating those who stormed the beaches.

On June 6, 1984 he spoke at the U.S. Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc, France. He opened his remarks by recalling that “Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved, and the world prayed for its rescue.”

Poignantly he described, “the boys of Pointe du Hoc” who “took the cliffs” as “champions who helped free a continent.” He cited a poem by Stephen Spender, that the men “left the vivid air signed with your honor.’ [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, National Security, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , ,

Ronald Reagan on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, Omaha Beach

June 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“They came not as Conquerors, but as Liberators”

by Scott L. Vanatter

After speaking at Pointe du Hoc earlier in the day (June 6, 1984), President Reagan also spoke at Omaha Beach, France.

He began by harking to Lincoln’s challenge that “we can only honor” those who stormed the beaches and cliffs “by rededicating ourselves to the cause for which they gave a last full measure of devotion.”

Again that day he reminded a world facing another kind of aggression, a still existent Soviet Union, that the Allies “came not as conquerors, but as liberators. When these troops swept across the French countryside and into the forests of Belgium and Luxembourg they came not to take, but to return what had been wrongly seized.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, National Security, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , ,

Missile Defense: projecting strength rather than weakness

April 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

by George Landrith   Missile Defense

Ronald Reagan coined the phrase, “Peace through strength,” but it was not a new idea and it had not been an historically partisan concept. It dates back to George Washington who said, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” Washington and Reagan understood that peace is achieved through strength and conversely that weakness invites attack. This was once a universally accepted truth among American leaders. Current events prove, it should again become American policy regardless of party.

We live in a dangerous world. Kim Jung-un is threatening military invasions and nuclear attacks. We’ve recently learned that the North Koreans are much closer to being able to put a nuclear warhead on a missile than was previously believed. China, already a nuclear power, is rapidly developing a large navy and stealth aircraft. Russia has been sending its military aircraft into American airspace on provocative test missions. [Read more...]

Filed Under: National Security, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lady Thatcher taught me self-reliance

April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“Baroness Thatcher’s influence on my development as an entrepreneur goes far deeper than that, to my most fundamental beliefs. . . Baroness Thatcher’s lesson was clear: you get out what you put in, regardless of gender or race.”

by Sahar Hashemi

Often, we only realise the value of things when they’re gone, which is exactly what happened to me when I heard of Baroness Thatcher’s death.

The news made me suddenly aware of the huge impact she has had on my life and how, although I had never consciously acknowledged it before, I am one of Thatcher’s children and her values are deeply entrenched in my psyche. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: ,

Lady Thatcher restored self-reliance

April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“Margaret Thatcher transcended identity politics — it was her ideas not her gender that mattered”

by Cal Thomas

There is a story about Margaret Thatcher, which is probably apocryphal, but speaks volumes about the strength of Britain’s first female prime minister, who died Monday at age 87.

Following her election in 1979, the story goes that Thatcher took her all-male cabinet out to dinner. The waiter asked what she would like. “I’ll have the beef,” she said. The waiter asked, “What about the vegetables?” “They’ll have the same,” Thatcher replied. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: ,

[Flashback Interview] The Iron Lady on Individual Self-Reliance (“There is no such thing as society.”)

April 8, 2013 By 1 Comment

“All too often the ills of this country are passed off as those of society. Similarly, when action is required, society is called upon to act. But society as such does not exist except as a concept. Society is made up of people. It is people who have duties and beliefs and resolve. It is people who get things done. She prefers to think in terms of the acts of individuals and families as the real sinews of society rather than of society as an abstract concept. Her approach to society reflects her fundamental belief in personal responsibility and choice. To leave things to ‘society’ is to run away from the real decisions, practical responsibility and effective action.”

Margaret_Thatcherby Scott L. Vanatter

Four score and seven years ago Margaret Thatcher was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire County. Today she belongs to the ages.

Of course, she always has belonged to the ages — at least since her principled leadership helped bring Britain back from the brink of a crippling socialist ruin. For good reason a Soviet journalist labeled her the Iron Lady. With Ronald Reagan she led the free world in the face of a once fearful Soviet Union.

Below are excerpts of an interview she gave as Prime Minister at No. 10 Downing Street, on September, 23, 1987. It was immediately controversial because she made the case that there was “no such thing as Society.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Tribute to Margaret Thatcher (October 13, 1925 – April 8, 2013)

April 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Margaret Thatcher was a friend to the United States and the principles of liberty. She rescued the U.K. from economic malaise with economic policies that empowered the individual and harnessed the power of the marketplace. She joined with Ronald Reagan to win the Cold War using the “peace through strength” doctrine. She empowered her people, strengthened her nation, and made the world a safer, better place. She will be missed.

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More by and about Lady Thatcher

April 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

by Scott L. Vanatter

Please see below for few items from our website by and about Margaret Thatcher.

~

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Reagan at the first CPAC, “We Will Be A City Upon A Hill”

March 12, 2013 By 1 Comment

“You can call it mysticism if you want to, but I have always believed that there was some divine plan that placed this great continent between two oceans to be sought out by those who were possessed of an abiding love of freedom and a special kind of courage. . . . Call it chauvinistic, but our heritage does set us apart.”

by Scott L. Vanatter

Later this week the Conservative Political Action Conference will again convene. Thirty nine years ago, in 1974, Ronald Reagan spoke at the very first conference. At the time conservatism was thought by many to be on the ropes, discredited, and out-of-date. Ronald Reagan thought otherwise.

He labeled certain of his conservative contemporaries, even men at the dinner that night, as “prophets of our philosophy.” In this he might as well have been reading aloud his own bio. Not only a prophet for telling the truth, he also led conservative followers in bringing to pass what later became known as, the Reagan Revolution. In Europe there are old bridges still being used to this day which are many times older than the American republic. We are still young. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , ,

Reagan’s State of the Union — beginning his second term

February 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“Every dollar the federal government does not take from us, every decision it does not make for us will make our economy stronger, our lives more abundant, our future more free.”

by Scott L. Vanatter

Granted the privilege of being elected to a second term, it was his first term accomplishments which enabled Reagan to describe the continued path to an even greater future. These concrete accomplishments – in the face of a terrible economy and a palpable lack of hope — gave the country confidence that we could become the shining city on a hill he so often pointed to. His February 6, 1985 State of the Union address cemented these hopes in the minds and hearts of Americans of all walks of life. Reagan’s generous, positive vision of the future was contagious. This contagion was assisted by the results of the politics and policies he pursued. [Read more...]

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Ronald Reagan and the State of the Union

February 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Ronald Reagan, Master of the State of the Union 

First laying out his plans, then later his accomplishments, Ronald Reagan mastered the formal setting of the State of the Union. He used these eight events to unify congressional and American opinion in support of his positive, generous vision.

Ronald Reagan’s State of the Union speeches:

- 1982 State of the Union
- 1983 State of the Union
- 1984 State of the Union
- 1985 State of the Union
- 1986 State of the Union
- 1987 State of the Union
- 1988 State of the Union

~ [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reagan Legacy Tagged With: ,

Margaret Thatcher’s Eulogy for President Reagan

February 7, 2013 By 1 Comment

“Nothing was more typical of Ronald Reagan than that large-hearted magnanimity, and nothing was more American.”

by Margaret Thatcher

We have lost a great president, a great American, and a great man, and I have lost a dear friend.

CHEERFUL, FRESHNESS, OPTIMISM

In his lifetime, Ronald Reagan was such a cheerful and invigorating presence that it was easy to forget what daunting historic tasks he set himself. He sought to mend America’s wounded spirit, to restore the strength of the free world, and to free the slaves of communism. These were causes hard to accomplish and heavy with risk, yet they were pursued with almost a lightness of spirit, [Read more...]

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Ronald Reagan: Born February 6, 1911

February 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

One of America’s greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan was born on this day 102 years ago. 

His economic vision lifted America out of economic malaise. He was the architect of communism’s defeat.

President Reagan’s positive vision of America’s promise and potential lifted the nation and inspired freedom-loving people around the globe.

~

Classic Reagan Speeches 

Our 2012 Reagan Gala Tribute Video 

Click here for an excerpt of George Landrith’s remarks about Ronald Reagan at the 2012 Reagan Gala.

Click here for other articles and opinion pieces on this website about Ronald Reagan.

 

 

Filed Under: Reagan Legacy Tagged With: ,

The End of the Reagan Era?

January 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“The Reagan vision and values are already here, ready to be tapped and again prevail.”

by Paul Kengor

With Barack Obama’s second inauguration, liberals are touting an altogether new epoch: the end of the Reagan era.

Unfortunately, I believe they are largely correct. We are witnessing a period of left-wing ascendance, marked by gay marriage, forced taxpayer funding of abortion, an exploding government class, and big government. As to the latter, Ronald Reagan had declared in his first inaugural: “government is not the solution … government is the problem.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , ,

Ronald Reagan’s Second Inaugural Address: Human freedom is on the march, and nowhere more so than our own hemisphere

January 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“The American sound . . . is hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic, daring, decent, and fair.”

by Scott L. Vanatter

One-term presidents rarely are considered our most successful presidents. Getting re-elected is not in and of itself an indicator of a successful second term. Of course, the more successful the first term, the more likely the success of a second.

During his second term Reagan built on the real economic accomplishment of his first. This success enabled him to ensure our freedoms and secure our defense. This freedom, then, spread around the world. Indeed, America became again the last best hope of earth. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address: “We are a nation that has a government–not the other way around.”

January 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“We are a nation that has a government–not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth.”

by Scott L. Vanatter

The claim is made that the most important political event in history was neither the writing of the Declaration nor the crafting or ratification of the Constitution which secures our rights. It was neither of these two monumental accomplishments; it was the peaceful transition of the control of the executive office of the United States of America from George Washington to John Adams. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Constitutional and Political Studies, Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ronald Reagan’s Farewell Address to the ’88 Republican National Convention

January 9, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“Our party speaks for human freedom, for the sweep of liberties that are at the core of our existence. . . . Together we’ve fought for causes we love. But we can never let the fire go out or quit the fight, because the battle is never over. Our freedom must be defended over and over again — and then again.”

by Scott L. Vanatter

At the end of a Super Bowl the winning head coach can rightly point to the day’s game plan, key plays, and stats. All these and more contributed to what was accomplished by the team – led by the coach.

At the end of his time in office, a successful two-term president can rightly point to the administration’s fundamental principles and key policies. All these and more produced the real-world accomplishments – led by the president. After eight years of concrete success and indisputable accomplishment President Reagan reported to the 1988 Republican National Convention. Prior to being elected Reagan had carefully and overtly taught — yes, taught — the country the key principles on which the Founders based the U.S. Constitution and preserved American culture. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ronald Reagan, “Our Noble Vision: An Opportunity For All”

January 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

“You cannot create a desert, hand a person a cup of water, and call that compassion. . . . And you cannot build up years of dependence on government and dare call that hope.” 

by Scott L. Vanatter

Before his first term was complete President Reagan restored the American economy and revived the American spirit. The power and focus of his words and his policies returned America to its true identity and destiny.

Soaring rhetoric must be supported by real accomplishment. Otherwise the words are empty, the sentiment is trite. Too often national leaders only give lip service to the lofty principles which Reagan carefully and continually taught. Worse, when some leaders overtly deprecate the Founding principles, America fails to preserve and advance our precious freedoms. Tyranny is never more than a generation away from falling on us. Americans need to continually self-inoculate against a creeping tyranny. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economic Liberty and Property Rights, Reagan Legacy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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