from the Traditional Values Coalition             (made available here by Across)
June 11 , 2004, Vol. 7, Number 22 SPECIAL ISSUE: A TRIBUTE TO FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN In honor of the life and legacy of our 40th president, TVC is devoting this issue of our TVC News to describing President Reagan’s accomplishments, his optimistic vision for America, and his quiet faith in the Lord. President Ronald Reagan At Rest The 40th president of the United States’ body was flown from Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday to Washington, DC, where his casket was placed in the Capitol Hill Rotunda. More than 200,000 well-wishers paid their respects on the first day in Washington. (An estimated 150,000 paid tribute to him at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.) President Ronald Reagan’s casket was placed in the Capitol Hill Rotunda after it was pulled on a horse-drawn carriage down Constitution Avenue. A riderless horse with Reagan’s boots in the stirrups followed the procession as it made its way toward the Capitol Building. TVC’s staff paid their respects to President Reagan by attending the somber procession down Constitution Avenue and by viewing his casket in the Capitol Hill Rotunda early Thursday morning. As part of the ceremony in the Capitol Hill Rotunda, Vice President Dick Cheney gave what was perhaps the most moving speech. In his praise of President Reagan, Cheney noted: "President Reagan once said, ‘I learned from my father the value of hard work and ambition and maybe a little something about telling a story." … "’From my mother,’ said President Reagan, ‘I learned the value of prayer.’ … "This was the Ronald Reagan who had faith, not just in his own gifts and his own future, but in the possibilities of every life. The cheerful spirit that carried him forward was more than a disposition; it was the optimism of a faithful soul who trusted in God’s purposes and knew those purposes to be right and true. …" The Washington Times described Reagan’s faith this way: "A committed Christian, Mr. Reagan was convinced that everything happened for a reason and that he had been chosen by God to play a part in America’s great mission." President Bush Honors A Fallen Leader President Bush was in France when he first learned of President Reagan’s passing on June 5, 2004. While in France preparing for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion that liberated Europe, President Bush learned of President Reagan’s death at his home in California. President Bush issued a brief statement from France and the White House has since posted a special section on its web site in honor of President Reagan’s legacy. In his statement, Bush noted: "This is a sad hour in the life of America. A great American life has come to an end. I have just spoken to Nancy Reagan. On behalf of our whole nation, Laura and I offered her and the Reagan family our prayers and our condolences. … He always told us that for America, the best was yet to come. We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that this is true for him, too. His work is done, and now a shining city awaits him. May God bless Ronald Reagan." President Reagan Proclaims Sanctity Of Human Life Day, 1988 President Reagan’s commitment to the sanctity of human life is evident in his 1988 proclamation, reprinted below: National Sanctity of Human Life Day 1988 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation America has given a great gift to the world, a gift that drew upon the accumulated wisdom derived from centuries of experiments in self-government, a gift that has irrevocably changed humanity's future. Our gift is twofold: the declaration, as a cardinal principle of all just law, of the God-given, unalienable rights possessed by every human being; and the example of our determination to secure those rights and to defend them against every challenge through the generations. Our declaration and defense of our rights have made us and kept us free and have sent a tide of hope and inspiration around the globe. One of those unalienable rights, as the Declaration of Independence affirms so eloquently, is the right to life. In the 15 years since the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, however, America's unborn have been denied their right to life. Among the tragic and unspeakable results in the past decade and a half have been the loss of life of 22 million infants before birth; the pressure and anguish of countless women and girls who are driven to abortion; and a cheapening of our respect for the human person and the sanctity of human life. We are told that we may not interfere with abortion. We are told that we may not ``impose our morality'' on those who wish to allow or participate in the taking of the life of infants before birth; yet no one calls it "imposing morality" to prohibit the taking of life after people are born. We are told as well that there exists a "right" to end the lives of unborn children; yet no one can explain how such a right can exist in stark contradiction of each person's fundamental right to life. That right to life belongs equally to babies in the womb, babies born handicapped, and the elderly or infirm. That we have killed the unborn for 15 years does not nullify this right, nor could any number of killings ever do so. The unalienable right to life is found not only in the Declaration of Independence but also in the Constitution that every President is sworn to preserve, protect, and defend. Both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments guarantee that no person shall be deprived of life without due process of law. All medical and scientific evidence increasingly affirms that children before birth share all the basic attributes of human personality--that they in fact are persons. Modern medicine treats unborn children as patients. Yet, as the Supreme Court itself has noted, the decision in Roe v. Wade rested upon an earlier state of medical technology. The law of the land in 1988 should recognize all of the medical evidence. Our nation cannot continue down the path of abortion, so radically at odds with our history, our heritage, and our concepts of justice. This sacred legacy, and the well-being and the future of our country, demand that protection of the innocents must be guaranteed and that the personhood of the unborn be declared and defended throughout our land. In legislation introduced at my request in the First Session of the 100th Congress, I have asked the Legislative branch to declare the "humanity of the unborn child and the compelling interest of the several states to protect the life of each person before birth." This duty to declare on so fundamental a matter falls to the Executive as well. By this Proclamation I hereby do so. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare the unalienable personhood of every American, from the moment of conception until natural death, and I do proclaim, ordain, and declare that I will take care that the Constitution and laws of the United States are faithfully executed for the protection of America's unborn children. Upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God. I also proclaim Sunday, January 17, 1988, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon the citizens of this blessed land to gather on that day in their homes and places of worship to give thanks for the gift of life they enjoy and to reaffirm their commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of every human life. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twelfth. Ronald Reagan President Reagan Supported The Traditional Family The 40th president of the United States issued a proclamation in 1981 on behalf of the traditional family. President Reagan’s proclamation is reprinted below. Proclamation 4882 -- National Family Week November 3, 1981 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation The family is the basic unit of our society, the heart of our free democracy. It provides love, acceptance, guidance, support, and instruction to the individual. Community values and goals that give America strength also take root in the home. In times of change and challenge, families keep safe our cultural heritage and reinforce our spiritual foundation. As the mainstay of our national life, family life must be preserved. When a family needs external assistance to help it to perform its unique role, this assistance should not interfere with the family's fundamental responsibilities and prerogatives. Rather, aid should be supportive and purposeful in strengthening the family's stability, self-sufficiency and permanence. National Family Week is a time to be thankful for the family as a national heritage and resource. It is a time to recommit ourselves to the concept of the family -- a concept that must withstand the trends of lifestyle and legislation. Let us pledge that our institutions and policies will be shaped to enhance an environment in which families can strengthen their ties and best exercise their beliefs, authority, and resourcefulness. And let us make our pledge mindful that we do so not only on behalf of individual family members, but for America. Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, in accordance with Senate Joint Resolution 4, do hereby proclaim the week beginning November 22, 1981, as National Family Week. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate activities in their homes and communities. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixth. Ronald Reagan [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 4:32 p.m., November 3, 1981] Nancy Reagan Remains Steadfast During A 10-Year Ordeal The live TV shot of Mrs. Nancy Reagan putting her head on her husband’s coffin at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, was a fitting gesture of her love for the man she had cared for during 10 years of struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease. Former First Lady Nancy Reagan was often criticized by liberal journalists during her husband’s presidency, but these criticisms have been countered recently by Michael Deaver’s biography of Mrs. Reagan: "Nancy: A Portrait Of My Years With Nancy Reagan." In his biography, Deaver writes of Mrs. Reagan: "Ronald Reagan would not have risen to such distinction without Nancy at his side. I don’t want to even think of the problems Ronald Reagan would have encountered in both Sacramento and Washington if Nancy hadn’t been quietly guarding his flank all those years." The last chapter of Deaver’s book is titled, "Her Finest Hour" and describes Mrs. Reagan’s ten-year ordeal in dealing with her husband’s Alzheimer’s. "It is a cruel trick that such a vibrant, larger-than-life guy like Reagan is forced to go out this way. But it’s not just Ronald Reagan who had his future shortchanged by his disease. Nancy did, too. For a woman who always received her strength from his love and energy, this is a terrible way to end up their life together." It was in 1994 that President Reagan wrote his famous letter to the world describing his Alzheimer’s Disease and his departure from the political stage. From that moment forward, Mrs. Reagan guarded his privacy as he slowly deteriorated. Michael Reagan Pays Tribute To His Father Conservative talk show host Michael Reagan issued a touching tribute to his dad on the day of President Reagan’s death. Michael Reagan, a conservative talk show host and committed Christian, issued a tribute to his father shortly after his father’s death at the age of 93 on June 5, 2004. In his tribute, Michael noted: "What I will remember is a man that changed my life. He was always there for me when I needed him. He had a way of putting everything into perspective, and I believe that his determination and perseverance came from his relationship with the Lord. He played an important role in pointing me to God. "I am secure in the knowledge that he is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in heaven. The greatest gift my father ever gave me was the simple knowledge that I would see him in heaven one day." Peggy Noonan, Former Reagan Speech Writer Honors The President Columnist and former Reagan speech writer has authored two books on President Reagan. Her latest, When Character Was King, describes Reagan’s steadfast character and leadership abilities. Former Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan paid tribute to the fallen president in a recent Wall Street Journal editorial. In it, Noonan noted: "Ronald Reagan told the truth to a world made weary by lies. He believed truth was the only platform on which a better future could be built. He shocked the world when he called the Soviet Union ‘evil,’ because it was, and an ‘empire,’ because it was that, too. He never stopped bringing his message to the people of the world, to Europe and China and in the end the Soviet Union. And when it was over, the Berlin Wall had been turned into a million concrete souvenirs, and Soviet communism had fallen. But of course, it didn’t fall. It was pushed. By Mr. Know Nothing Cowboy Gunslinger Dimwit. All presidents should be so stupid." Patrick Buchanan Pays Tribute To Reagan Conservative columnist Patrick Buchanan describes President Reagan’s political legacy. Patrick Buchanan says that President Reagan "…cut tax rates from 70% to 28%, restored our spirit, rebuilt the armed forces into the most formidable the world had ever seen and led us to bloodless victory in the Cold War. Time declared Mikhail Gorbachev Man of the Decade. America knows better." Reagan was "devoid of ego and of the boastfulness so common in this capital. ‘There is no limit to how far a man can go,’ read a plaque in his office, ‘so long as he is willing to let someone else get the credit.’" Buchanan closed his tribute with this observation: "A British statesman once said all political lives end in failure. As always, Ronald Reagan is the exception. We shall not see his like again." Biographer Mary Beth Brown Describes Reagan’s Faith Hand Of Providence author has chronicled the life and Christian faith of former President Ronald Reagan in an essay on WorldNetDaily. Mary Beth Brown is author of Hand of Providence, a biography of President Bush’s faith and is wife of Floyd Brown who operates the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. Mrs. Brown said of President Reagan: "He lived every day of his life trying to do God’s will and felt called by God to run for president. President Reagan did not run for power or prestige, he ran because, as Mike Reagan said, ‘he believed God had things for him to do.’ Believing that his life was saved by divine intervention after the nearly fatal assassination attempt, Reagan wrote: ‘I’ve always believe that we were, each of us, put here for a reason, that there is a … divine plan for all of us. I know now that whatever days are left to me belong to him [God].’" Mrs. Brown writes that Reagan’s favorite Bible verse was John 3:16. When asked what this verse meant to him, Reagan responded: "It means that having accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, I have God’s promise of eternal life, as well as the abundant life here on earth that he promises to each of us in John 10:10." Hand of Providence provides more details on the strong but quiet faith of President Reagan. Reagan Ranch Web Site Honors Ronald Reagan The Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, is maintained by the Young America’s Foundation as a training facility for young conservatives who wish to continue the Reagan Revolution in politics. The Reagan Ranch has posted a series of links honoring the legacy of President Reagan, including a beautiful song that is downloadable. The site also includes a new section called "RememberRonaldReagan.com" that features quotes from former Reagan friends and associates and it allows Reagan supporters to post their own comments about how Ronald Reagan impacted their lives. The site also includes numerous press release statements from Reagan’s former associates in government. Reagan’s 1964 Speech Launches Conservative Movement "A Time For Choosing" became one of the most famous speeches in American political history. Ronald Reagan gave the speech on October 27, 1964 in support of the candidacy of Barry Goldwater. Former President Reagan’s speech, "A Time For Choosing" became known just as "The Speech" in later years. It electrified Barry Goldwater’s supporters and energized a new conservative movement in American politics. In it, Reagan came out against Lyndon Johnson’s "Great Society," which pushed greater government control over the lives of all Americans. He pointed out that the Founding Fathers feared centralized government. "They knew that governments don’t control things. A government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy," said Reagan. He ended his speech with these memorable words: "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we will sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness." Web Sites Archive President Reagan’s Speeches The Reagan Information Exchange, GOP.com, and The Ronald Reagan Library have audio or transcripts of President Reagan’s speeches throughout his life. If you wish to hear President Reagan’s speeches, access the GOP.com web site. Michael Reagan’s "Reagan Information Exchange" features President Reagan’s speeches, quotes, and memorabilia. The Ronald Reagan Library features a searchable database of President Reagan’s speeches. In addition, the library in Simi Valley has more resources on Ronald Reagan’s legacy.

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