Throwback Thursdays

How can two fiercely opposed sides of American government possibly thrive by meeting in the middle and achieving long-lasting legislative results for the American people? To find the answer all one has to do is study the relationship between Republican President Ronald Reagan and Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. Although the pair faced off in numerous battles on Capitol Hill, they also shared a strong admiration and respect for one another that evolved into a beautiful friendship.

Ed Meese, Ronald Reagan’s campaign manager, once said, “[Optimism] was just such a natural characteristic of Ronald Reagan that it was implicit in everything we did. He didn’t come out and say, ‘We should revive our spirits.’ He did this subtly by his own manner, by the ideas he projected and by his talks in which he expressed his confidence in the American people.”

In this week’s podcast, we present President Reagan’s remarks at the Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas on August 17, 1992. Let's Listen.

Ronald Reagan began speaking of Peace Through Strength on a more national level during the 1980 presidential campaign. Ronald Reagan argued that President Jimmy Carter’s administration failed to maintain the “margin of safety” between the United States and the Soviet Union. He also advocated for negotiation with the declining Soviet Union as well as a significant military buildup to thwart the global spread of communism.

Yesterday, August 16, 2021, was national tell a joke day. In honor of this entertaining day, we thought we’d take another look at Ronald Reagan and humor. Ronald Reagan loved a good joke.  He could take them and dish them out with ease. Throughout his political career, Ronald Reagan used humor to take the sharp edge off serious messages, and he also used it to alleviate the hurt of detractors. Ronald Reagan’s age was the subject of many jokes during his presidency, and in a famous moment during the October 28, 1984, presidential debate with former Vice President Walter Mondale, he spun the issue in his own favor, famously deadpanning, “I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” In another instance, he noted, “Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.’ And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.” So sit back and relax, and enjoy some of our favorite jokes and quips and stories during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

President Reagan often spoke of a nation that was hopeful, big hearted, idealistic, daring, decent and fair. That was how he saw America, and that was how America came to know him.

In honor of the Reagan’s Library current special exhibition, FBI: From Al Capone to Al Qaeda, which is on display through January 9, 2022, this week’s Words to Live By podcast focuses on the FBI. The FBI is the nation's lead federal law enforcement agency for investigating and preventing acts of domestic and international terrorism. It is the lead federal agency for investigating attacks involving weapons of mass destruction—those involving chemical, radiological, or biological agents or nuclear weapons.

During his inaugural address, President Reagan so eloquently said, “There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.” He used this theme of what the human spirit can do if only we’re open to it throughout his entire presidency.

In this week’s podcast, we present President Reagan’s remarks and question-and-answer session with reporters on the Air Traffic Controllers Strike on August 3, 1981, which happened 40 years ago today. Writing about that speech in his book “Speaking My Mind,” Ronald Reagan said, “I'm not very good at firing people; maybe it goes back to the fact that as a child I can remember my father being out of work.  I know the hardship and dislocation it can cause a family.  But I also believe that people should keep their word when they make a promise.  This is why I fired the air controllers.”

President Reagan spoke often about the importance of working together, republicans and democrats. Learn more in this week's Throwback Thursday with President Reagan.