Throwback Thursdays

In 1984, President Reagan had been in office for almost 4 years and was emerging as a "peace president," striving to put the Cold War behind him which led inevitably to a new appreciation of the United Nations. Looking back, his speech to the UN in 1982 was harsh; this one in 1984 has a more hopeful, optimistic tone.Let's Listen.

During the month of September in 1984, Ronald Reagan was deeply involved in a political campaign, energized by a television commercial entitled, “Morning Again in America.” President Reagan loved these feel-good ads which were the essence of his reelection campaign. Let's Listen

According to U.S. intelligence and leading experts, Gromyko was not merely an emissary of Soviet foreign policy but really… its prime architect. President Reagan knew that Gromyko usually attended the opening session of the UN General Assembly in New York each September, so he invited him to the White House after the Un meeting for a visit and some person to person diplomacy.Let’s listen.

Throughout his eight years in office, Ronald Reagan gave NASA and the civilian space program strong support. On the day of Discovery’s lift-off, President Reagan delivered remarks about how our lives have improved as a result of technological advances developed as a result of space travel.Let's Listen.

In the summer of 1981, immigration was a critical issue for the administration to address. Some things never change, do they? That was 38 years ago. 

Let's Listen.

Looking back 35 years ago in August, our 40th president was back on the campaign trail, reminding Americans of his accomplishments, his future goals, and what he loved about America. Let’s remember what President Reagan sounds like on the campaign trail, let’s hear him work an audience on August 20, 1984 in Decatur, Illinois.Let's listen.

While most people know that Ronald Reagan was an actor, many forget that he began as a sports announcer. He spent four years at WHO in Des Moines, Iowa, and he said they were among the most pleasant of his life.

Let’s listen.

In 1974, Governor Reagan began to prepare for life beyond politics. Searching for a suitable escape above the California Oaks. He walked through the mountain trails, through thick clusters of oaks, around sandstone rocks, and embraced 680 acres of…heaven. The majestic property was renamed, Rancho del Cielo or Ranch in the Sky.Let's Listen.

We are fortunate to have in our archives at the Reagan Library, President Reagan’s thoughts on the joys of the presidency. So for a warm summer day, we thought we’d depart from the strict format of listening to speeches and hear from the heart of a President.

Let’s listen.

President Reagan held 46 press conferences and received criticism for not holding more. Yet, during that same time, he conducted 257 interviews, 168 informal exchanges, and engaged in 216 question and answer sessions following remark. So in this podcast, we’ll start by going backward, 35 years ago in July, when the President held his 26th press conference on Legislative Priorities.

Let's Listen.