And What Was the Last Picture That I Had to Say Thanks Again Jimmy for Making My Night Miserable
Transcript of Reagan's Cheerio Accost to American People
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January 12, 1989
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Following is a transcript of President Reagan's voice communication to the nation last night from the White House, equally recorded by The New York Times:
My beau Americans, this is the 34th fourth dimension I'll speak to yous from the Oval Office, and the last. We've been together 8 years now, and soon information technology'll be fourth dimension for me to become. Only before I do, I wanted to share some thoughts, some of which I have been saving for a long fourth dimension.
It's been the award of my life to exist your President. So many of yous have written the past few weeks to say cheers, but I could say as much to you lot. Nancy and I are grateful for the opportunity yous gave the states to serve.
One of the things nigh the Presidency is that yous're always somewhat apart. Yous spend a lot of time going past too fast in a car someone else is driving, and seeing the people through tinted drinking glass - the parents property up a kid, and the moving ridge you saw besides late and couldn't return. And and so many times I wanted to finish, and reach out from behind the drinking glass, and connect. Well, maybe I can do a little of that this night.
People ask how I feel nigh leaving, and the fact is departing is "such sweet sorrow." The sweet role is California, and the ranch, and freedom. The sorrow? The goodbyes, of grade, and leaving this cute place.
You lot know, downwardly the hall and up the stairs from this office is the part of the White Firm where the President and his family live. There are a few favorite windows I accept upwardly at that place that I like to stand and look out of early in the morn. The view is over the grounds here to the Washington Monument, and then the Mall, and the Jefferson Memorial. But on mornings when the humidity is low, y'all tin can see by the Jefferson to the river, the Potomac, and the Virginia shore. Someone said that's the view Lincoln had when he saw the smoke rising from the battle of Bull Run. Well, I see more than prosaic things: the grass on the banks, the morning traffic every bit people make their way to work, now and then a sailboat on the river. Reflections at a Window
I've been thinking a bit at that window. I've been reflecting on what the past eight years have meant, and hateful. And the image that comes to mind like a refrain is a nautical ane - a small story most a big ship, and a refugee, and a sailor.
It was dorsum in the early Eighties, at the height of the boat people, and the sailor was hard at work on the carrier Midway, which was patrolling the Due south China Sea. The crewman, like virtually American servicemen, was young, smart and fiercely observant. The crew spied on the horizon a leaky picayune gunkhole - and crammed inside were refugees from Indochina hoping to get to America. The Midway sent a pocket-size launch to bring them to the ship, and safety. Every bit the refugees fabricated their way through the choppy seas, one spied the crewman on deck, and stood upwardly and called out to him. He yelled, "Hullo, American sailor - Hello, Freedom Homo."
A small moment with a big significant, a moment the crewman, who wrote information technology in a letter, couldn't get out of his mind. And, when I saw it, neither could I.
Because that's what it has to - it was to be an American in the 1980's; Nosotros stood, again, for freedom. I know we always have simply in the past few years the earth - again, and in a mode, we ourselves - rediscovered it.
Information technology's been quite a journeying this decade, and we held together through some stormy seas. And at the terminate, together, nosotros are reaching our destination.
The fact is, from Grenada to the Washington and Moscow summits, from the recession of '81 to '82 to the expansion that began in late '82 and continues to this day, we've made a divergence. Two Great Triumphs
The way I come across information technology, at that place were ii great triumphs, two things that I'grand proudest of. One is the economic recovery, in which the people of America created - and filled - 19 million new jobs. The other is the recovery of our morale: America is respected over again in the globe, and looked to for leadership.
Something that happened to me a few years ago reflects some of this. It was back in 1981, and I was attention my first large economic summit, which was held that year in Canada. The coming together identify rotates among the member countries. The opening meeting was a formal dinner for the heads of government of the seven industrialized nations. Well, I sat there like the new kid in school and listened, and it was all Francois this and Helmut that. They dropped titles and spoke to one another on a first-name basis. Well, at ane point I sort of leaned in and said, "My name'southward Ron."
Well, in that same year, we began the actions we felt would ignite an economic comeback: cut taxes and regulation, started to cut spending. Presently the recovery began.
2 years later, another economic superlative, with pretty much the aforementioned cast. At the large opening meeting, we all got together, and all all of a sudden but for a moment I saw that everyone was just sitting there looking at me. And then i of them bankrupt the silence. "Tell the states about the American miracle," he said.
Well, dorsum in 1980, when I was running for President, information technology was all so different. Some pundits said our programs would upshot in ending. Our views on foreign affairs would crusade war, our plans for the economy would cause inflation to soar and bring about economical collapse. I even remember one highly respected economist saying, back in 1982, that "The engines of economic growth accept shut downwardly here and they're likely to stay that way for years to come up."
Well, he - and the other "opinion leaders" - were incorrect. The fact is, what they called "radical" was really "right"; what they called "dangerous" was just "desperately needed." 'The Nifty Communicator'
And in all that fourth dimension I won a nickname - "The Swell Communicator." Just I never thought information technology was my style or the words I used that made a divergence - it was the content. I wasn't a corking communicator, just I communicated great things, and they didn't spring full bloom from my forehead, they came from the center of a bully nation - from our experience, our wisdom, and our belief in the principles that have guided us for 2 centuries.
They called it the Reagan Revolution, and I'll accept that, but for me it always seemed more like the Great Rediscovery: a rediscovery of our values and our common sense.
Common sense told u.s. that when you put a large taxation on something, the people will produce less of it. So nosotros cut the people's tax rates, and the people produced more than than ever before. The economy bloomed similar a plant that had been cutting back and could now abound quicker and stronger. Our economic program brought about the longest peacetime expansion in our history: existent family income up, the poverty rate down, entrepreneurship booming and an explosion in research and new applied science. We're exporting more now than ever because American manufacture became more competitive, and at the same time nosotros summoned the national will to knock down protectionist walls abroad instead of erecting them at dwelling.
Common sense too told united states of america that to preserve the peace we'd have to become stiff again after years of weakness and confusion. So we rebuilt our defenses - and this New Twelvemonth we toasted the new peacefulness around the globe. Not just take the superpowers actually begun to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons - and hope for fifty-fifty more progress is vivid - simply the regional conflicts that rack the globe are also commencement to terminate. The Persian Gulf is no longer a war zone, the Soviets are leaving Afghanistan, the Vietnamese are preparing to pull out of Cambodia and an American-mediated accordance will shortly send 50,000 Cuban troops home from Angola. 'Nosotros Changed a Globe'
The lesson of all this was, of course, that considering we're a great nation, our challenges seem complex. It will always be this manner. Only equally long as we call up our showtime principles and believe in ourselves, the future will e'er exist ours.
And something else we learned: once you begin a great movement, in that location's no telling where it'll end. We meant to change a nation, and instead, we inverse a world.
Countries across the globe are turning to free markets and gratis speech - and turning away from the ideologies of the past. For them, the Groovy Rediscovery of the 1980'south has been that, lo and behold, the moral manner of government is the applied way of government. Democracy, the profoundly good, is also the profoundly productive.
When you've got to the point where y'all tin can celebrate the anniversaries of your 39th birthday y'all tin can sit back sometimes, review your life and run across it flowing before you. For me, there was a fork in the river, and it was right in the heart of my life.
I never meant to go into politics: it wasn't my intention when I was young. Just I was raised to believe you lot had to pay your fashion for the blessings bestowed on you lot. I was happy with my career in the amusement world, but I ultimately went into politics because I wanted to protect something precious. 'We the People'
Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the grade of government, and with three piddling words: "Nosotros the People."
"We the People" tell the Regime what to exercise, information technology doesn't tell u.s.. "We the people" are the driver - the Government is the car. And we decide where it should go, and past what route, and how fast. Almost all the world's constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. Our Constitution is a certificate in which "We the People" tell the Government what it is immune to exercise. "We the people" are free.
This belief has been the underlying basis for everything I tried to do these past eight years.
But back in the 1960's when I began, it seemed to me that nosotros'd begun reversing the order of things - that through more and more rules and regulations and confiscatory taxes, the Regime was taking more of our freedom. I went into politics in office to put upwards my hand and say, "Stop!" I was a denizen-politician, and it seemed the right matter for a citizen to exercise.
I think nosotros have stopped a lot of what needed stopping. And I hope we have once again reminded people that man is non complimentary unless regime is limited. There's a articulate cause and outcome here that is as smashing and predictable as a law of physics: every bit government expands, liberty contracts. Actions Based on Deeds
Nothing is less free than pure communism, and however we have, the past few years, forged a satisfying new closeness with the Soviet Union. I've been asked if this isn't a adventure, and my reply is no, considering we're basing our deportment not on words but deeds.
The detente of the 1970's was based not on actions but promises. They'd promise to treat their ain people and the people of the world improve, but the gulag was nonetheless the gulag, and the state was nonetheless expansionist, and they still waged proxy wars in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Well, this time, so far, it's different: President Gorbachev has brought near some internal democratic reforms and begun the withdrawal from Afghanistan. He has also freed prisoners whose names I've given him every time we've met.
But life has a style of reminding you of large things through small incidents. Once, during the heady days of the Moscow Summit, Nancy and I decided to break off from the entourage one afternoon to visit the shops on Arbat Street - that's a trivial street just off Moscow's principal shopping area.
Even though our visit was a surprise, every Russian there immediately recognized u.s., and chosen out our names and reached for our easily. We were just about swept away by the warmth - you could near experience the possibilities in all that joy. But within seconds, a K.Yard.B. detail pushed their way toward us and began pushing and shoving the people in the oversupply. It was an interesting moment. Information technology reminded me that while the homo on the street in the Soviet Union yearns for peace, the Government is Communist - and those who run it are Communists - and that means nosotros and they view such issues equally freedom and human rights very differently. 'Proceed Upwards Our Guard'
We must continue upwardly our baby-sit - simply nosotros must as well continue to work together to lessen and eliminate tension and mistrust.
My view is that President Gorbachev is different from previous Soviet leaders. I think he knows some of the things incorrect with his society and is trying to gear up them. We wish him well. And nosotros'll continue to piece of work to brand sure that the Soviet Spousal relationship that somewhen emerges from this process is a less threatening one.
What it all boils down to is this: I desire the new closeness to continue. And it volition as long every bit we make information technology clear that we will continue to act in a certain way as long as they go along to act in a helpful fashion. If and when they don't - at first pull your punches. If they persist, pull the plug.
It'southward withal trust - but verify.
It's still play - but cutting the cards.
Information technology's still lookout closely - and don't be afraid to see what you meet.
I've been asked if I have any regrets. Well, I do.
The arrears is one. I've been talking a great deal about that lately, but tonight isn't for arguments, and I'1000 going to hold my tongue.
Merely an observation: I've had my share of victories in the Congress, just what few people noticed is that I never won anything you didn't win for me. They never saw my troops; they never saw Reagan's Regiments, the American people. You won every battle with every call you made and letter you wrote enervating action. Much to Be Done
Well, action is still needed. If we're to finish the task, of Reagan's Regiments, nosotros'll accept to become the Bush Brigades. Before long he'll be the chief, and he'll need yous every bit every bit much every bit I did.
Finally, there is a great tradition of warnings in Presidential farewells, and I've got 1 that'south been on my mind for some time.
But oddly enough it starts with one of the things I'thousand proudest of in the past eight years; the resurgence of national pride that I called "the new patriotism." This national feeling is good, but it won't count for much, and information technology won't last unless it'due south grounded in thoughtfulness and knowledge.
An informed patriotism is what we desire. And are we doing a good plenty job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history of the world?
Those of the states who are over 35 or and then years of age grew up in a different America. We were taught, very directly, what information technology ways to be an American, and nosotros absorbed almost in the air a dearest of country and an appreciation of its institutions. If y'all didn't get these things from your family unit you got them from the neighborhood, from the begetter down the street who fought in Korea or the family who lost someone at Anzio. Or yous could go a sense of patriotism from school. And if all else failed, you could become a sense of patriotism from the popular civilisation. The movies celebrated democratic values and implicitly reinforced the idea that America was special. Television receiver was like that, too, through the mid-Sixties. Ahead, to the Nineties
Simply now we're about to enter the Nineties, and some things accept inverse. Younger parents aren't certain that an unambivalent appreciation of America is the right matter to teach modern children. And as for those who create the popular culture, well-grounded patriotism is no longer the mode.
Our spirit is back, but we haven't reinstitutionalized it. We've got to practice a improve job of getting across that America is freedom - freedom of voice communication, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise - and liberty is special and rare. It's delicate; it needs protection.
Nosotros've got to teach history based non on what's in fashion but what'due south important: Why the pilgrims came here, who Jimmy Doolittle was, and what those thirty seconds over Tokyo meant. You know, four years ago, on the 40th anniversary of D-Mean solar day. I read a letter of the alphabet from a young woman writing to her late father, who'd fought on Omaha Beach. Her name was Lisa Zanatta Henn, and she said, we will e'er remember, we will never forget what the boys of Normandy did. Well, permit's help her keep her word.
If we forget what we did, nosotros won't know who we are. I am alarm of an eradication of that - of the American memory that could effect, ultimately, in an erosion of the American spirit.
Permit's start with some basics - more attention to American history and a greater emphasis of civic ritual. And let me offering lesson No. ane nearly America : All great change in America begins at the dinner table. So tomorrow night in the kitchen I hope the talking begins. And children, if your parents haven't been teaching you lot what it means to be an American - allow 'em know and nail 'em on it. That would be a very American thing to practise.
And that's almost all I have to say tonight. Except for one affair.
The past few days when I've been at that window upstairs, I've thought a bit of the shining "urban center upon a hill." The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important, because he was an early Pilgrim - an early "Freedom Human." He journeyed here on what today we'd call a piddling wooden boat, and, similar the other pilgrims, he was looking for a dwelling that would be free.
I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, only I don't know if I e'er quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind, it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind swept, God blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace - a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and inventiveness, and if there had to exist city walls, the walls had doors, and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get hither.
That'south how I saw it, and see it still. How Stands the City?
And how stands the urban center on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure and happier than it was 8 years ago. But more that: after 200 years, two centuries, she still stands potent and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no thing what storm.
And she's all the same a beacon, nonetheless a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the Pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.
We've done our role. And as I "walk off into the urban center streets," a final give-and-take to the men and women of the Reagan Revolution - the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back:
My friends, nosotros did it. Nosotros weren't just marking time, we made a departure. We made the city stronger - we made the city freer - and we left her in good easily.
All in all, not bad. Bully at all.
And so, goodbye.
God bless you. And God bless the Us.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/12/news/transcript-of-reagan-s-farewell-address-to-american-people.html
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