June 05, 2004
Mourning in America: Ronald Reagan is Dead
Reagan, known as "The Great Communicator," was elected to office in a landslide victory over incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1980 and is credited with revitalizing the country's stagnant economy and forcing the end of the Cold War during his two terms in office from 1981 to 1989.
His charismatic personality and staunch conservatism led the nation in a Republican resurgence that kept the GOP in the White House for 12 years.
Reagan remained largely out of public view since announcing he had Alzheimer's disease in November 1994. He came to symbolize Alzheimer's, which has no cure, during the last decade of his life. Reagan turned the disclosure of his disease as an opportunity to make a final address to the nation, expressing in an open letter to the American people the same patriotic fervor that had catapulted him into the presidency.
"When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future," Reagan wrote at the time. "I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."
Posted by Muddy at June 5, 2004 05:27 PM | TrackBackThank you Mr. President and God Bless.
Posted by: mrs. muddy at June 5, 2004 05:52 PMThank You Mr. Reagan for your Service.
May we never forget or distort (Such as the AP already is) your great leadership.
President Reagan was one of the best Presidents that this country has ever seen. He ended the cold war and defeated the Soviet Union without firing a single shot. He turned our economy around and paved the way for future Presidents. I know that there is a special place in heaven for him and he will be missed.
Posted by: cwilli at June 6, 2004 11:57 AM