Remembering Reagan
Today, I could not care
less about the market. One of my idols finally passed away after a
long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was not one of my idols because of
his conservative principles. He was one of my idols because of how he talked
about the possibilities for greatness in all of us. I have lived by the
guiding principle that if you give it all you got, work hard and never
compromise your integrity, good things will ultimately happen.
The following comments come from leaders of the
world. They are saying things IÂ have known for a long time. Ronald Reagan was
one of the, if not the greatest presidents of our time.Â
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
“This is a sad hour in the life of America. A great American life has come to
an end. Ronald Reagan won America’s respect with his greatness, and won its
love with his goodness. He leaves behind a nation he restored and a world he
helped save.
“During the years of President Reagan, America laid to rest an era of division
and self-doubt. And because of his leadership, the world laid to rest an era
of fear and tyranny.”
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR
“At home his vision and leadership restored national self-confidence and
brought some significant changes to U.S. politics, while abroad the
negotiation of arms control agreements in his second term and his
statesman-like pursuit of more stable relations with the
Soviet Union helped bring about the end of the Cold War.”
FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH
“Ronnie stayed with his principles, which is very important, and that proved
to be a strong leader for what he believed. But secondly there was the human
qualities of decency and kindness, a wonderful sense of humour. All of these
things added up to the fact that
even if he disagreed with a person, that person would not become a political
enemy, he conducted himself in a very civil manner.”
FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, who called
Reagan “a true American
original.”
“Hillary and I will always remember President Ronald Reagan for the way he
personified the indomitable optimism of the American people, and for keeping
America at the forefront of the fight for freedom for people everywhere.”
FORMER PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER
“He will be missed, not only by those who knew him and not only by the nation
that he served so proudly and loved so deeply, but also by millions of men and
women who live in freedom today because of the policies he pursued.
“Ronald Reagan had a higher claim than any other leader to have won the Cold
War for liberty, and he did it without a shot being fired.”
FORMER SOVIET PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
“I view Reagan as a great president,” said Gorbachev, adding that his dialogue
with Reagan “kick-started the process which ultimately put an end to the Cold
War”.
“I do not know how other statesmen would act in his place at the time. Reagan,
who was considered ultra-conservative, dared those steps and that was his
strength.”
POPE JOHN PAUL II
“The pope received the news of President Reagan’s death with sadness,” said
Vatican chief spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.
“Two days ago when he met President Bush at the Vatican, the pope sent a warm
of message of best wishes to Mrs. Reagan, knowing that her husband was very
sick.”
FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC
“A great statesman who through the strength of his convictions and his
commitment to democracy will leave a deep mark in history.”
FORMER JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YASUHIRO NAKASONE
“He was a great president who led the Cold War against communism to the
victory of freedom and democracy. We attended five summits together and he
guided them to success with his leadership and tactful jokes,” Nakasone told
Kyodo news agency.
FORMER GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL, who stood with Reagan as he made a
historic Cold War appeal at the Berlin Wall.
“His consistent championing of freedom contributed decisively to overcoming
the division of Europe and Germany. We Germans have much to thank Ronald
Reagan for.”
ACTING AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN ANDERSON:
Anderson said former U.S. President Harry Truman created the framework for the
overthrow of communism during the 1940s and Reagan completed the mission
Truman began.
“They wrote Truman off as a little haberdasher from Missouri and they wrote
Reagan off as a B-grade actor, but in reality both have done a huge amount to
lock in the freedoms…(we) take for granted around the world.”
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN KERRY
“Ronald Reagan’s love of country was infectious. Even when he was breaking
Democrats hearts, he did so with a smile and in the spirit of honest and open
debate.”
LT. COL OLIVER NORTH, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL OFFICIAL under Reagan
“Ronald Reagan was easily the greatest president of my lifetime — and he will
be regarded as one of the greatest leaders this country has ever had. He
brought down the Evil Empire and made the world safer for my children and
theirs.”
MIGUEL D’ESCOTO, former foreign minister in Nicaragua’s revolutionary
Sandinista government of the 1980s, when America was shipping money to the
opposition, known as the Contras, called Reagan an “imperialist president”.
“There is not the least doubt that President Reagan did Nicaragua much harm,
caused many deaths. He may not have had much time or inclination to regret the
damage he did, but regardless of that we ask God to take pity on his soul.”
ADOLFO CALERO, former member of the U.S.-backed Contra rebel leadership
“After Vietnam, the United States was crestfallen, and he raised the spirits
of the North Americans, he made them believe in their country, made them
believe in themselves. For me his chief legacy is the tenacity with which he
faced the world problem of communism, he beat it…and freed a great number of
countries from the communist yoke.”
FORMER SOLIDARITY LEADER AND POLISH PRESIDENT LECH WALESA
“When I heard of President Reagan’s death, as a Christian I prayed for him. As
a politician I recalled the important role he had played in the overthrow of
world communism.
“Somewhere at the turn of the 1980s a number of politicians and others at
different points on the globe began moving towards a single goal: the
overthrow of the murderous communist system that had the blood of 200 million
people on its hands. Reagan was one
of the world leaders who made a major contribution to communism’s collapse.”
JAPAN’S PRIME MINISTER JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI
“The foundation of the Japan-U.S. alliance that now serves as a driving force
to solve international issues with other countries was built during President
Reagan’s era.
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT ROH MOO-HYUN
“He made great efforts to overcome the Cold War. In particular, it will be
highly evaluated that he made so many achievements for peace and stabilization
in the Korean peninsula and helped bolster the alliance between South Korea
and the United States. South
Koreans will remember that.”
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER PAUL MARTIN
“His wit, warmth and unique capacity to communicate helped to make him one of
the most influential figures in the second half of the 20th century.”
Gary Kaltbaum