Posted on 06/05/2004 5:04:43 PM PDT by ambrose
Sun 6 Jun 2004
12:50am (UK)
Bush: Reagan Helped Save the World
"PA"
President George Bush paid tribute to Ronald Reagan as a great American who “leaves behind a nation he restored and a world he helped save”.
He called Reagan’s death yesterday at his home in California “a sad hour in the life of America”.
Bush ordered flags flown at half-mast on government buildings for 30 days starting today.
Bush, who is in France for ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of D-Day, was notified of Reagan’s death in Paris at about 9.10pm British time, by White House chief of staff Andy Card, who woke up the president at the US ambassador’s residence to deliver the news.
The president said he had talked to Reagan’s widow, Nancy, and offered her the nation’s prayers and condolences.
In remarks, Bush expressed the nation’s thanks to Reagan for his contributions to the United States and the world.
Bush said Reagan “had the confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the humour that comes with wisdom”.
Bush said that during the years of Reagan’s presidency, the nation “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”.
Reagan’s two terms in office were marked by a thaw in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, a nation he had called the ”Evil Empire, that had begun at the end of the Second World War.
Bush hastily summoned reporters to the residence of the US ambassador in Paris where he was staying overnight in between meetings with French president Jacques Chirac and today’s D-Day ceremony in Normandy.
Bush blinked back tears as he said this line: “He always told us for America the best is yet to come.
“We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that this is true for him too,” Bush said. “His work is done. And now a shining city awaits him.”
White House spokesman Scott McClellan declined to say whether Bush would keep his schedule for the G-8 summit meeting, beginning on Tuesday in Sea Island, Georgia, or whether he had alerted the foreign leaders about a Reagan funeral.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free. Ronald Reagan
I told my 15 year old daughter this evening that all we have now we owe to Ronald Wilson Reagan. I will try to help her realize what that means.
Meaning that we raise our flag again fully on July 4th.
Fitting.
God bless a good and great man. The green fields of heaven are his.
THREE the hard way.
Thank you, PJ-Comix. A lovely portrait of a man who has influenced my life.
President "Bush ordered flags flown at half-mast on government buildings for 30 days starting today
I went out and lowered mine as soon as I heard.
from the White House website:
Remarks by the President Upon the Death of President Ronald Reagan
Ambassador's Residence
Paris, France
12:41 A.M. (Local)
THE PRESIDENT: This is a sad hour in the life of America. A great American life has come to an end. I have just spoken to Nancy Reagan. On behalf of our whole nation, Laura and I offered her and the Reagan family our prayers and our condolences.
Ronald Regan won America's respect with his greatness, and won its love with his goodness. He had the confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the humor that comes with wisdom. 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. Now, in laying our leader to rest, we say thank you.
He always told us that for America, the best was yet to come. We comfort ourselves in the knowledge that this is true for him, too. His work is done, and now a shining city awaits him. May God bless Ronald Reagan.
END 12:43 A.M. (Local)
President GW Bush said today
"He always told us that for America the best is yet to come," Bush said of Reagan. "We comfort ourselves by telling ourselves that the same is true for him. ... We know a shining city is waiting for him."
Ronald Reagan's Farewell Speech
"I've spoken of the shining city all my political life"
I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever 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 creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it still.
"We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word 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: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all."
Remarks at Memorial Day Ceremonies Honoring an Unknown Serviceman of the Vietnam Conflict
Arlington, Virginia
May 28, 1984
"Thank you, dear son. May God cradle you in His loving arms."
God Comfort and Bless the family.
FranApple
.
...In the old War Century RONALD REAGAN saved us from COMMUNISM.
...In the new Freedom Century GEORGE BUSH is saving us from TERRORISM.
...In both Centuries...
...GOD is GOOD.
.
But last night as I was watching some of the tributes to him, tears were literally running down my face and my eyes are watering right now.
God, I miss that man.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.