ROBERTSON: One oblique question. I read that the reason that you and Franklin Roosevelt were so tremendously popular is because you gave the American people hope. Looking down the road, what cause do you have for hope?
REAGAN: Well, I'm an eternal optimist, I know. But, I can't help but have hope. Just a few years ago we were seeing our streets torn up with rioting and demonstrations of various kinds, but we also were seeing a lack of hope. We were hearing talk about that we were no longer a nation of growth and so forth. That we must begin to limit ourselves in our expectations. And our government itself was telling that to the people.
Here today in these few short years, double-digit inflation is down to less than 4 percent and still on its way down. The prime rate had reached 21.5 percent, and it is down to less than a half of that now, and still I believe rates are going down. In the last 33 months we have created 8 million new jobs. The highest percentage of the labor pool is employed now than has ever been employed before in our
history. And the growth and the recovery have been the greatest that we have known in any recovery from any previous recession or depression.
But even more than that, there is something out there, you get out on the road and talk to the people, there is a spirit, our young people who once were totally disillusioned with government and so forth over the Vietnam War, the resurgence of patriotism among them. And now with our volunteer military, no longer having to have a draft, I don't know of anything I'm more proud of than our young men and women in uniform and their spirit.
ROBERTSON: I ask you a question for the women viewers in our audience. You've just gone through a very critical medical problem, and we know how close you and your wife Nancy are, it's almost a fabled love affair, better than Hollywood could do it, what was her reaction? How did she handle this crisis?
REAGAN: Well, she is very courageous. And once upon a time, when much younger, she was a nurse's aide. But she also is a very great worrier, and let me put this way, I've recovered quicker than she did.
ROBERTSON: Well, it was a terrible crisis. This is the second one. Some of your very close friends from California have gone back into private enterprise, or gone back home, are you turning more to your wife for counsel? She's a very wise lady.
REAGAN: We've always talked over everything together. I couldn't imagine it being otherwise. But as to the people leaving the administration, I've expected that. I had eight years' experience in California. And I made it plain from the beginning that these people, I would take them, even if it was only for a year or two years, and then find someone else if they, and when they had to return to their own careers.
And I think it should be that way. I wanted people in government that didn't really want a job in government, but that were willing to come and serve rather than those who were seeking government jobs. And the result is that they will have to go back to their own careers sooner or later. But, no, Nancy and I, we don't have any secrets from each other.
ROBERTSON: Mr. President, thank you so much. This has been wonderful. God bless you.
REAGAN: Well, thank you very much, and in saying that, let me tell you when you asked about the future and why I was optimistic, I am convinced this is a nation under God. And as long as we recognize that and believe that, I think He'll help us.
ROBERTSON: There's no question about it. That's the greatest cause for optimism I know of. Thank you very much, sir.
REAGAN: Thank you.