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As I watched the recent movie starring Dennis Quaid about the life of my friend Ronald Reagan, memories of a bygone era came flooding back. Quaid captures the essence of Reagan and I was honored to be played by a Hollywood actor named Will Wallace. A timely reminder of why leadership matters as we transition from theaters to homes across America.
When Reagan took office as President of the United States on January 20, 1981, the country was plagued by a number of serious problems. The economy has plunged into the worst crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Inflation and interest rates were soaring, unemployment was high, and commercial activity was stagnant. In addition, severe energy shortages occurred, affecting almost every business and industry.
On the national security front, the situation was equally bleak. In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, America’s military power was declining. Lack of human resources, equipment, and morale plagued the military.
President Ronald Reagan said the nation should return to the fundamental principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the founding precepts. (Universal History Archive/Getty Images)
At the same time, the Soviet Union was involved in invasions around the world, oppressing the peoples of captured countries and attempting to overthrow some countries that had not yet entered the Marxist realm. The world was also threatened with the possibility of nuclear war.
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The consequences of these conditions at home and abroad influenced the thinking of the American people. Faced with all the problems, many people had lost faith in America and its institutions.
Mr. Reagan’s predecessor said the nation was in a state of “malaise.” Some experts predicted that capitalism would reach its peak and be on the decline. Some said the free world would have to coexist with totalitarianism in a state of perpetual tension.
Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan shakes hands with President Jimmy Carter before a debate on October 28, 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Getty Images)
To meet these challenges, President Ronald Reagan advocated that the nation adhere to the fundamental principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Founding Precepts: individual liberty, limited government, a free market economy, and traditional values. He said there is a need to return to (faith, religion, etc.). family, work, neighborhood, peace), and a strong national defense.
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Based on these fundamental concepts, the President and his team developed a series of strategies to revitalize the economy, rebuild national security, and restore the confidence of the American people.
To stimulate the economy, President Reagan worked with Congress to implement sweeping tax cuts. He led regulatory reform, eliminating unnecessary rules and requirements that strangled businesses and industries. He worked with the Federal Reserve to maintain stable monetary policy and slow the growth of federal spending.
President Ronald Reagan stands alongside Attorney General Edwin Meese III after announcing the nomination of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy to the Supreme Court. (Dirk Halstead/Getty Images)
In the area of national defense, the President again worked with Congress to provide the necessary resources to improve the military’s personnel, equipment, and weapons systems. He raised military morale and pride and reestablished effective intelligence capabilities.
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He also directed the development of the Strategic Defense Initiative, a ballistic missile defense system to counter the threat of nuclear attack. Ronald Reagan also engaged with the Soviet Union on moral grounds, deterred further invasion, and supported freedom fighters around the world.
To address the public’s concerns, the president addressed them directly in a video conference from the White House and in speeches around the country. He explained why reaffirming fundamental truths and founding principles is critical to our progress and spoke candidly about the changes being made across government and the need for new policies. His optimism and candor inspired Americans to regain the “can-do” spirit that had long defined them.
President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev conclude a two-day meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, on October 12, 1986. (Reuters/Nick Diedrick)
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All of these measures have produced extraordinary results, including the strongest peacetime economic growth in history. The world’s strongest military system was born by re-establishing national security based on “peace through strength.” His involvement in the Soviet Union ultimately led to the end of the Cold War, with the forces of freedom winning and the Soviet Union imploding.
Ronald Reagan also made many other beneficial changes in our government. He appointed judges and justices who were committed to the fidelity of the Constitution and who would interpret the law as written, rather than supplanting their own personal ideas, political biases, or political preferences, thereby leading the federal judiciary. restored its health.
President Donald Trump awards former Attorney General Edwin Meese with the National Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on October 8, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The President also took steps to restore the balance of authority and power between the states and the federal government. Additionally, his administration championed the cause of religious freedom and the protection of families from undue government interference.
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Throughout his eight years as president, Ronald Reagan proved to be what historians describe as a “transformational president,” restoring hope and patriotism to a sensitive nation. His presidency was expressed at the end with the words, “He came to change the country, and he changed the world.”
As a new president prepares to take office with a golden opportunity to be a transformative president, we all wish him the best and hope that, like President Ronald Reagan, he will transform our country for the better. We should expect that.
Click here to read more about Edwin Meese III
