Ronald Reagan – Nomination Acceptance Speech of 1980
Fifth in a series. Then governor Ronald W. Reagan’s acceptance speech for the republican nomination for president at the republican national convention in July of 1980.
From a time when there was a clear and unambiguous difference between the two major political parties in the United States, not unlike today. Listen for the important quote by President Reagan of F.D.R. toward the end of the speech and contrast FDR’s words then, in 1932, with the democratic party of today.
A few notable quotes:
“Trust me government” asks that we concentrate our hopes and dreams on one man, that we trust him to do what’s best for us. Well, my view of government places trust not in one person or one party, but in those values that transcend persons and parties. That trust is where it belongs – in the people.”
Contnued...
“As your nominee I pledge to you to restore to the federal government the capacity to do the people’s work without dominating their lives.”
“Government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have it help us blinds us to its great power to harm us.”
“The first republican president once said, ‘While the people retain their virtue and their vigilance, no administration by extreme of wickedness or folly can seriously injure the government in the short space of four years.’ If Mr. Lincoln could see what has happened in the last three and a half years he might hedge a little on that statement.”
“High taxes we are told are somehow good for us, as if when government spends out money it isn’t inflationary but when we spend it, it is.”
On environmental extremism: “The economic prosperity of our people is a fundamental part of our environment.”
“Can anyone look at the record of (the Carter) administration and say, well done?”
”We are going to put an end to the notion that the American taxpayer exists to fund the federal government. The federal government exists to serve the American people.”
“When we deprive people of what they have earned or take away jobs, we destroy their dignity and undermine their families. We can’t support families unless there are jobs. We can’t have jobs unless the people have both money to invest and the faith to invest it.”
“We are taxing ourselves into economic exhaustion and stagnation, crushing our ability and incentive to save, invest and produce. This must stop. We must halt this fiscal self destruction and restore sanity to our economic system.”
“There may be a sailor at the helm of the ship of state, but the ship has no rudder.”
“No American should vote until he or she has asked; Is the United States stronger and more respected now than it was three and a half years ago?”
Source: Reagan Foundation via YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=PL5C86CFFC78F7EF8C&v=IwRvdGkVMx4
