From the Gipper, Familiar Words
  (c) The Associated Press
  AP-NY-01-02-98
  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Age and illness have silenced President Reagan,
  but a book of his words since leaving the White House bangs a familiar
  drum, replaying his dreams for America, faith in free enterprise and
  wisecracks about his "eight years in public housing in Washington."
  Reagan really liked the quip. It's in five of some 50 post-presidential
  speeches highlighted in "A Shining City: The Legacy of Ronald Reagan,"
  being released on February 6, Reagan's 87th birthday.
  The book spans six years between his farewell address in January 1989
  when he said "All great change in America begins at the dinner table" to
  November 1994 when he wrote a letter to the American people disclosing
  that he suffers from Alzheimer's disease.
  It provides a parting legacy of the nation's 40th president, a former
  Hollywood actor whose gentle delivery soothed audiences during his
  two-term presidency in the 1980s.
  Reagan made his last public speech on February 3, 1994 at a Republican
  National Committee event in Washington. After that, he gave a private
  speech to a business group and made audio and video tapes for charitable
  and political causes.
  The book includes Nancy Reagan's remarks at the 1996 Republican National
  Convention when she told a teary audience how "Ronnie's spirit, his
  optimism, his never-failing belief in the strength and goodness of
  America, is still very strong," but that the president's illness is a
  daily reminder of a "very long good-bye."
  The book also has dozens of tributes to Reagan from friends, world
  leaders and Washington figures.
  Under Reagan, writes former British Prime Minister John Major, "The
  United States had found renewed confidence, strength and authority as
  the leader of the free world."
  ABC News reporter Sam Donaldson said Reagan saved his job in 1981. ABC
  executives weren't amused when the combative Donaldson fired questions
  at Reagan after he gave remarks at an opening of a new network building
  in Washington.
  "So fire me," Donaldson replied, lightheartedly.
  A network executive shot back: "That's not a bad idea."
  But before the ABC executive could follow through, Donaldson said Reagan
  interrupted with words that protected his position. "Oh that's all
  right," Reagan said. "That's just the way Sam is."
  The Reagan speeches are replete with the president's favorite themes:
  anti-communism, freedom, hope and the American dream.
  "I have seen the world turned upside down and conventional wisdom
  utterly disproved," Reagan said in November 1991 at his presidential
  library in Simi Valley, California, which displays a section of the
  Berlin Wall. "Visitors to this mountaintop will see a great jagged chunk
  of the Berlin Wall, hated symbol of -- yes -- an evil empire, that spied
  on and lied to its citizens, denying them their freedom, their bread,
  even their faith.
  "It is also a reminder that a strong America is always desirable -- and
  necessary in our world."
  Reagan often used folksy anecdotes to drive home his message. And like
  other politicians, Reagan was guilty of recycling them. At least once,
  he changed the characters and set to suit the occasion.
  In July 1990, Reagan described President Eisenhower's boyhood roots,
  saying the people of Abilene, Kansas fought back tears when the flag
  passed and never burned Old Glory because nobody in Abilene would have
  stood still for that.
  Fifteen months later, Reagan used the same words to describe a place
  where he grew up.
  "Our neighbors were never ashamed to kneel in prayer to their maker. Nor
  were they ever embarrassed to feel a lump in their throat when Old Glory
  passed by," Reagan said. "No one in Dixon, Ill. ever burned a flag. No
  one in Dixon would have tolerated it."
  His self-deprecatory humor seasoned nearly every speech.
  At George Washington University in March 1991, Reagan admitted that he
  sometimes was more interested in college football practice than his
  schoolwork.
  "Maybe if I had gone to school without the distraction of football, I
  would have done well and made something of my life!" Reagan said.
  That came after he told the students: "I've recently lost my job, and
  before that I was in public housing for eight years."
  EDITOR'S NOTE -- "A Shining City," a $25 book published by Simon &
  Schuster, will be released February 6.
  --
 [ Shoshona Bieman, Sysop: Shofar BBS _@_ 714-838-3837 ]
 [ _ Such a nice Messianic Jewish, conservative Gal! _ ]
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