Debbie Schlussel: Happy Birthday: Reagan Would've Been 95, Today

By Debbie Schlussel

Congressional candidate Howard Kaloogian reminds us that today is an important date: Today, would have been the 95th birthday of the greatest President in my lifetime, Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911. I was only in grade school when I helped my dad campaign for Reagan. Jimmy Carter was President, America had a kick me sign around the world, and inflation was in double digits. Oh, and remember the Shah, that Carter escorted out of Iran in favor of free, democratic elections there. Welcome, Khomeini--and ultimately, Ahmadinejad.

The Peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia told us that we would be the first American generation to do worse than our parents, not better. He even suggested bicycling to work to conserve energy. We said "buh-bye" to father of Amy, bro of Billy.

The day Ronald Reagan took office, January 20, 1981, American hostages in Iran were released after 444 days in captivity. Reagan cut taxes and made us feel proud to be Americans again. He said it best when he said, "We have the right to dream heroic dreams," instead of being co-opted with pessimism and defeat, a la Carter.

Meeting President Reagan for the first time in 1987 was one of the greatest experiences of my life. And I'm proud to be friends with his bright and talented son, Michael.

Ronald Reagan may have passed away, but the spirit of the Reagan Revolution lives on.

Posted by Debbie on February 7, 2006 07:47 AM to Debbie Schlussel