Dear Americans: Letters from the Desk of Ronald Reagan by Ralph E. Weber & Ralph A. Weber, Editors

Dear Americans: Letters from the Desk of Ronald Reagan
by Ralph E. Weber & Ralph A. Weber, Editors

The newly elected 40th President of the United States made his Inaugural Address in January 20, 1981. It was a low point in America’s position in the world. The Soviet Union was on the march for world domination with its brand of communism. We were regularly humiliated by Iranian thugs who held U. S. citizens hostage before the world to demonstrate our weakness. The morale of our country was very low, to the point that the prior outgoing president had stated a malaise had spread across the land and we basically had to accept it. Well, Americans refused to accept it and turned to a brighter future. President Reagan, in his address, stated many fundamental truths about our country that had seemed to have faded behind the issues that had plagued her for the past few years.

Among one of these moving statements was a tribute to the citizens of the United States:

We hear much of special interest groups. Our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and our factories, each our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we are sick—professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truckdrivers. They are, in short, "We the people," this breed called Americans.

Reagan placed his confidence in two strongholds—God and Americans. He realized that Americans committed to God were a force to be reckoned with far more than a secular government that relied on its delusion of omnipotence. He viewed U. S. citizens as “fellow Americans” meaning he did not view himself superior to any other American.

Dear Americans: Letters from the Desk of Ronald Reagan illustrates Reagan’s profound respect for Americans. The book is a collection of handwritten letters he wrote as President to various people across the nation regardless of their status or profession. He freely discussed matters relating to politics and religion. The editors discovered more than 3,500 letters Reagan had written during his eight years as President. That is an average greater than one letter a day to a citizen on a variety of issues! The editors provide some insight as to Reagan’s staff who managed this correspondence. The process they followed is inspiring since all this was done so that as many Americans could hear from their president as possible—Reagan’s personal commitment. One of my favorite letters is to a seventh grader seeking disaster relief funds since his mother had declared his room “a disaster area”. Reagan wrote the youngster “Your application for disaster relief has been duly noted but I must point out one technical problem: the authority declaring the disaster is supposed to make the request. In this case, your mother.” (Page 164) There is more to this delightful letter but I will save that for the reader’s enjoyment!

The letters are organized chronologically with annotations by the editors along the way to assist readers with the contexts. Ralph E. Weber has had the opportunity to conduct intensive research in the personal correspondence of five other presidents. He notes that none of the other five presidents had such a comparable body of letters. Another significant observation Weber noted about these files in comparison to other Presidents—none were as lively or optimistic. These letters will be a great source of reflection and reminder for those who lived during the 1980s and an illustration to those who seek to gather understanding about this truly unique American who served as the 40th President of our United States!

Thanksgiving Day Proclmation from November 12, 1981

Interesting note--The National Turkey Federation has been supplying the White House turkeys since 1947.  Although the first sparing of the turkey was done by Abraham Lincoln for the Christmas, John F. Kennedy is credited with sparing the first Thanksgiving Day turkey.  Kennedy did not "pardon" the bird, the credit for the use of the term "padon" in reference to a turkey was by Ronald Reagan in 1987.  George H. W. Bush was the first to issue an official presidential pardon in 1989.  

Barack H. Obama has pardoned "Courage" and the bird (along with an alternate) will fly first class to Disneyland.  (No YouTube video was found of "Courage" stating it wanted "to go Disneyland" could be found.)  Reagan was a bit more practical.  In 1981, on receiving a Tom Turkey from the National Turkey Federation, President Reagan was asked what he's going to do with Tom.  "Eat him," said Mr. Reagan straightforwardly. Pass the stuffing...Happy Thanksgiving!



Proclamation 4883. November 12, 1981

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A PROCLAMATION



America has much for which to be thankful. The unequaled freedom enjoyed by our citizens has provided a harvest of plenty to this nation throughout its history.  In keeping with America’s heritage, one day each year is set aside for giving thanks to god for all of His blessings.


On this day of thanksgiving, it is appropriate that we recall the first thanksgiving, celebrated in the autumn of 1621. After surviving a bitter winter, the Pilgrims planted and harvested a bountiful crop. After the harvest they gathered their families together and joined in celebration and prayer with the native Americans who had taught them so much. Clearly our forefathers were thankful not only for the material well-being of their harvest but for this abundance of goodwill as well.


In this spirit, Thanksgiving has become a day when Americans extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Long before there was a government welfare program, this spirit of voluntary giving was ingrained in the American character.  Americans have always understand that, truly, one must give in order to receive.


This should be a day of giving as well as a day of thanks.  As we celebrate Thanksgiving in 1981, we should reflect on the full meaning of this day as we enjoy the fellowship that is so much a part of the holiday festivities. Searching our hearts, we should ask what we can do as individuals to demonstrate our gratitude to God for all He has done. Such reflection can only add to the significance of this precious day of remembrance.


Let us recommit ourselves to that devotion to God and family that has played such an important role in making this a great Nation, and which will be needed as a source of strength if we are to remain a great people.




NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 1981, as Thanksgiving Day.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and sixth.

“That Wall” by Paul Kengor on National Review Online

“That Wall” by Paul Kengor on National Review Online

Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Wall: Reflections from Yesterday, Lessons for Today WATCH LIVE FOR FREE

RONALD REAGAN AND THE FALL OF THE WALL:
REFLECTIONS FROM YESTERDAY, LESSONS FOR TODAY


NOVEMBER 6, 2009
8:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.


Go to www.reaganfoundation.org to watch Live Video Streaming of the event from 8:00am to 5:30pm PST on November 6, 2009. 


This November marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the advent of freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe as we know it today. To celebrate this anniversary and to pay tribute to Ronald Reagan, whose role in this historic event was truly heroic, The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and The Heritage Foundation are joining together to host a one-day conference on Friday, November 6, 2009 at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.




PROGRAM:

9:30 A.M. “INSIDER PERSPECTIVES ON RONALD REAGAN AND THE FALL OF THE WALL”
When President Ronald Reagan called on General Secretary Gorbachev in 1987 to “tear down this wall,” his words were part of his decades-long battle to challenge Communism on every front. In this panel, some of President Reagan’s closest advisers will describe how President Reagan waged that battle, how he helped to bring down the Wall, and bring the Cold War to an end without firing a shot.


Panelists: Ed Meese (United States Attorney General, 1985-1988), Richard Allen (National Security Advisor, 1981-1982), John Lehman (Secretary of the Navy, 1981-1987), Martin Anderson (Chief Domestic Policy Advisor, 1981-1982) and Peter Robinson (White House Speechwriter)

Moderator: John McCaslin, co-host of the nationally syndicated talk-radio program “America’s Morning News”, produced by Talk Radio Network (TRN) and The Washington Times.



12:00 P.M. Remarks by George Shultz “TEAR DOWN THIS WALL”
As Secretary of State for almost eight years of the Reagan Presidency, George Shultz was an essential player in the effort to end the Cold War. In his keynote address at lunch, he will offer his personal reflections on behind-the-scenes negotiations and the instrumental role that Ronald Reagan – as a man and the world’s most powerful leader – played in the fall of the Berlin Wall. Secretary Shultz is uniquely qualified to provide us with insight on what our world would be like today if not for President Ronald Reagan’s determination to advance the cause of global freedom.



2:00 P.M. “THE UNFINISHED LEGACY OF THE FALL OF THE WALL”
The fall of the Berlin Wall brought liberty to Eastern Europe, but the struggle toward democracy and free enterprise did not end there. In this panel, leaders of the fight against Communism join with leaders from nations still working to establish democratic self-government to reflect on what the fall of the Wall achieved, and what remains undone.


Panelists: Vaclav Klaus (President, Czech Republic), Steve Forbes (Former chairman of the bi-partisan Board for International Broadcasting), Leszek Balcerowicz (Former First Deputy Prime Minister, Poland), Mart Laar (Prime Minister, Estonia, 1999-2002), Lord Charles Powell (Foreign Advisor to Margaret Thatcher, 1983-1990). Other panelists to be named shortly.


Moderator: Edward Lucas, The Economist



4:00 P.M. “WORLDWIDE PERSPECTIVES ON THE FALL OF THE WALL”
The Berlin Wall divided East and West. When it fell, nations throughout the formerly divided world shared in the triumph. In this panel, distinguished scholars of and participants in the triumph from East and West will offer their perspectives on why the Wall fell, and what its end meant for nations on both sides of the old divide.


Panelists: Dr. Robin Harris (Heritage Foundation), John O’Sullivan (Radio Free Europe), Peter Brookes (Heritage Foundation) and Lee Edwards (Heritage Foundation)


Moderator: Matthew Kaminski, The Wall Street Journal



For more information, please call 805-522-2977.  To learn more about the fall of the Wall and other events at the Library surrounding the 20th anniversary, please click here.

Ronald Reagan: How an Ordinary Man Became an Extraordinary Leader by Dinesh D'Souza

Ronald Reagan: How an Ordinary Man Became an Extraordinary Leader
by Dinesh D’Souza

This is a great book on emphasizing lessons that those in leadership positions would do well to read. When I first saw this book, I flinched at the “ordinary man” as I do at the phrase “common sense”. Just as “sense” appears to be all uncommon, it seems that Reagan was a rare gem who can never be replaced. Reagan was extraordinary both as a leader and a man. Sadly, our nation is plagued by politicians, financial managers, CEOs, and a host of other areas that are plagued with corruption. One of the fallacies popular today is the private sector is corrupt but the government is beyond becoming corrupt. Our leaders have no business pointing out to us how we should manage our money. When one considers the magnitude of the Federal Debt, I say “Physician (or Politician), heal thyself!”

Too many think the government needs to step in to eliminate corruption or foul play in the private sector without recognizing that many in the government are plagued with the same disease. Neither every politician nor all in the private sector have been corrupted. The few have made the reactions of others much more unbearable on the rest of us rather than punishing evil doers. Ronald Reagan came from a time when a man’s word was binding. Time gave way to where we would say that a man’s handshake is as good as a contract. Today, it seems that even a contract is barely worth the paper it is printed on. What has happened to our country? We have forsaken the values that transformed us from ordinary to extraordinary. We need to call for a national restoration on the values based on the Bible. It is not enough to say we need to base our values on the doctrines of the Founding Fathers. Relying on the teachings of the Founding Fathers is a good start, but ignoring the source for their wisdom falls short.

This book reveals that Ronald Reagan had a set of principles that guided him throughout his life. Many of these were formulated by his mother as he grew up in Illinois. Anyone who studies his youth realizes the kind of man Ronald Reagan would become. I remember Nancy Reagan commenting on what some considered a mysterious nature of Ronald Reagan as “What you see is what you get.” It is no more complex than that! People would scratch their heads as to say “It cannot be that simple.” but it was. Here was a man who loved his country, decency, patriotism, sentimentalism, humor, stories, principles, truth, justice, fairness, equity, and other principles that many today mock as trite. Some seek to dismiss this book as missing the glaring mistakes that Reagan made. To my knowledge, no one ever said Reagan was perfect and made no mistakes. Ronald Reagan certainly never said that. Now, he made far fewer mistakes than his predecessor (and his successors).

Ronald Reagan once said when asked how he thought his legacy would be, "I'm confident that history will judge us fairly." I am glad that he put his faith in history to render the verdict since he is no longer here to speak for himself. He has left us a legacy that; although his absence at events such as Presidential Inaugurations is not commented on by the press, those who knew him remember. It is up to us to remember the principles that he demonstrated to us and to teach them to our children. Indeed, he was an ordinary man who stood by guiding principles to become extraordinary. He told us that we are capable of doing the same. As he said,

“It does require, however, our best effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together with God’s help we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us. And after all, why shouldn’t we believe that? We are Americans.”

One of the principles that Ronald Reagan had complete confidence in was that Americans are in a better position to govern themselves rather than the government. Too many today expect the government to do something for every crisis rather than recognizing that many difficulties are solved by ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things each and every day.

Voters Turn Negative On All Political Labels Except Reagan

Voters Turn Negative On All Political Labels Except Reagan

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Ted Kennedy's Effort to Side with USSR Against Ronald Reagan

This letter which documents Senator Edward Kennedy’s offer to help the Soviet Union defeat Reagan’s efforts to build up a position of strength in order to bring the Soviets back to the bargaining table for nuclear arms reduction. The letter remained out of the public eye until it was discovered by a Times of London reporter in the 1990s after the KGB files were opened.

This letter was brought to my attention with the publication of Paul Kengor’s book The Crusader – Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism.

_______________________________________
Special Importance

Committee on State Security of the USSR

14.05. 1983 No. 1029 Ch/OV

Moscow

Regarding Senator Kennedy’s request to the General Secretary of the Communist Party

Comrade Y.V. Andropov Comrade Y.V. Andropov

On 9-10 May of this year, Senator Edward Kennedy’s close friend and trusted confidant J. Tunney was in Moscow. The senator charged Tunney to convey the following message, through confidential contacts, to the General Secretary of the Center Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Y. Andropov.

Senator Kennedy, like other rational people, is very troubled by the current state of Soviet-American relations. Events are developing such that this relationship coupled with the general state of global affairs will make the situation even more dangerous. The main reason for this is Reagan’s belligerence, and his firm commitment to deploy new American middle range nuclear weapons within Western Europe.

According to Kennedy, the current threat is due to the President’s refusal to engage any modification on his politics. He feels that his domestic standing has been strengthened because of the well publicized improvement of the economy: inflation has been greatly reduced, production levels are increasing as is overall business activity. For these reasons, interest rates will continue to decline. The White House has portrayed this in the media as the "success of Reaganomics."

Naturally, not everything in the province of economics has gone according to Reagan’s plan. A few well known economists and members of financial circles, particularly from the north-eastern states, foresee certain hidden tendencies that many bring about a new economic crisis in the USA. This could bring about the fall of the presidential campaign of 1984, which would benefit the Democratic party. Nevertheless, there are no secure assurances this will indeed develop.

The only real threats to Reagan are problems of war and peace and Soviet-American relations. These issues, according to the senator, will without a doubt become the most important of the election campaign. The movement advocating a freeze on nuclear arsenals of both countries continues to gain strength in the United States. The movement is also willing to accept preparations, particularly from Kennedy, for its continued growth. In political and influential circles of the country, including within Congress, the resistence to growing military expenditures is gaining strength.

However, according to Kennedy, the opposition to Reagan is still very weak. Reagan’s adversaries are divided and the presentations they make are not fully effective. Meanwhile, Reagan has the capabilities to effectively counter any propaganda. In order to neutralize criticism that the talks between the USA and the USSR are non-constructive, Reagan will grandiose, but subjectively propagandistic. At the same time, Soviet officials who speak about disarmament will be quoted out of context, silenced or groundlessly and whimsically discounted. Although arguments and statements by officials of the USSR do appear in the press, it is important to note the majority of Americans do not read serious newspapers or periodicals.

Kennedy believes that, given the current state of affairs, and in the interest of peace, it would be prudent and timely to undertake the following steps to counter the militaristic politics of Reagan and his campaign to psychologically burden the American people. In this regard, he offers the following proposals to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Y.V. Andropov:

1. Kennedy asks Y.V. Andropov to consider inviting the senator to Moscow for a personal meeting in July of this year. The main purpose of the meeting, according to the senator, would be to arm Soviet officials with explanations regarding problems of nuclear disarmament so they may be better prepared and more convincing during appearances in the USA. He would also like to inform you that he has planned a trip through Western Europe, where he anticipates meeting England’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and French President Mitterand in which he will exchange similar ideas regarding the same issues.

If his proposals would be accepted in principle, Kennedy would send his representative to Moscow to resolve questions regarding organizing such a visit.

Kennedy thinks the benefits of a meeting with Y.V.Andropov will be enhanced if he could also invite one of the well known Republican senators, for example, Mark Hatfield. Such a meeting will have a strong impact on American and political circles in the USA (In March of 1982, Hatfield and Kennedy proposed a project to freeze the nuclear arsenals of the USA and USSR and pblished a book on the theme as well.)

2. Kennedy believes that in order to influence Americans it would be important to organize in August-September of this year, televised interviews with Y.V. Andropov in the USA. A direct appeal by the General Secretary to the American people will, without a doubt, attact a great deal of attention and interest in the country. The senator is convinced this would receive the maximum resonance in so far as television is the most effective method of mass media and information.
If the proposal is recognized as worthy, then Kennedy and his friends will bring about suitable steps to have representatives of the largest television companies in the USA contact Y.V. Andropov for an invitation to Moscow for the interview. Specifically, the president of the board of directors of ABC, Elton Raul and television columnists Walter Cronkite or Barbara Walters could visit Moscow. The senator underlined the importance that this initiative should be seen as coming from the American side.

Furthermore, with the same purpose in mind, a series of televised interviews in the USA with lower level Soviet officials, particularly from the military would be organized. They would also have an opportunity to appeal directly to the American people about the peaceful intentions of the USSR, with their own arguments about maintaining a true balance of power between the USSR and the USA in military term. This issue is quickly being distorted by Reagan’s administration.

Kennedy asked to convey that this appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union is his effort to contribute a strong proposal that would root out the threat of nuclear war, and to improve Soviet-American relations, so that they define the safety of the world. Kennedy is very impressed with the activities of Y.V. Andropov and other Soviet leaders, who expressed their commitment to heal international affairs, and improve mutal understandings between peoples.

The senator underscored that he eagerly awaits a reply to his appeal, the answer to which may be delivered through Tunney.

Having conveyed Kennedy’s appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Tunney also explained that Senator Kennedy has in the last few years actively made appearances to reduce the threat of war. Because he formally refused to partake in the election campaign of 1984, his speeches would be taken without prejudice as they are not tied to any campaign promises. Tunney remarked that the senator wants to run for president in 1988. At that time, he will be 56 and his personal problems, which could hinder his standing, will be resolved (Kennedy has just completed a divorce and plans to remarry in the near future). Taken together, Kennedy does not discount that during the 1984 campaign, the Democratic Party may officially turn to him to lead the fight against the Republicans and elect their candidate president. This would explain why he is convinced that none of the candidates today have a real chance at defeating Reagan.

We await instructions.
President of the committee V. Chebrikov

_______________________________________

Thankfully, the esteemed Senator Kennedy failed and Ronald Reagan succeeded in throwing the Soviet Union on the ash heap of history! Reagan would go onto to win one of the greatest landslide victories in modern U. S. history. A true mandate!

SOURCES:

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/kgb-letter-details-kennedy-offer-to-ussr

Paul Kengor, The Crusader – Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism, Harper Perennial, 2007.