A Shining City: The Legacy of Ronald Reagan: (Speeches by and Tributes To)

This book illustrates (although I prefer video) the powerful speeches of our 40th President. If anyone is interested in why he was labeled the Great Communicator, this book might be a good place to start. Reagan himself denied he was great speechmaker but said that his speeches expressed "great ideas". That's what he was all about... pragmatic yet poetic, realistic, idealistic, and (as history has shown) prophetic.

This is an awesome collection of his last few speeches. He could say just about anything and the American people would be right behind him...he was a true leader, and the best President ever!

For so long time we have been oppressed by the propaganda of the Evil Empire. And then, all of a sudden, along came the man who liberated us from those evil people. Ronald Reagan will be always rememebered by us as not only as Great Communicator, but also as Great Liberator. The world will be missing him and every February 6 should be observed as Great Presidents' Day. GOD BLESS YOU DEAR PRESIDENT! THE WORLD IS IN DEBT BEFORE YOU!

Ronald Reagan's speeches give us an insight into the complex character of this great and historic man. The liberal press and electronic media still refuse to give him the credit he deserves for ending the cold war and revitalizing the U.S., both spiritually and economically. His critics pan him for deficit spending when during his administrations the governemnt took in more revenue than any time in history despite tax cuts. The Democrat congress just spent all of it and more. President Reagan did not veto the spending bills as many think he should have, but rather used them as chips for political support for his missile defense system. This system, or the contemplation of it by Gorbachev was the single most influential factor in the negotiations between the US and Soviets. These negotiations led to the fall of Communism, an event still troubling many in the liberal press. As far as social programs, propaganda to the contrary, during the Reagan years school lunch programs increased 120% and other social programs were at all time highs. So here was the first 'Compassionate Conservative". George W. Bush is following suit.

Proving that Reagan wasn't affected by Alzheimer's in office, or even shortly thereafter this books details his wit, intelligence and vaunted communication skills. The tributes from world leaders meshes nicely with the speeches themselves.