A figure that does not need any introduction. An actor, the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975) and the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989). A Republican politician known from economic policy that aimed to reduce the growth of government spending, reduce the federal income tax and capital gains tax, reduce government regulation, and control the money supply in order to reduce inflation (Reaganomics). A real Cold War fighter who managed to seriously undermine the position of Soviet Union in the late 80s. Moreover, a man of great sense of humour who firmly believed in the spirit of the US Constitution thereby the limited Government.
Ronald Reagan in 10 Great Quotes:
1. ‘One legislator accused me of having a nineteenth-century attitude on law and order. That is a totally false charge. I have an eighteenth-century attitude. That is when the Founding Fathers made it clear that the safety of law-abiding citizens should be one of the government’s primary concerns.’
2. ‘You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down — up to a man’s age-old dream; the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order — or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism, and regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.’
3. ‘Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.’
4. ‘The defense policy of the United States is based on a simple premise: The United States does not start fights. We will never be an aggressor. We maintain our strength in order to deter and defend against aggression — to preserve freedom and peace.’
5. ‘My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.’
/Joking during a microphone check. The joke was later leaked to the general populace 11 August 1984/
6. ‘… Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem’
7. ‘Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.’
8. ‘General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’
Speech at the Brandenburg Gate 12 June 1987/
9. ‘The nine most terrifying words in the English language are “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”’
10. ‘I hope we once again have reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited’
So forgive me but there is another video that is worth watching. This is how the Old Cowboy’s sense of humour looked like (bare in mind he was a President of the USA for most of the time!):
If you still cannot get enough of him, here is much more: http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/