Welcome, everyone. We are excited to have you here for our special guest today for our 34th annual National Conservative student conference, and i am honored to introduce our featured speaker this morning. President Ronald Reagan famously said freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Reagan understood the importance of reaching young people throughout his life, which is why he joined our Advisory Board in 1962, and entrusted Young Americas Foundation to preserve his beloved ranch near Santa Barbara california. Because of president reagans consistent effort to reach new generations of young people, he inspired many to follow his lead and carry the torch for conservatism. One such leader who was inspired by president reagans words is our special guest this morning. Vice president mike pence is a leading proponent of reagan conservatism today. The people of east Central Indiana elected mike pence six times to represent them in congress. On capitol hill he established himself as a champion of limited government, fiscal responsibility, economic development, education, and the United States constitution. As governor of indiana, Vice President pence increased school funding, expanded school choice, and crated the first prek plan created the first prek plan in indian history. Despite the record tax cuts, the state remained fiscally responsible and the Vice President worked with members of the indiana General Assembly to pass two balanced budgets which left the state with reserves and a aaa credit rating. His steadfast dedication to conservative principles, Strong Family values, and record of legislative and executive experience that prompted President Trump to select mike pence as his running mate in july of 2016. Under President Trump and Vice President pences leadership, this administration has continued to fight for the principles we share, including the historic tax and jobs act which rejuvenated our economy, securing our southern border, and empowering students of all ages. And scholarship proposal its efforts to defend the free speeds rights of all students are two fold examples of all that. Yet through all his accomplishments, Vice President pence also dedicated free time to reach students. As a congressman, speaking to students on capitol hill, he made a pilgrimage to tour the reagan ranch in Santa Barbara. Today, we are excited to welcome him back once again as Vice President of the United States. Please give a warm welcome to Vice President mike pence. [applause] [cheers and applause] usa]ng well hello. Ence thank you for that warm welcome. To Patrick Coyle and more than 500 Young Conservatives gathered here from all across the United States, it is my great honor to join you at the annual National Conservative student conference. You are the rising leaders of a generation that is making America Great again. [applause] vice pres. Pence it really is great to be with all of you. Let me begin by mentioning a couple friends of mine, especially the men who built this organization from scratch over the last 42 years. I watched a lot of it from afar and it had the privilege of being involved in the Young Americans foundation on many occasions around the country and here in our nations capital. I know he could not be here today but he helped to start this conference 41 years ago. He has contributed so much to the cause of freedom and the conservative movement. Would you all just join me in a warm round of applause to the yaf president ron robinson. [applause] vice pres. Pence and i know in a pretty short period of time, ron will be passing the baton to another friend of mine, who was another midwestern avenue. A champion of individual freedom, and i think one of the most articulate voices for conservative voices in america. Join me in congratulating Governor Scott walker. [applause] vice pres. Pence congratulations, scott. And finally let me ring greetings from another friend of mine. And a man who i promise you is fighting every single day for the conservative ideals and values that have been at the foundation of this young Americas Movement from the first day of this administration. I bring greetings and admiration from the 45th president of the United States of america, President Donald Trump. [applause] vice pres. Pence isnt he something . I tell ya. Greatest honor of my life to serve alongside the president gets up every day to keep promises he made to the American People and is renewing the promise of america. And the president said all of you are part of a movement. In his words, quote, is reclaiming your future, rebuilding your country, restoring your destiny, and renewing the values that are the true source of american greatness. So, congratulations to you all. [applause] vice pres. Pence it really is a movement. It really is a movement all across this country. It elected this president in 2016, but it is a movement that has been turning our nation back to the ideals of our founders for decades. And the Young Americas Foundation has been an indispensable part of that. Has been50 years, yaf a stalwart of the principles of the american promise. Yaf is fighting to make America Great again, fighting for the values that have always made this nation strong long before it was cool. Been out there fighting for individual freedom, Strong National defense, Free Enterprise and traditional moral values. And because of your work all across this country, conservative values are winning again. They are winning hearts and minds. [applause] its true. Pence i have actually been involved with yaf since i was first elected to Congress Almost 20 years ago. I dont even want to know where you people were back down. Back then. Its humbling for me to see the way this organization has grown. The extraordinary contributions it has made to the life of this nation, including the role they played in saving the reagan ranch. In 2005, karen and i made a trip with our three kids out to the reagan ranch. I have to tell you, i cannot help but agree with our 40th president. If it is not heaven, it probably shares the same zip code. The reagan ranch is a National Treasure and the Young America foundation is to be commended for preserving it for future generations. [applause] vice pres. Pence the ranches where president reagan signed his historic tax cuts in 1981. Where he hosted heads of state or he made countless decisions to change the destiny of our nation in his time and has inspired this generation to do the same. I was about your alls age during the reagan revolution. I came of age during that time. It was a time when there was a president in the white house who was putting into practice the conservative ideals of the american founding. Who was putting into practice economic supposed principles of russell kirk. And i have to tell you, as i look out at all of your bright helphining faces, i cant but think that you are coming of age in a time just like it. Another outsider has come to washington dc to fight for everyday americans. An outsider is rebuilding our military, reviving our economy, restoring constitutional principle to our courts. President donald trump is a leading america back. [applause] vice pres. Pence and yours is the generation that has helped make that possible. It is amazing to think and you have to go back, you gotta go back. That what old proverb has been has always been before. If you look at the days of Ronald Reagan, you look at the way that media and the Political Class treated Ronald Reagan when he hit town, it will come across pretty familiar from the times in which we live today. The truth of the matter is back in that day we had a president turned his face like flint against the wind and challenged the political glass. Class. And i promise you, we have the same kind of strength in President Donald Trump. He is fighting every day to make this country safe and prosperous, and we have already started to drain that swamp. [applause] vice pres. Pence over the last 2. 5 years guided by the principles of this conservative leadership under this president s leadership, we have seen a conservative renaissance. Think about it. In just 2. 5 short years, we have cut back, rolled back red tape, unleashed american energy, and forged free and fair and reciprocal trade deals that are finally putting american jobs and American Workers first. [applause] vice pres. Pence and the results have really been remarkable. On economy that awaits you graduation is not only the strongest economy on the face of the earth, it is the most prosperous economy in the history of this country. [applause] vice pres. Pence that is what we call good timing. And i just want to encourage all of you folks who see Graduation Day not that far down the road, there are more job openings in America Today than there are people looking for work. That has almost never happened. Since election day because of the principles that you supported, and the leadership you have supported from the white house, congress, and state houses across the country, businesses large and small have created more than 6 million new jobs. The Unemployment Rate has hit a 50 year low. And we have seen the lowest Unemployment Rate ever recorded for africanamericans and hispanics. The American Dream is working again for every american. [applause] vice pres. Pence and i have to tell you, also wages are rising at the fastest pace they have had more than 10 years. More americans are working today than ever before. And i know it is particularly important to the president that wages are rising most rapidly for working families. For bluecollar americans. The truth of the matter is the fastest wage increase for people that are going to work in our factories and plants across the country, in a word, the forgotten men and women of america are forgotten no more. This economy is for everybody. [applause] know, is. Pence you saw that the other day, karen and i slipped away for a little vacation time. It was like two days. But we were sitting on a beach just outside fort myers, florida. I had a ball caps on and sunglasses. Las went by both wearing budweiser tshirts, tattoos on their arm. [applause] fellares. Pence this stopped and said you are Vice President pence, arent ya . I said yes sir, i am. Youooked at me and i said, tell the president i made twice as much money last year as i made the year before, and he just needs to keep doing what hes doing, because it is working. [applause] vice pres. Pence its true. And then he took two steps away and turned back around and he said, and i dont know what you do you keep doing what you are doing too. And i told him count on it. We are going to keep fighting to make this economy work. The truth is you look around america, jobs are back. Confidence is back. In a word, america is back. But we are just getting started, yeah. [applause] i am proud toce report as the father of a United States marine, this president fought from they want to make the Strongest Military in the history of the world stronger still. Under President Trumps leadership we have already seen the largest increase in our National Defense since the days of Ronald Reagan. With that renewed american strength the u. S. Is once again embracing our role as leader of the free world. How great is it to have a president who is standing up for america on the world stage instead of apologizing for america . [applause] vice pres. Pence how great is it . And under President Trumps leadership we are standing with our allies and standing up to our enemies. Our nato allies are country breeding more to our common defense than ever before. Last year you saw this president stand with our most cherished ally when he kept a promise that four administrations had made before him, when he moved the American Embassy to jerusalem, the capital of israel. [applause] vice pres. Pence so we have been growing the economy, we have been providing the National Defense, and we have been standing up for our values at home and abroad. You know, this president has actually appointed more judges to our federal courts of appeals in the last two years than any president in american history. And they are all principled conservatives who will uphold the godgiven liberties enshrined in our constitutions. [applause] vice pres. Pence like the freedom of religion. Like the freedom of speech. And like the Second Amendment rights that keep and bear arms. [applause] vice pres. Pence the men and women, we stood for liberty, the rule of law, the foundation of our constitutional liberties. All the things that the Young Americas Foundation is been all about since its founding. And i have to tell you beyond all of that, i could not be more proud to serve as Vice President to a president who stands without apology for the sanctity of human life. Is a prodonald trump prolife most president in american history. [applause] and you know, yaf has been an indispensable partner in these efforts over the last 2. 5 years. I wanted to come by just to commend you. And also to tell you that our work is far from done. But the work you have done has truly been inspiring. For instance in 2017, the university of california berkeley, a state school, which remarkably was the home of the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s, tried to restrict conservative organizations from hosting speakers. But it was the men and women of yaf who stood up. You fought this policy, we took it to court, and when you did, this administration stood with you. [applause] vice pres. Pence and last december, after more than a year of litigation, we won. Its policieshanged on freedom of speech because of all of you. Well done, yaf. [applause] and when itence comes to freedom of speech, the Trump Administration and yaf are Standing Shoulder to shoulder and they always will. This administration has filed briefs in three other cases, and in every case the courts have either agreed with our position or the schools changed their policy. Under this administration i promise you that the strong support and leadership of the Young Americas Foundation, freedom is winning on campuses all across america, and we are not going to stop until the freedom of speech is restored on every campus in this land. [applause] vice pres. Pence the past 2. 5 years have been two years of action. Two years of results. They have been acting on conservative principles, the principles that we share and cherish. It has been about jobs and prosperity, about security at home and abroad. And it has been about fundamental liberties. Strengthening america each and every day. This president has led this movement and lead this nation back. But that is just what this president likes to call a good its been 2. 5 years where weve seen a tremendous renewal of our country. Ourour economy, of confidence. The truth is i stand before all of you today, i also want to challenge you because we have a lot more work to do. To this rising generation of conservative leaders from all across america, let me just say thanks for showing up. You picked a great time to be in this fight. But this is your moment. To finish what we started, President Trump and i are counting on all of you. We need your voices. We need your energy. We need your vision as never before. America was founded on a very simple principle. And that principle was freedom. The oncecent years, universal support in america for freedom, freemarket economics, and unalienable rights, as fallen to our movement, and our party. As we saw in last nights debate before the first hour was over, leading democrats advocated a government takeover of health care, open borders, Free Health Care to illegal immigrants, and raising taxes on the middle class to pay for. For it. And before the night was over all the leading democrats argued for decriminalizing a legal immigration, the green new deal, gun control, and abortion. But today, headlines across the country say that the story last night was that moderates in the Democratic Party were pushing back in the debate. You know, it is Pretty Amazing with the media calls moderates these days. Last nights democratic event was not between moderates and liberals. It was between liberals and socialists, and that is the Democratic Party today. [applause] it really isnce remarkable to see leading democrats openly advocating an Economic System that has impoverished millions around the world. And robbed nobody for generations. That system is socialism. Notit was freedom, socialism, that gave us the strongest and most prosperous nation in the history of the world. It was freedom, not socialism, that ended slavery, won two world wars and stands today as a beacon of hope for all the world. It was freedom, not socialism, that is moving us beyond the president s of the past to create a more Perfect Union and extend the blessings of unity to every american regardless of race or creed or color. I want to say to this rising generation, the moment america becomes a socialist country is the moment america ceases to be america. So we must say in this movement with one voice, as President Trump said in his state of the union address, america will never be a socialist country. [applause] vice pres. Pence had to say it. Know, Margaret Thatcher probably said it best. She said the problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other peoples money. The truth is what we all know is medicare for all means Quality Health care for non. The only for none. The only green about the new green deal is how much green it will cost us. Theres an old saying that the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over expecting different results. Socialism has been tried. In dozens of countries all over the world. From venezuela, to north korea. And socialism has never worked before. It does not work now. And the American People should reject socialism and embrace freedom with renewed energy and vigor. And i know we will. [applause] vice pres. Pence and the truth is men and women, the truth facing this country in the next 15 months has never been clear. Clearer and the stakes have never been higher. As the president said not long ago, all that could change with one election. So nows the time for us to redouble our efforts. To redouble our efforts to support men and women at every level who are supporting the timeless ideals that have always made this country great and are making this country great again, and it is time to make sure that President Donald Trump gets four more years. [applause] [chanting four more years] vice pres. Pence so to this rising generation of american here becauseare you know that your future is inextricably tied to the future of this country. The future of this country depends on what we do over the next 15 months. As president reagan to say, u sed to say, freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. I know you all know that here, and i know you will bring the energy and determination, that Great American spirit that has been present throughout the generations since the founding of this country, for the cost in the days ahead cause in the days ahead. I see before me a remarkable group. I think about all that has been done to renew and strengthen the foundations of this nation, and i am confident i am confident we will build on the progress we have made. You are the future of conservatism in america, make no mistake about it. And as i look out across this ofwd, i know the future conservatism in america is bright. [applause] you are notence just future leaders of the movement, you are leaders right now, and i want you to know that. I want you to know we are counting on you. There will be challenges ahead. My admonition to each one of you this morning is prepare yourselves. Prepare your minds for action. In the days ahead, it will not be sufficient for us to win the next election, we need to win the next generation. And applause] vice pres. Pence each one of you has a role to play in your generation, go and tell freedoms story and make sure the siren song of socialism doesnt take hold in the hearts of your generation, that the freedom that is our birthright as americans is preserved and expanded as a beacon of hope for all the world. No one can speak to your generation quite as effectively as you can, so i want to challenge you in the words of the late russell kirk to this rising generation, redeem the time. Time, renew your mind. Be men and women of discipline and conviction. Understand the foundations of this country. Take time to read and study. Sitdown with a mentor that you admire. Who understands the roots of american greatness and simply listen and take notes. Find your role in freedoms story, and play it, because this is your time. I leave here today with renewed faith, and i want you to have faith in the days ahead. Faith in the principles of the american founding, enshrined in ourdeclaration ou, constitution, and bill of rights. Have faith in this president and conservatives across the land, courageous men and women who are defending the freedom and values that have always made this country great and are making this country great again. Have faith in the American People that if he hold if we hold the banner of freedom high, if we put into practice those words that are carved into the liberty bell, to proclaim liberty throughout all the land and to unto all of the inhabitants thereof, the American People will rally to our cause, just as they have always done. And finally, have faith in him who placed this miracle of democracy on these Wilderness Shores so many centuries ago. Make freedom our onse, we are making his work for where our own, the spirit of the lord is, there is freedom. That means freedom always wins. [cheers and applause] vice pres. Pence men and women, lets keep on fighting, lets keep on winning. With your support, with conservatives elected, to statehouses and congresses across this country, with President Donald Trump in the white house, and with gods help, we will renew this nation. We will strengthen the foundation of america. [applause] vice pres. Pence we will make america more prosperous and secure than ever before, and he will keep making America Great again. Thank you very much. We will keep making America Great again. [applause] in cspan3 president ial leadership leadership surveys, Grover Cleveland drops from 17 to 20 third place. Ulysses as grant makes the most dramatic rise, going from the 33rd to the 22nd spot. What is your favorite president rank . Lend that and more about the lives and leadership skills of 44 executives. It is great vacation reading. Available wherever books are sold or it cspan. Org the president s. Saturday morning at 10 30 eastern on cspan, we will show you the first of two democratic president ial primary debates in detroit. Sunday morning at 10 30 eastern, the second round of residential primary debates. Saturday and sunday at 10 30 a. M. Eastern. Lesson with the free cspan radio app