44 states. Ladies and gentlemen, ronald reagan. Good evening. Im here tonight to announce my intention to seek the republican nomination for president of the United States. Im sure that each of us has seen our country from a number of viewpoints, depending on where weve lived and what weve done. For me, its been as a boy growing up in several small towns in illinois, as a young man in iowa, trying to get a start in the years of the Great Depression and later in california for most of my adult life. Ive seen america from the Stadium Press Box as a sportscaster, as an actor, officer of my labor union, soldier, Office Holder and as both democrat and republican. Ive lived in an america where those who often had too little to eat outnumbered others. Ive seen financial ruin in the Great Depression and also seen the great strength of this nation as it pulled itself up from that ruin to become the dominant force in the world. To me, our country is a living breathing presence, unimpressed by what others say is impossible, proud of its own success, generous, yes, and naive, sometimes wrong, never mean. Always impatient to provide a better life and freedom. The difference between a better american person is an american lives in anticipation of the forfeiture because he knows it will be a great place. Other people fear the future as just a repetition of past failures. Theres a lot of truth in that. If theres one thing were sure of, it is history need not be relived, that nothing is impossible and that man is capable of improving his circumstances beyond what were told is fact. There are those in our land today who would have us believe the United States, like other great civilizations of the past has reached the zenith of its power, were weak and fearful, reduced to bickering with each other and no longer possessed a will to cope with much of our problems. Much of this talk come from leaders who say our problems are too much to handle and were supposed to accept their failures and we must learn to live with less and teach our children their lives will be less full and prosperous than ours have been. The america of the coming years will be a place where, because of our past excesses, it will be impossible to dream and make those dreams come true. I dont believe that and i dont believe you do either. Thats why im seeking the presidency. I cannot and will not stand by and see this great country destroy itself. Our leaders attempt to blame their failures on circumstances beyond their control, false estimates by unknown unidentifiable experts who rewrite modern history in an attempt to convince us our High Standard of living, the result of thrift and hard work, is somehow selfish extravagance we must renounce as we join in sharing scarcity. I dont agree our nation must resign itself to inevitable decline, yielding its proud position to other hands. I am totally unwilling to see this country fail in its obligation to itself and other free people of the world. The crisis we face is not the result of any failure of the american spirit. Its a failure of our leaders to establish rational goals and give our people something to order their lives by. If im elected, i shall regard my election as proof that the people of the United States have decided to set a new agenda and recognized the human spirit thrives best when goals are set and progress can be measured in their achievement. During the next year i shall discuss in detail a wide variety of problems a new Administration Must address. Tonight, i shall mention only a few. No problem that we face today can compare with the need to restore the health of the American Economy and the strength of the american dollar. Doubledigit inflation has robbed you have your ability to plan, destroyed the confidence to buy and threatens the very structure of family life itself as more and more wives are forced to work to meet the ever increasing cost of living. At the same time, the lack of real growth in the economy has introduced the justifiable fear in the minds of working men and women who are already overextended, soon there will be fewer jobs and no money to pay for even the necessities of life. Tragically, as the cost of living keeps going up, the standard of living, which has been our great pride, keeps going down. The people have not created this desir disaster in our economy, the federal government has. It has overspent, overestimated and over regulated. It failed to deliver Services Within the revenue it should be allowed to raise during taxes at the end of world war ii it has spend 448 billion more than it has collected in taxes. 448 billion of Printing Press money, which has made every dollar you earn worth less and less. At the same time, the federal government has cynically told us hugh taxes on business will in some way solve the problem and allow the average taxpayer to pay less. Well, business is not a taxpayer. It is a tax collector. Business has to pass its tax burden onto the customer as part of the cost of doing business. You and i pay the taxes imposed on business every time we go to the store. Only people pay taxes and it is political demagoguery or economic illiteracy to try to tell us otherwise. The key to restoring the health of the economy lies in cutting taxes. At the same time, we need to get the waste out of federal spending. This does not mean sacrificing essential services, nor do we need to destroy the system of benefits which flow to the poor, the elderly, the sick and the handicapped. We have long since committed ourselves as a people to help those among us who cannot take care of themselves. But the federal government has proven to be the costliest and most inefficient provider of such help we could possibly have. We must put an end to the arrogance of a federal establishment which accepts no blame for our condition, cannot be relied upon to give us a fair estimate of our situation and utterly refuses to live within its means. I will not accept the supposed wisdom which has it the federal bureaucracy has become so powerful it can no longer be changed or controlled by any administration. As president , i would use every power of my command to make the federal establishment respond to the will and collective wishes of the people we must force the entire federal bureaucracy to live in the real world of reduced spending, streamlined function and accountability to the people it serves. At the same time, in reviewing the functions of the federal government, we must determine which of those functions could better be performed by levels of government closer to the people. The 10th article of the bill of rights is very explicit in pointing out the federal government should do only those things specifically called for in the constitution. All others shall remain with the states or the people. We havent been observing that 10th article of late. The federal government has taken on functions it was never intended to perform, and which it does not perform well. There should be a planned orderly transfer of such functions to states and communities and a transfer with them of sources of taxation to pay for them. The savings and administrative overhead could be considerable and certainly there would be increased efficiency and less bureaucracy. By reducing federal tax rates where they discourage individual initiative, especially personal income tax rates, we can restore incentives, invite Economic Growth and at the same time, get better government instead of bigger government. Proposals such as the roth bill would bring it to the states. A punitive tax system must be replaced by one that restores incentive for the worker and for industry. A system that rewards initiative and effort and encourages thrift. Now, all those things are possible. None of them will be easy. But the choice is clear. We can go on letting the country slip over the brink of financial ruin with the disaster this means for the individual, or we can find the will to work together, to restore confidence in ourselves and regain the confidence of the world. Ive lived through one depression. I carry with me the memory of a Christmas Eve when my brother and i and our parents exchanged our modest gifts. There was no lighted trees as there had been on christmases past. I remember watching my father open what he thought was a greeting from his employer. We all watched, and, yes, we were hoping it was a bonus check. It was notice he no longer had a job. In those days, the government ran radio announcements telling workers not to look for jobs. There were no jobs. I will carry always the memory of my father sitting there holding that envelope, unable to look at the rest of us. I cannot and will not stand by while inflation and joblessness destroy the dignity of our people. Another serious problem which must be discussed tonight is our energy situation. Our country was built on cheap energy. Today, energy is not cheap, and we face the prospect some forms of energy may soon not be available at all. Last summer, you probably spent hours sitting in gasoline lines. This winter, some will be without heat and everyone will be paying much more simply to keep home and family warm. If you ever had any doubt of the governments inability to provide for the needs of the people, just look at the utter fiasco we now call the Energy Crisis. Not one straight answer nor any realistic hope of relief has come from the present administration in almost three years of federal treatment of the problem. As gas lines grew, the administration again panicked and now proposed to put the country on a wartime footing. For this war, theres no victory in sight. As always, when the federal bureaucracy fails, all it can suggest is more of the same. This time, its another bureau to untangle the mess we already have. This wont work. Solving the Energy Crisis will not be easy but it can be done. First, we must decide less is not enough. Next, we must remove government obstacles to energy production, and we must make use of those technological advantages we still possess. It is no program simply to say, use less energy. Of course, waste must be eliminated and efficiency promoted. To tell the American People to conserve, thats not an energy policy. At best it means we will run out of energy a little more slowly. The day will come when the lights will dim and wheels of energy will stop. As president , i will not endorse any course which has this as the practical objective. It means more automobiles and exploration of oil and natural gas here in our own country. The only way to free ourselves from the monopoly pricing of oil from opec is be more independent from the outside sources of fuel. The answer is more Domestic Production of oil and gas. We must also have wider use of Nuclear Power within strict safest rules, of course and more spending on increasing industries by research and development and substitutes of fossil fuels. In the future, energy may provide much of the answer. For the next two or three decades we must do such things as master the chemistry of coal, putting the market to work for this objective is the first step. Multimillion dollar additional federal programs are not the answer. In recent weeks, theres been a lot of talk about excess oil company profits. I dont believe weve been given all the information we need to make a judgment about this. We should have that information. Government exists to protect us from each other. It is not governments function to allocate fuel or impose unnecessary restrictions on the marketplace. It is governments function to determine whether were being unfairly exploited, and if so, to take immediate and appropriate action. As president , i would do exactly that. On the foreign front, the decade of the 1980s will place severe pressures upon the United States and its allies. We can expect to be tested in ways calculated to try our patience, to confound our resolve and erode our belief in ourselves. During a time when the soviet union may enjoy Nuclear Superiority over this country we must never waiver in our commitment to our allies, nor accept any negotiation which is not clearly in the national interest. We must judge carefully though leave no initiative untried in our pursuit of peace we must be clearvoiced in our resolve to resist any unpeaceful act wherever it may occur. Negotiation with the soviet union must never become appeasement. For most of the last 40 years weve been preoccupied with the global struggle, competition with the soviet union and responsibilities to our allies. Too often in recent times we drifted along with events, responding as if we thought of ourselves as a nation in decline. To our allies we seem to appear to be a nation unable to make decisions in its own interests, let alone in the common interests. Since the second world war, we spent large amounts of money and much of our time protecting and defending freedom all over the world. We must continue this for if we do not accept the responsibilities of leadership, who will. If no one will, how will we survive . The 1970s have taught us the fool hardiness of not having a long range diplomatic strategy of our own. The world has become a place in order to survive, our country needs more than just allies. It needs real friends. Yet in recent times we often seem to not recognized who our friends are. This must change. It is now time to take stock of our own house and resupply its strength. Part of that process involves taking stock of our relationship with puerto rico. And if the people of puerto rico vote for statehood in their coming referendum, i favor statehood for puerto rico and would as president initiate the enabling legislation to make this a reality. We live on a continent whose three countries possess the assets to make it the most prospec on effort. Within the borders are the food, resources, technologies and undeveloped territory if properly messaged could improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. Its no accident this prosperity exists in three countries with such long standing heritage as a free government, so a developing closeness among canada, mexico and the United States. A north american accord would permit achievement of that potential in each country, beyond that which i believe any of us, strong as we are, could accomplish in the presence or absence, i should say, of such cooperation. In fact, the key to our own future security may lie in both mexico and canada, becoming much stronger countries than they are today. No one can say at this point precisely what form future Cooperation Among our three countries will take. If i am elected president , i would be willing to invite each of our neighbors to send a special representative to our government to sit in on high Level Planning sessions with us, as partners mutually concerned about the future of our continent. First, i would immediately seek the views and ideas of canadian and mexican leaders on this issue and work tirelessly with them to develop closer ties among our peoples. Its time we stopped thinking of our nearest neighbors as foreigners. By developing methods of working closely together, we will lay the foundations of future cooperation on a broader more significant scale. We will also put to rest any doubts of those cynical enough to believe the United States would seek to dominate any relationship among our three countries, or foolish enough to think the governments and peoples of canada and mexico would ever permit such a domination to occur. I for one am confident we can show the world by example that the nations of north america are ready, within the context of an unswerving commitment to freedom to meet a changing world. A developing closeness between the United States, canada and mexico, would serve notice on friend and foe alike we were prepared for the long haul, looking outward again, confident of our future. Together, we will create jobs, fortunes of wealth for many and provides a legacy for children of each of our countries. 200 years ago, we taught the world a new form of government created out of the genius of man to cope with his circumstances could succeed bringing a measure of quality to human life previously thought impossible. Now, let us work toward the goal of using the assets of this continent, resources and technology and food stuffs inefficient ways as possible for the common good of all its people. It may take the next hundred years. We can dare to dream at some future date a map of the world might show the north American Continent might be one the people and commerce of its three strong countries flow freely across their present borders. In recent months, leaders in our government have told us we the people have lost confidence in ourselves. We must regain our spirit and will to achieve our national goals. Well, its true, there is a lack of confidence and unease with things the way they are. The confidence weve lost is confidence in our governments policies. Our unease can almost be called bewilderment how our defense strength has deteriorated. The great productivity in industry has been surpassed by those who compete in our World Markets and no longer the stable value it once was. There remains the greatness of our people. Our capacity for dreaming up fantastic deeds for an unbelievable world. When washingtons men were freezing at valley forming, tom payne told his fellow americans we have it in our power to begin the world over again. We still have that power. We, todays living americans, have in our lifetime, fought harder, paid a higher price for freedom and done more to advance the dignity of man than any people whoever lived on this earth. The citizens of this great nation want leadership, yes, but not a man on a white horse demanding oh beadiabedience to commands. They want someone who can lead the world again. They want someone who can show strength and remove the roadblocks government has put in their way. I want to do that more than ive ever wanted. It is something i believe with gods help i can do. I believe this nation hungers for a spiritual revival, hungers to once again see honor placed above political expediency, and see once again the government the director of liberties and not gifts of privilege and not undermine the institutions custodians under what the government is founded approximately religion, education, and above all, family. Government cannot be clergy, teacher and parent. It is our servant, beholden to us. We who have had privilege with americans had a rendezvous with destiny since 1630, John Winthrop off the coast of massachusetts, on the deck, told the little band of pilgrims, we shall be as a city on the hill. The eyes of people upon us, if we deal falsely with our god in this work weve undertaken and so cause him to withdraw from his help from us we will remain a byword from an afflicted world. Mankind looks to us to keep our rendezvous of destiny and uphold the selfreliance, selfdiscipline and morality and responsibility for every individual, that we will become that shining city on a hill, for our countrys future, i pledge you my every effort. I ask for your prayers and support. I believe together we can keep this rendezvous with destiny. Thank you and good night. Cspans 2019 book, the president s, noted historians rank americas best and worst chief executives and provides insights of 44 american president s and noted conversations with president ial historians. Tonight, Richard Norton smith, Douglas Brinkley and edna met ford talk about the book at a quorum last spring from washingtons mt. Vernon now available on paperback and ebook. Watch American History now and over the weekend on cspan3. Watch cspans daily unfiltered coverage of the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic with briefings from the white house, congress and governors across the country. Plus, join in on the conversation on our live callin program, washington journal. Watch any time on demand at cspan. Org coronavirus. Up next on history bookshelf, randall ballmers book redeemer, and talks about the role religion played over president ford in the 1976 election and defeat in 1980 by ronald reagan. In atlanta, back in 2014. Welcome. Its a pleasure for me tonight to introduce randall ballmer, professor at dartmouth college. I followed his career a long time. His undergraduate work done at a school my father was a dean and my brother, joe, attended the school at the same time. Randy has turned into o