Reagan Text: Bush Is Needed to Build on Gains

Here are excerpts from President Reagan’s speech Monday night to the Republican National Convention in New Orleans:

When people tell me that I became President on Jan. 20, 1981, I feel I have to correct them. You don’t become President of the United States. You are given temporary custody of an institution called the presidency, which belongs to our people. . . . It is the American people who endured the great challenge of lifting us from the depths of national calamity, renewing our mighty economic strength and leading the way to restoring our respect in the world. . . .

The dream we shared was to reclaim our government--to transform it from one that was consuming our prosperity into one that would get out of the way of those who created prosperity. . . . Before we came to Washington, Americans had just suffered the two worst back-to-back years of inflation in 60 years. Those are the facts. And as John Adams said: “Facts are stubborn things. . . . “

Interest rates had jumped to over 21%--the highest in 120 years--more than doubling the average monthly mortgage payments for working families-- our families. . . .

Facts are stubborn things. . . .

We Are the Change

It was a summer of discontent for America around the world. Our national defense had been so weakened, the Soviet Union had begun to engage in reckless aggression. . . . Now, we hear talk that it’s time for a change. Well, ladies and gentlemen, another friendly reminder: We are the change. . . .

We cut the tax rates for the working folks of America. . . . That was our change. . . . We pulled out of a tailspin and created 17 1/2 million good jobs. . . . New homes are being built. New car sales reached record levels. Exports are starting to climb again. Factory capacity is approaching maximum use. . . . As for inflation--well, that too has changed. We changed it from the time it hit 18% in 1980--down to between 3.5% and 4%. . . .

We rebuilt our armed forces. We liberated Grenada from the Communists and helped return that island to democracy. We struck a firm blow against Libyan terrorism. We’ve seen the growth of democracy in 90% of Latin America. The Soviets have begun to pull out of Afghanistan. . . .

Today, we have the first treaty in world history to eliminate an entire class of U.S. and Soviet nuclear missiles. . . .

Deficit Much Too High

And it’s time for some more straight talk. This time it’s about the budget deficit. Yes, it’s much too high. But the President doesn’t vote for a budget, and the President can’t spend a dime. Only the Congress can do that. . . .

Where we really need a change is to elect Republican majorities in both houses. Then George Bush can have a team that will protect your tax cuts, keep America strong, hold down inflation and interest rates, appoint judges to preserve your rights, and, yes, reduce the budget deficit.

Early in the first term, we set out to reduce federal regulations that had been imposed on the people, on businesses and on local and state governments. Today, I’m proud to say that we have eliminated so many unnecessary regulations that government-required paper work imposed on citizens, businesses and other levels of government has been reduced by an estimated 600 million man-hours of paper work a year.

And George was there. . . . George Bush headed up the task force that eliminated those regulations.

New Level of Management

In 1980 and before, it took seven weeks to get a Social Security card. Now it takes 10 days. It only takes 10 days to get a passport. It used to take 43 days. It took 75 days to get an export license; now it’s only 17 days, and for some countries, only five. It took over 100 days to process a claim for a Department of Housing and Urban Development Title I loan--100 days. It now takes less than one-fourth of that--22 days. I think these specifics suggest there is a new level of competent management in the departments of our government. George played a major role in everything we’ve accomplished in those eight years.

Now, early on, we had a foreign policy problem. Our NATO allies were under the threat of Soviet intermediate-range missiles, and NATO had no equivalent deterrent. Our effort to provide a deterrent--Pershing and ground-launched cruise missiles on the NATO line--resulted in political problems for our NATO allies. There was objection on the part of many of their people to the deployment of our missiles. George represented us in Brussels with the heads of the NATO countries, and they agreed to take the missiles. This subsequently persuaded the Soviets to sign the INF treaty and begin removing their SS-20s.

None of our achievements happened by accident, but only because we overcame liberal opposition to put our programs in place. And without George Bush to build on those policies, everything we have achieved will be at risk. All the work, sacrifice and effort of the American people could end in the very same disaster that we inherited in 1981.

Work Must Continue

Because I feel so strongly about the work that must continue and the need to protect our gains for the American family and our national security, I want to share with you the qualities we should seek in the next President.

We need someone who’s big enough and experienced enough to handle tough and demanding negotiations with Mr. Gorbachev--because this is no time to gamble with on-the-job-training. We need someone who’s prepared to be the President and who has the commitment to stand up for you against massive new taxes and who will keep alive the hope and promise that keeps our economy strong.

It will take someone who has seen this office from the inside, who senses the danger points, will be cool under fire and knows the range of answers when the tough questions come.

Well, that’s the George Bush I’ve seen up close--when the staff and Cabinet members have closed the door and when the two of us are alone. Someone who’s not afraid to speak his mind and who can cut to the core of an issue. Someone who never runs away from a fight, never backs away from his beliefs and never makes excuses.

Not Mine to Give

This office is not mine to give--only you, the people, can do that. But I love America too much and care too much about where we will be in the next few years. I care that we give custody of this office to someone who will build on our changes, not retreat to the past--someone who will continue the change all of us fought for. To preserve what we have and not risk losing it all--America needs George Bush. . . . And Barbara Bush as First Lady.

With George Bush, I’ll know, as we approach the new millennium, our children will have a future secure with a nation at peace and protected against aggression; we’ll have a prosperity that spreads the blessings of our abundance and opportunity across all America; we’ll have safe and active neighborhoods; drug-free schools that send our children soaring in the atmosphere of great ideas and deep values; and a nation confidently willing to take its leadership into the uncharted reaches of a new age.

So, George, I’m in your corner. I’m ready to volunteer a little advice now and then, and offer a pointer or two on strategy, if asked. I’ll help keep the facts straight or just stand back and cheer. But George, just one personal request: Go out there and win one for the Gipper. . . .

Letter From Young Boy

It is our gift to have visions, and I want to share that of a young boy who wrote to me shortly after I took office. In his letter, he said, “I love America because you can join Cub Scouts if you want to. You have a right to worship as you please. If you have the ability, you can try to be anything you want to be. I also like America because we have about 200 flavors of ice cream.”

Truth through the eyes of a child. Freedom of association. Freedom of worship. Freedom of hope and opportunity. And the pursuit of happiness--in this case, choosing among 200 flavors of ice cream.

That’s America. Everyone with his or her vision of the American promise. That’s why we’re a magnet for the world--for those who dodged bullets and gave their lives coming over the Berlin Wall and others, only a few of whom avoided death, coming in tiny boats on turbulent oceans. . . .

Twilight? Not in America.

Here, it’s a sunrise every day. Fresh new opportunities. Dreams to build. . . .

We lit a prairie fire a few years back. . . . I want you to know that if the fires ever dim, I’ll leave my phone number and address behind just in case you need a foot soldier. Just let me know, and I’ll be there--as long as words don’t leave me and as long as this sweet country strives to be special during its shining moment on Earth.

Twilight, you say?

Listen to H. G. Wells: “The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn.”

Well, that’s a new day--our sunlit new day--to keep alive the fire so that when we look back at the time of choosing, we can say that we did all that could be done. Never less.

Thank you. Good night. God bless you, and God bless America.