Concert for America: A Tribute to Ronald Reagan - 2/5/11

please welcome john highbush executive director of the ronald reagan presidential foundation good evening and welcome to reagan country on behalf of the ronald reagan presidential foundation it is my great pleasure to welcome all of you here this evening we are here tonight to celebrate the centennial of ronald reagan's birth also known as a year-long 100th birthday party for the greatest president in our lifetimes what this centennial is really all about is a celebration of a magnificent life that inspired freedom and changed the world and i know there is one aspect president reagan would especially like about his celebration tonight in addition to the bands the tributes and the fun and that is there is no taxpayer money and not a dime of stimulus funds involved this event is an opportunity to remember an extraordinary man whose uniquely american life took him on an unlikely yet destined path from humble origins in the heartland of our country to the silver screen and ultimately to the white house a man whose positive impact and influence on history will be felt for generations and a man whose fundamental decency goodness and kindness never changed long before president ronald wilson reagan led the united states of america he worked as an actor ask him to go in there with all they've got win just one for the kipper a spokesman for general electric here is ronald reagan good evening and the governor of california february 6 2011 marks the day president reagan would have turned 100 years old this moment is a historic opportunity to remember the life lessons and legacy of america's 40th president we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams ronald reagan strongly believed america's best days lie ahead those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes they just don't know where to look by speaking of traditional ideals that hearkened to the founding of our country and by projecting an aura of confidence and optimism president reagan inspired america to regain its sense of purpose we've got to do a better job of getting across that america is freedom freedom of speech freedom of religion freedom of enterprise and freedom is special and rare we the people are free ronald reagan stood for timeless beliefs freedom liberty and american exceptionalism principles that must be fought for protected and handed down for future generations to do the same and children if your parents haven't been teaching you what it means to be an american let them know and nail them on it that would be a very american thing to do president reagan was a man of deep convictions and abiding faith he also never failed to see the humor in life well the first thrill tonight was to find myself for the first time in a long time in a movie on prime time i will not make age an issue of this campaign i am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponents youth and inexperience letter came from peter sweeney he's in the second grade in the riverside school in rockville center and he said i hope you get well quick or you might have to make a speech in your pajamas we knew ronald reagan as president governor dutch the gipper and the great communicator i never thought it was my style of the words i used that made a difference it was the content i wasn't a great communicator but i communicated great things and they didn't spring full bloom from my brow they came from the heart of a great nation from our experience our wisdom and our belief in the principles that have guided us for two centuries he believed in democracy and freedom to the core of his soul you all knew that some things are worth dying for one's country is worth dying for and democracy is worth dying for because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man and he tirelessly fought tyranny oppression and communism to create a better world mr gorbachev tear down this wall above all ronald reagan believed in america and then americans he led us to have faith in our strengths and unshakable confidence in our great nation and to champion the oppressed as long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves the future will always be ours and something else we learned once you begin a great movement there's no telling where to live we meant to change a nation and instead we changed the world on the centennial anniversary of ronald reagan's birth we remember most that president reagan inspired freedom and changed the world ladies and gentlemen the master of ceremonies for tonight's concert the honorable fred thompson thank you thank you thank you no that would have been a great clip if it had a decent narrator for it wouldn't it but uh first of all to the trustees of the ronald reagan presidential foundation my deep gratitude for the honor that you've given me by asking me to emcee tonight's tribute now over the years i have hosted a number of events ranging from some some modest gatherings usually having something to do with barbecue and tennessee and some that have had a bit more higher profile but i assure you that uh none have been as much as as much to me as the one tonight and that's for one simple reason and that reason is ronald reagan the centennial is an important recognition of an extraordinary force in history a man whose steadfast belief in the right of people everywhere to live in peace and freedom he believed in the goodness and greatness of the american people and his optimism and courage led to changes in the world that no one else could have imagined the resurgence of american pride and economic opportunity as well as the expansion of democratic values to all corners of the globe folks it doesn't get any more important than that and that is the legacy of the man who would have been 100 years old tomorrow we all know that among his many skills ronald reagan was a superb entertainer he loved the entertainment business and was proud of his time in hollywood and what i think is a fitting tribute we have a terrific lineup of entertainment for you this evening including lone star roger williams anna maria perez de taglin the beach boys los robles master chorale and it wouldn't be a reagan event without lee greenwood and to get it started we are privileged to welcome an organization that's been in existence for almost 100 years itself 94 to be exact this band has a long and proud history with the reagans having performed at events in sacramento and washington in fact they welcomed president reagan to their campus on the occasion of his first speech after leaving the white house please welcome the world famous award-winning university of southern california trojan marching band so ladies and gentlemen please stand for our national anthem so ladies and gentlemen please welcome two representatives of the national youth leadership committee of the ronald reagan centennial celebration brody conover and caitlin rowan good evening ronald reagan always believed that america's best days lie ahead it was very important to him that future generations be able to live in a world of peace freedom and economic opportunity he famously said that freedom is one generation away from extinction and he was right in that spirit the national youth leadership committee was established as a way to ensure the active participation of the next generation we come from all walks of life athletics entertainment and college campuses between us we have 18 olympic medals 11 ncaa all-american selections five ncaa championships and two platinum records but much more importantly we have in common the fact every single one of us has been inspired by president reagan's example and share a deep and abiding commitment to continue his work i know some people may think it's old-fashioned to have heroes but we don't ours is ronald reagan and we are very proud to be working to make certain that the torch of freedom which he carried so boldly will march on in his autobiography an american life president reagan wrote i think too many people overlook the value of a small college and the tremendous influence that participation in student activities can have during the years from adolescence to adulthood if i had gone to one of those larger schools i think i would have fallen back into the crowd and never discovered things about myself that i did at eureka my life would have been different as a student at eureka college ronald reagan's alma mater some days i can hardly believe that this man this larger than life legend actually walked the very same paths and studied in the very same buildings that i do every day it is impossible to be on campus without feeling his presence and i consider it an honor to follow in his footsteps literally and to be a part of this celebration thank you ladies and gentlemen from america's heartland with multiple gold and platinum albums billboard and country chart toppers cody collins michael britt keach rainwater dean sams and michael hill better known as country music sensation lone star is to part around the up the world welcome is oh oh around the world thank you thank you guys so much for having us out here now we really really appreciate it you know what a great event thank you guys for having us out here this is such a cool party to be at what would be a hundred years for mr ronald reagan and what a great man that guy was you know he's definitely known for being a great guy and being a great man a really good president and even an amazing husband to mrs ronald reagan it is definitely no secret they had a great love life their life story has a lot of love in it so we want to dedicate this song to them is when you touch me i can see your dreams it just keeps getting to spend the better of my thing life you do baby is is you is i'm so in love news everything that you do i wanna spend the rest of my life that you don't my thank you come on nothing but is myself everybody know is just kill me bye me do things i'm wc the way down on union catfish on the table they got in the air wanna see everybody's hands in here come on tell me me is is thank you so much ladies and gentlemen basketball hall of fame great and executive director of the la open mr clutch cherry west thank you very much i'm thrilled to be here tonight to be part of this tribute to a man i think i've admired for many years and i know everyone here tonight to honor him feels the same i'm also proud that the northern trust open is partnering with the ronald reagan foundation for the 2011 west coast pga tour stop at riviera country club in two weeks obviously we hope every one of you come out to see these great players play like the reagan foundation we have at the la open have made it a priority to develop relationships with a local community including the military as a way of showing how much we appreciate the sacrifices made every day on our behalf a few days ago i had the honor to be aboard the magnificent uss ronald reagan and joined captain burke in doing a little putting on the deck i played golf a lot of years and uh but certainly nothing compared to that but as i looked at faces of those dedicated servicemen i thought of my brother david who was killed in the korean war when i was just 12 years old he believed in his country and made the ultimate sacrifice for us ronald reagan was the kind of commander-in-chief my brother would have been proud to serve i had the feeling that on the ship that day he was probably looking down us and smiling and being very happy for me in particular thank you for having me and have a wonderful night for this great tribute to this incredible man thank you ladies and gentlemen a message from ronald reagan's vice president the 41st president of the united states george herbert walker bush good evening from houston where barbara and i are sending our best wishes to friends and family of president reagan as you gathered his library to celebrate its 100th birthday we wish you could join you on this very special occasion as we both have wonderful memories of our years in washington with president reagan truly one of our great american presidents of the many memories i have as vice president one of the weekly lunches that president reagan and i enjoyed together he often scheduled around those times to make sure that he and i had time to focus on the many important matters facing the administration president reagan was one of the most kind and caring leaders i've had the privilege of working with and knowing in public life he was not only my boss but also a valued friend a good friend president reagan was a man of vision integrity and principle his leadership and character will serve as examples for generations to come yet i know he would be humbled so many are gathered in his honor at this occasion he's certainly deserving of the many wonderful tributes you receive during the centennial year have a wonderful evening barbara and i will be toasting you and our dear friend ladies and gentlemen a message from the 43rd president of the united states george w bush good evening and greetings from texas i'm honored to join you in celebrating the life of a fine american an inspiration and one of the greatest leaders our nation has ever known president ronald reagan laura and i send our very best wishes to the reagan family particularly to a woman we admire a lot nancy reagan we thank the supporters of the reagan library for helping carry on the legacy of president reagan during this centennial celebration we join you in giving thanks for the life of a great man whose defining qualities optimism modesty and strength are the qualities that should always guide america may god bless the memory of ronald reagan and may god continue to bless america two presidents from the same family doesn't happen that often but it does speak to a very interesting point with regard to this year's centennial celebration and that is how enduring and multi-general uh generational the reagan legacy is what uh president reagan accomplished getting america's economy thriving again restoring our self-confidence strengthening our military and standing tall against foes of democracy these aren't things that benefit just one generation and that's evidenced by the fact that in this audience tonight are men and women who worked with ronald reagan in hollywood sitting next to people including members of congress who weren't even born when ronald reagan was first elected yet we all share an appreciation for this amazing man and we all are beneficiaries of what he did as so many others all over the world will be for for years to come talk about having an impact now one of those who was born before ronald reagan was elected president is a man of immense talent and unequaled accomplishment as a pianist a person who has been delighting audiences for years and who despite his tremendous success has just like ronald reagan remained humble and appreciative of his fans as he has been since the first day of his career ladies and gentlemen the great roger williams do so thank you it's good to be back at the library again now tell me did you see that sunset tonight well like you i'm here tonight to honor two very special people and of course that is president and mrs drake ron and nancy theirs has to be one of the greatest love stories of all time two of my favorite songs i think characterize it better than any one of them is somewhere in time remember that motion picture somewhere in time is a story of a love affair that just keeps going on and on and on year after year with no regards for time it's just there the other song the other song happens to be the reagan's favorite love song they've had this ever since i think george gershwin wrote this what was it 1933 the song is called our love is here to stay mrs reagan tells us every time she hears his son she gets all choked up well why shouldn't she be theirs was a love affair that went through the years like you couldn't believe on and on they went through hell and high water together and still they stuck together tonight they're still together and that song says it all it's very clear our love is here to stay so so so so so so so okay you got the seats all filled up again here are two more favorites you may remember do so so so so so so president reagan and i believe it or not started out at a radio station in des moines iowa he was a sports announcer and he called himself dutch reagan and he was good and i was a so-called piano prodigy and i had my radio show on another station three times a week and we became fast friends over the years played i played for him so many times on the campaign trail when he was governor and when he was president i got to tell you i think this man was the most optimistic man that i ever met in my entire life the only time the only time i ever saw him down was right after he had attended that first summit meeting with mikhail gorbachev over enriquevac now the russians for years had gotten their way with a lot of table pounding and threats but reagan stood strong and he gave them a taste of his temper and when the russians reneged on an earlier thing they said they would do reagan got up and he walked right out of the summit when he got back to the united states the press just they really let him have it they said that he had ruined any chance that we had to compromise with russians on the cold war it was a pretty dark day for president but what the press didn't know and what we didn't know was that the russians had learned a mighty lesson on that first summit and the lesson was this don't mess with ronald reagan last time i played for the president i was rehearsing the orchestra out in the white house lawn and all of a sudden i felt this tap on my back and i turned around and here was the president with a big grin on his face and he said roger he said i just heard that you know over ten thousand different songs i said i don't know i said i never really counted them he said well tell me this can you play the theme songs from my first tv show 20 mule team borax death dally days i said you got me on that right he said i'm only kidding he said play the impossible dream he said i love the words to that song and they say everything and everything that i have tried so hard to do for this great country of ours when he died i looked up those words again and to me they described this president better than anyone i think ever has let's see i got them down here somewhere and the words go like this i know if i'll only be true to this glorious quest that my heart will lie peaceful and kind when i'm laid to my rest and the world will be better for this that one man scorned and covered with scars still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach those unreasonable stars those are the words here is the music do do for general electric here is ronald reagan good evening ladies and gentlemen for over eight years a popular actor named ronald reagan hosted a tv program called ge theater now that's part of living better electrically during that time he also spent 10 weeks each year traveling the country speaking to ge employees in more than 130 factories sharing a message of optimism and a belief in the power of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit america's best days and democracies best days lie ahead so now ge is deeply honored to serve as presenting sponsor of the ronald reagan centennial celebration because long before he changed the world tear down this wall or led a nation i ronald reagan do solemnly swear we're governed to stay you and i have a rendezvous with destiny he inspired our company for general electric here is ronald reagan ladies and gentlemen the chairman and chief executive officer of the general electric company and member of the ronald reagan presidential foundation board of trustees jeffrey melt thank you thank you it's been ge's great honor this year to be the presenting sponsor for the reagan centennial between 1954 and 1962 president reagan was the spokesman for ge my predecessor at that time ralph cordner said that we needed a spokesman for the the company that really could not just sell our products but also be an inspiration for our employees and president reagan during that time period visited 140 ge plant sites in 36 states and gave town hall meetings to tens of thousands of employees sometimes 10 or 12 or 14 speeches in a day this was before the days when he had air force one and he didn't like to fly so he would take the locomotives between the plant sites and do it day after day after day and president reagan was an inspiration to our company during a time period where our slogan was progress is our most important product and we're introducing new innovations and jet engines and home appliances that he was a part of and that legacy and that memory lives on later as he became president of the united states in 1980 it's a time period that's somewhat reminiscent of today high unemployment high interest rates unrest in the middle east in that day in 1980 was when i joined ge as a 24 year old with sixty thousand dollars of student loans i wanted to be led and lead he did led the country during a time period of unprecedented prosperity in my mind president reagan really represents the very best of american leadership he's a tough-minded optimist tough-minded in the sense that only dedication and courage of conviction can ever drive positive change and optimism in the sense that the future will be better than the past and in the end only optimists create jobs and only optimists create the future so ge has had the honor in the last year to really be associated once again with president reagan and the great legacy he left with our company so i want to say congratulations to the great foundation and tell you how honored we are to be a part of this and thank you for your great support for this president thank you ladies and gentlemen a message from the 75th attorney general of the united states and former councillor to the president the honorable edwin meis iii it's a great privilege for me to participate in this centennial celebration of ronald reagan's life it was a great honor to work for him to serve him both in california and in the united states government he was a great leader a great friend and a person that i admired and was probably one of the most influential people in my life i also appreciated very much how nancy reagan was such a devoted and helpful wife to him and if such an important part of his life and therefore a great contribution she has made to our nation as well and particularly the contribution she has made since that time to the reagan library and the reagan foundation which will continue to bring his legacy to the attention of many generations to come ladies and gentlemen a message from the former press secretary to both presidents reagan and george h.w bush the honorable marlon fitzwater well it's a great honor to be a part of the celebration of ronald reagan's life and certainly his birth it's so rich for all of us who worked for him and with him to think about how he influenced us and how his thoughts and his direction influenced the country america has prospered in many so many ways as a result of his influence we've we've grown we've recognized uh the brilliance of his thinking and and the wisdom of his direction and guidance uh and on a personal basis uh he was an inspiration to all of us i mean i i find myself talking uh all the time about what ronald reagan did on such and such a day or a place or in a summit meeting or a joke he talked to gorbachev about and uh and it's just a great honor for me to be with you today no one had more strongly or sincerely held beliefs than ronald reagan he knew what he was for and he knew what he was against and why but he always had respect for his audience and respect for those who didn't agree with him simply put he was a gentleman with us today is another true gentleman that's why they call me mr segway the the youngest and yet one of the most impressive members of congress this district happens to include eureka college and who was recently appointed to be a member of the ronald reagan centennial commission ladies and gentlemen the united states representative from the 18th congressional district of illinois the honorable aaron shock well thank you fred as the first member of congress to have been born while ronald reagan was president i'm honored to be included in these festivities now people may be wondering why the youngest congressman is so inspired by our nation's oldest president well the answer is the same reason why president reagan rocked among the youth while he was president in fact he led in polls in the 1980s in the 18 to 25 age category young people like me whose first impression of government was seen our president on television could tell that this man spoke from the heart with conviction and an infection infectious optimism his eyes spoke the truth and revealed a genuine and passionate commitment that we continue to stand tall and live free he inspired us to dream big dreams and in his words to fly as high and as far as our own energies and abilities will take us gone were the days of self-imposed limits on our imagination goals and accomplishments to benefits all mankind our president in the 1980s demonstrate demonstrated continued american exceptionalism by his infectious example in a historic speech the students of moscow university in 1987 president reagan resonated with soviet college students like no one they had ever heard before and inspired them to imagine life without communism soviet control began unraveling literally the moment he finished that historic speech a few years ago i was awed watching some of those students on a television program express how dramatically affected they were by that deep and irresistibly inspirational speech by example president reagan taught an enduring truth when he constantly challenged conventional wisdom calling it the convenient wisdom for the entrenched few time and again he confounded elitist experts with success after success he led america to believe in ourselves again and look to the future with confidence president reagan rescued america from a rapid economic decline that was trending toward third world conditions of unemployment record inflation rates and rapid inflation he turned the tide of world in the world against statism and toward freedom and people in my generation have lived their lives on a foundation of freedom and economic opportunity that would not have existed if not for ronald reagan when i was running for state representative a few years ago i watched a broadcast of an old reagan interview when he explained how he developed his positions on new issues as they arose while he was president he said if taking this action increased individual freedom then i'm for it and if it decreases individual freedom then i'm against it i thought to myself then there that i could have no better maxim to guide my views on public policy now it has been said that one sure sign of a truly great leader is that they are chosen and succeeded by their chosen person well not only was president reagan succeeded by his vice president but the youth who were so compelled by him during our formative years were motivated by him to take up the cause and now occupy the leadership of the house of representatives generational successors of his inspired national leadership president reagan also never forgot where he came from in 1932 he graduated from eureka college in my congressional district and returned his alma mater 12 different times including his landmark 1982 speech on the start treaty which is one of the seminal speeches of his first term ronald reagan once said of his alma mater eureka college that everything good in my life began here while returning 12 times ronald reagan is a man who never forgot where he came from and one member of this centennial committee who can attest in his own way is superstar nick jonas he and his brothers have something to say hi i'm nick i'm joe and i'm kevin and we're the jonas brothers unfortunately we can't be at the reagan library this weekend to be a part of this historic and exciting celebration of president reagan's 100th birthday as young americans we'd like to say that ronald reagan is a true role model for our generation he achieved and accomplished great things in so many areas of his life we know ronald reagan inspired freedom and changed the world as a result of his leadership millions of people now experience that freedom every day as young americans we look to the future but also look for inspiration from role models from earlier generations president reagan was among america's greatest presidents his leadership resulted in freedom not only around the world but restored pride in our country here at home we want to join all of you in wishing a happy 100th birthday to president reagan ladies and gentlemen the star of camp rock camp rock 2 hannah montana and fame actress and singer anna maria perez de tagle thank you so much for that great introduction you got my name right i have a very long name good evening everyone i'm very honored to be invited to sing for all of you tonight on the occasion of the centennial birthday celebration of the great communicator president ronald reagan i wasn't born during his term yet but i'm i've learned so much about him and his accomplishment through the national youth leadership committee of which i am a member of my first number is from the broadway musical les miserables i dreamed a dream in time gone by when hope was high and life worth i dreamed that love would die i dreamed that god would be forgiven and dreams were made and used and wasted there was no ransom but the tigers come at night with their voices soft as thunders as they tear your hope apart he filled my days with endless wonder he took my childhood in his stride but he was gone when autumn came and still i dream he'll come to me that we and there are storms i had a dream my life would be so different from this hell i'm living so different now from what it the seems thank you now here's one of my favorites from another broadway musical jekyll and hyde why the past is holding fly but scared to try but if someone like you found someone like me then suddenly nothing would ever be the same my heart if is love is open every door to set me free like you found someone like me then suddenly nothing would ever be the same if someone like you found me found someone like me me if someone like you loved me loved me thank you very much enjoy the rest of your evening ladies and gentlemen please welcome two members of the national youth leadership committee of the ronald reagan centennial celebration washington redskins wide receiver terence austin and miss usa 2010 rima fakie i cannot tell you what it means for me to be a part of this tonight as a history major at ucla i had the opportunity to study not only american history but historical events throughout the world i was impressed by america's 40th president and deeply admired president reagan's stewardship award from our economy as he lowered taxes and reduced inflation at a critical time in our history it was his determination in standing tall against communism that not only brought down the burning wall but led to america's victory in cold war allowing millions around the world to live in freedom and as a i feel a special attachment to president reagan i know that the president is not supposed to have a favorite team but i think there's pretty good evidence that he had a warm spot in his heart for the skins after all how many people let alone the president would interrupt their day to come out to the airport and welcome back the team after winning the super bowl well president reagan and nancy did on a cold day in january in 1983 at dulles airport after he won super bowl 17. he also added the team at the white house a few years later after winning super bowl 22. i still remember seeing coverage of the perfect passing through to ricky sanders no doubt about it the gipper was in charge that day wonderful memories of a wonderful man rima thank you thank you testing last may when i was crowned miss usa it was the proudest moment of my life but being here now celebrating the 100th birthday of former president ronald reagan matches the pride and honor i felt that night the fact that i am the first muslim and the first immigrant to be crowned miss usa speaks volumes to the fact that anything is possible in this country i was a child born in war-torn lebanon i have vivid memories of hiding in shelters from the shelling while hiding and hoping just to stay alive i could never never have imagined being here today as an american citizen honoring a man that i consider to be one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century thank you this is truly a highlight of my year as miss usa you simply cannot be lebanese and not know and respect president ronald reagan in fact my uncle who actually immigrated to california admired the president so much that he named his youngest son after him so family gatherings are always very interesting my cousins come and here we have katan mohammed hussain ali and then we have ronnie everyone always wonders if he's adopted but as an economics major at the university of michigan i studied president reagan's policies he was a man who crafted history he knew what he wanted to accomplish and he set out to do it he brought his supporters and his detractors on a great journey that led to restoring america's economic vitality and global strength i can think of no better place to be and no better person to recognize in celebrating leadership thank you ladies and gentlemen the executive director of the ronald reagan centennial celebration stuart mclaren what a terrific evening we're having here tonight and there are many rewarding aspects of serving with a great team of colleagues to plan this year of centennial events one has been the breadth and scope of the partnerships across a range of fields to remember president reagan and continue his legacy another is the opportunity to engage young americans on what president reagan means to them tonight you have been hearing the voices of the next generation of americans these young people on the leadership committee did not know president reagan as a living president but his legacy lives in them and in their futures on the education front we just concluded a successful conference with the university of southern california and next week we will partner with the university of virginia and later this year with notre dame and the united states naval academy tomorrow at national cathedral in washington dc elizabeth dole will lead a special remembrance of president reagan and president reagan's home church bel air presbyterian will have a special tribute tomorrow as will many other churches across the country from the sporting world we are pleased to be working with nascar for tributes at daytona phoenix and fontana this spring and with several major league baseball teams to honor the president this baseball season and with the pga tour as jerry west mentioned and since it just so happens that president reagan's birthday is on super bowl sunday tomorrow's pre-game show in cowboys stadium in dallas will include a special video tribute on that 160 foot by 80 foot tall screen which right now you will be the first in the world to see joining us for the toss of the coins the president of the united states mr ronald reagan it's a distinct pleasure and a privilege for me to be a participant although i wish i could be a participant closer at hand today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of our nation's 40th president and a legendary fan of the game ronald reagan mr president will you please toss the coin it is tails thank you for joining us athletics were a big part of dutch reagan's life even though he grew up during the great depression he had to wash dishes to pay his way through college he lettered in football and was captain of the swim team reagan's love of sports led him to his first job at 22 i'd achieved my dream i was a sports announcer reagan eventually left the midwest for hollywood and in his pursuit of the american dream he became a film and tv star a spokesperson and a speech maker you and i have a rendezvous with destiny we'll preserve for our children this the last best hope of man on earth or we'll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness ronald reagan always said america's best days lie ahead personally his confidence in the future was complete the day he met nancy davis that he had a plan for me it was the night he brought nancy into my life president reagan was called the great communicator he believed in the promise and purpose of america and he made the nation believe future doesn't belong to the faint-hearted belongs to the brave the challenger crew was pulling us into the future and we'll continue to follow them these are the boys these are the men who took the cliffs letter came from peter sweeney he's in the second grade and he said i hope you get well quick or you might have to make a speech in your pajamas mr gorbachev tear down this wall the national football league salutes this great american who played the game with honor and courage and played to win not just for america but for free people everywhere happy 100th birthday mr president and gentlemen the 47th governor of the state of texas the honorable rick perry howdy what a man you know what a thrill and an honor it is to be a part of this great celebration of his life and his legacy you know he may have been born in illinois but ronald reagan was truly a son of the american west he was personifying that western mindset you know he had that pioneer spirit that can-do attitude that strength of character he truly loved america and he reminded us that there's no other place like it anywhere in the world you know from for us for us frustrated conservatives all across this great land ronald reagan's ascendance was a series of eureka moments as our gut-level beliefs found expressions in his words you know he seemed to know us better than we knew ourselves and he called us to believe in our potential as individuals and as a nation throughout his career he was an actor he was a governor the president ronald wilson reagan displayed a depth of character a sense of humor a basic decency that disarmed even his political foes not only could he disagree without being disagreeable he could leave even his most hardened opponent smiling you know as a governor i'm inspired by ronald reagan's success in that office and and rely upon his time-tested conservative principles in leading our our country that's what ronald reagan was all about he understood the essential concepts that when government expands liberty contracts she understood that america's people made her great not her government as we reflect on this legacy let us continue his work share his wisdom and embrace his unshakeable optimism you know in dark times america is still that shining city on a hill and a beacon of freedom for all thank you and god bless you ladies and gentlemen please welcome the chairman of the board of trustees of the ronald reagan presidential foundation and chairman of the ronald reagan centennial commission the honorable frederick j ryan thank jr i recognize one of those guys up there well on behalf of nancy reagan and the board of trustees thank you for being part of this historic event and for your support of the reagan presidential foundation and i know that many of you endured significant hardship in terms of flight delays and travel logistics to get here i'm no expert on global warming but we never had weather like this when ronald reagan was president speaking of presidents the current occupant of the oval office appears to have realized he could learn a thing or two from ronald reagan first he let it be known he was reading the reagan biography on his trip to hawaii then he borrowed a few phrases from ronald reagan in the state of the union address then a few weeks later he toured a ge plant well maybe that explains why his popularity numbers are suddenly increasing with that kind of success we may soon see him wearing a cowboy hat chopping wood eating jelly beans and maybe snoozing in cabinet meetings seriously allow me to take just a moment to say a word about a person who means so much to all of us here tonight ronald reagan's first lady and our first lady nancy reagan while she could not be here in person she is very excited about this incredible lineup of performers and speakers she's watching us on television right now and is very grateful to them and to all of you for making this event we all know that if he were here today president reagan would say he could not have achieved all that he did could not have inspired freedom could not have changed the world without the love devotion and inspiration he received from his first lady nancy reagan tomorrow tomorrow nancy reagan will be here to lead the special centennial tribute to her husband the eyes of the world will be on the reagan presidential library as we launch the year-long series of events that will take place around the world to commemorate the 100th birthday of ronald reagan president reagan's presence is certainly missed but his spirit lives on through the foundation he established which bears his name and now continues his legacy we know that president reagan would never think of that legacy in personal terms with ronald reagan it was not about him it was about the american dream being available to everyone and our country remaining the beacon of hope and freedom for the entire world and i think as the gipper he would probably be tickled by the fact that his 100th birthday just happens to fall on super bowl sunday and president reagan certainly would enjoy the show we're seeing tonight nobody enjoyed a good show more than ronald reagan and there was no band that he liked better than the one we are about to hear in addition to being america's band they have always been ronald reagan's band in fact here's what he had to say about them i know their music speaks for itself but i just wanted on behalf of all of you i know to thank the beach boys for coming here on this very special occasion and if you didn't believe that our whole family have been fans of yours for a long time just look at nancy and now celebrating more than 50 years of american music around the world ladies and gentlemen the beach boys so police really make you feel all right is is i wish um we did shaw why don't you let me go wow oh let me go and then why don't we let me go let me go thank you so very much thank you so much one two three uh is shoes she must be she goes goodbye i don't know vibrations the vibrations blah thank you so much i'd like to welcome to the stage our good friend you know i'm from uncle jesse on full house recently more recently on the lead mr john stamos do you know the words we sing this it's called baby there's a place baby why get them oh a little place get them this is michael edwards all right you look so fine thank you is tell yeah uh very nice thank you good vibrations it goes as fast two see so come on ladies and gentlemen the united states representative from the 26th congressional district of the state of california the honorable david dreyer it's always great having those guys as my warm-up act in fact i i have to tell you that i have never ever seen george schultz ed meese and joe albritton rock out the way i just did from the front row here what a what a reagan-esque evening with all due respect to all the other presidential libraries it's difficult to imagine any of them having an event quite like this it was a great honor to be asked to share some thoughts about one of the greatest men i've ever known and no i'm not talking about mike love like ronald reagan i'm not a native californian we both came from america's heartland i came here at a young age and never left president reagan said that california was not just a place but a way of life he was right california quickly became my home and thanks to his encouragement and example the place where i became committed to pursuing public service in fact ronald reagan is why i have the privilege of standing before you tonight as a member of the united states congress in 1980 i was elected as part of the reagan class from the moment we took the oath of office we began to implement the president's agenda wholeheartedly committed to his fundamental belief in the unlimited potential of the american people his steadfast opposition to tyranny and his inspiring vision of a strong america with renewed pride and spirit now we know that he went on to not only revitalize our faith in american exceptionalism and american universalism but to change the course of world history what a privilege it was to be part of the reagan revolution actually i should say that thanks to my 87 new congressional colleagues many of whom were here last weekend what a privilege it is to be part of the reagan revolution and what a privilege to be part of the tribute that marks the 100th anniversary of his birth ladies and gentlemen best-selling author prize-winning columnist for the wall street journal and former presidential speechwriter peggy noonan hello everybody uh may i say part of the pleasure of tonight has been seeing so many of the great ones of the reagan era here george schultz ed meese bud mcfarlane many others i got to tell you i was in the back during the beach boys you were rocking out it means you got some moves to be asked to be a speechwriter for ronald reagan was like being asked to write a nice little song for mozart it was like being asked to cook for julia child he was the master here at the reagan library as you know you'll see all he'd written over the years the radio scripts and columns and speeches he first arrived on the national scene of course through a speech old reagan hands call it the speech although its formal name is a time for choosing and when you go over to the museum tomorrow or the next day you'll be able to both see it in its original form and and hear it president reagan then citizen reagan gave that speech in 1964 and it is truly fascinating that in it he presaged everything that would come 17 years later in his presidency all the issues cut taxes resist the soviet union stand up be strong get government smaller all of those things were in the speech that began his political career he was a person of considerable intellectual consistency at our first meeting in 1984 it was obvious to me that the personal ronald reagan was as impressive and really extraordinary as the public one he was gracious courteous warm and welcoming he was a happy man and he spread happiness you could always tell he was coming down the hall in the white house because you would hear the sound of laughter when you heard laughter in the halls you'd kind of pop your head out and listen because it meant ronald reagan and his staff were about to turn the corner it was a nice thing to see your boss heralded in that way i'll never forget how he edited one of my first speeches it was supposed to be two pages long and it was supposed to laud the teacher of the year but i was new at the white house and i got a little carried away and i wrote a 20-page speech it was a defense of the west and an indictment of the soviet union the president got the speech he knew what was going on he edited out about 80 percent of it putting as mori mossing knows just drawing his lines through your sentences and joining this graph with that graph but he really rewrote the speech he just got rid of 80 rewrote the following uh 20 but i was new and he didn't want to dishearten me or discourage me so he wrote a little note on the top saying he read the speech and it was just wonderful and he really wished he could have said all these words but there was just not enough time but it was really very good well i was thrilled i got it and i proudly walked the speech the edited speech into my boss ben elliott and i said hey ben he liked it he really liked it and ben looked at the edits and looked at the rewriting and he laughed he said in the nicest possible way you just got schooled by ronald reagan and he was right but ben said something very important he said pay attention to everything he took out and then pay twice as much attention to everything he put in that way you'll learn so i did what he said and it was the beginning of my education ronald reagan understood the power and importance of words they really mattered to him he had been a reader a great reader all of his life as a young man as all of you know he wrote short stories and essays and poems they're all over in the museum too he knew people hungered in our time for the truth and he knew they appreciated and hungered for clarity and so in margaret thatcher's words he marshaled the english language and sent it out to fight for us some of today's political leaders it is true seek to capture his voice a little bit in order to inherit his mantle they want to sound like him they should not his voice was uniquely his and belonged only to him it was authentic because it came from an authentic man a man of great and high character and serious views who had earned his political philosophy who had struggled through to it who had started out here and struggled through to be here he had thought it through and he stood by it even when it wasn't so popular he used to say they call me the great communicator but i'm not i just communicate great things those who want to rise as high as he did and assume some responsibility for our country would be better off following the impulse of his soul which became the lesson of his life tell the truth tell it with clarity tell it even against the odds send your words out there to fight for us make our country better it was the honor of our lives to have worked with ronald reagan and i thank you for the further honor of being part of this tribute to him this evening thank you ladies and gentlemen from the united states military academy at west point a member of the national youth leadership committee of the ronald reagan's centennial celebration cadet colin mansfield and from the nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier and first ship ever named for a then living former president of the united states the uss ronald reagan two members of the national youth leadership committee petty officer oliver cole and legal woman sharon swalu at west point our motto is duty honor country those principles guided everything ronald reagan did his leadership made those words come alive he's a shining example from my generation of what is possible when one acts with the confidence that can come from strong faith ronald reagan was a man of faith he talked and wrote about it often in fact in his diary in the first entry after the assassination attempt in 1981 he wrote whatever happens now i owe my life to god and will try to serve him in every way i can he was never reluctant to say that he prayed every day for guidance and wisdom that's one reason i'm especially proud to serve on the youth leadership committee and to be able to share his legacy with my peers it is always a source of pride to wear the uniform of our country but doing so on board this ship is a true honor to say i serve on the uss ronald reagan is a privilege and it is a responsibility this ship bears the name of a man who will forever be known as the president who rebuilt america's history not just to wage war but to defend freedom and preserve peace just as he did during his eight years in the white house we are currently deployed and boy do we wish he could see this ship who knows maybe he's looking down and giving us that famous salute and wink our ship gleams from stem to stern every day and everywhere we go we take with us a special feeling of pride to be a part of a living and lasting tribute to a commander-in-chief who believes so deeply in what america stands for and who is always there for us that's why we're so pleased to have this partnership with the ronald reagan presidential foundation it's one way we can stay connected to him and further his legacy around the world incidentally we are especially proud that tomorrow four f-18s right from our flight deck will fly over the reagan library as a special tribute to our namesake and on the ground the birthday cake many of you will enjoy was baked in part by a sailor from our ship and now it's my privilege to present a highly decorated officer who keeps this great ship running in top shape and under whom we are all proud and lucky to serve the commanding officer of the uss ronald reagan captain tom w burke good afternoon i'm captain tom burke commanding officer of uss ronald reagan we are currently just off the coast conducting operations and unable to directly participate in ronald reagan's centennial celebration we strive to live up to our namesake's reputation every day and motto of peace through strength as we prepare to deploy in just the next few days we will continue to pursue stability and peace for this nation we wish you all a great celebration please keep the men and women of our armed forces and your thoughts and prayers thank you you know i'm betting that of all the tributes that ronald reagan received the one that he would be the proudest of would be that ship and those young people wearing his name on their uniform as they rest their lives for freedom around the world all right folks we're in for a real treat now uh sneak preview if you will as you know the reagan museum has just completed a major renovation it has been a painstaking long thorough process but of course a labor of love one of the most exciting and informative aspects of this is a brand new state-of-the-art film about the life of ronald reagan which will be shown to visitors in the museum's legacy theater earlier today many of you had a chance to preview this video as you toured the museum before we dim the lights however let me just say again on behalf of the trustees of ronald reagan presidential foundation thank you for being a part of this special evening which i hope you will agree is an exciting part of a very deserved series of tributes and celebrations to the hundredth birthday of the man whose life touched us all thank you don't let anyone tell you that america's best days are behind her that the american spirit has been vanquished we've seen a triumph too often in our lives to stop believing in it now let history say of us these were golden years when the american revolution was reborn when freedom gained new life and america reached for her best but as we continue our journey we think of those who traveled before us these are the boys of puente hope these are the men who took the cliffs these are the champions who helped free a continent these are the heroes who helped end a war and we see and hear again the echoes of our past the song and the song echoes out forever and fills the unknowing air it is the american sound it is hopeful big-hearted idealistic the first woman ever nominated to the supreme court of the united states that's our heritage that's our song we sing it still for all our problems our differences we are together as of old we raise our voices to the god who is the author of this most tender music and may he continue to hold us close as we fill the world with our sound in unity affection and love everybody's looking forward to just being able to help and that's what we're here to do one people under god mr gorbachev tear down this wall dedicated to the dream of freedom that he has placed in the human heart waving their new passports they rushed forward screaming across the border called upon now to pass that dream of freedom on to a waiting and a hopeful world mr speaker the president of the united states reagan will speak in his first public appearance since the shoot thank you very much i have a letter with me a letter came from peter sweeney he's in the second grade in the riverside school in rockville center and he said i hope you get well quick or you might have to make a speech in your pajamas whatever else history may say about me when i'm gone i hope it will record that i appeal to your best hopes not your worst fears to your confidence rather than your doubts in this springtime of hope some lights seem eternal america's is thank you god bless you and god bless america ladies and gentlemen please welcome the las robles master chorale see r my name is oh is ah oh is we see is hey ladies and gentlemen the finale of our program is a truly great american who needs no introduction the grammy award winner and multi-platinum entertainer lee greenwood if tomorrow all the things were gone work for all my life and i had to start again with just my children and my wife thank my lucky stars to be living here today cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away and be an i'm where at least i know i'm free and i won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me and i gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today cause there ain't no doubt i love you god bless from the lakes of minnesota to the hills of tennessee across the plains of texas from cedar shining seas detroit down to houston and new york to l.a where there's pride in every american heart and it's time we stand and say that i'm proud to be an american where at least i know i'm free the men who died who gave that right to me and i gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today cause there ain't no doubt i love this land next to you and defend her still today cause there ain't no doubt i love this land god bless ladies and gentlemen thank you so much on behalf of the ronald reagan foundation and centennial celebration thank you all for coming and a very good night you

Channel: Reagan Foundation

Views: 322,488

Rating: 4.5425534 out of 5

Keywords: concert, usc band, singer, concert tribute live concert, John, Heubusch, John Heubusch

Id: VcDVJotkQuM

Length: 155min 0sec (9300 seconds)

Published: Thu Feb 10 2011