Senate Concurrent Resolution 511

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD WILSON REAGAN FOR HIS PRESIDENCY AND EXTENDING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE ON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, to Nelle and John Reagan and raised in Dixon, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, as a lifeguard at Rock River in Lowell, Illinois, a young Ronald Reagan saved the lives of 77 swimmers; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan enrolled in Eureka College, where he played football, acted in amateur theater and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Sociology; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan landed his first job as a radio announcer for WOC in Davenport, Iowa, and went on to become a popular sports announcer; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan launched a movie career that spanned 50 movies, including his most famous role as the football legend "The Gipper"; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan, who received more fan mail than any other actor at Warner Brothers Studios except Errol Flynn, served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1947 to 1960; and

WHEREAS, on March 4, 1952, Ronald Reagan married his great love, Nancy Davis, who was to become his lifelong confidante and companion; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan was the father of four children: Maureen, Michael, Patti and Ronald Prescott; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan hosted the popular television series "GE Theater" from 1954 to 1962; and

WHEREAS, in 1962, Ronald Reagan switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and two years later delivered a major televised speech in support of Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater; and

WHEREAS, in 1966, Ronald Reagan won the governorship of California and in 1970 was reelected to a second term; and

WHEREAS, Governor Reagan campaigned for the Republican nomination in 1968 and again in 1976; and

WHEREAS, on July 16, 1980, the former Governor won the Republican nomination and on November 4, 1980, won the United States Presidency in a landslide vote; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan appointed the first woman to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor; and

WHEREAS, on March 30, 1981, only two months into his Presidency, Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt and upon meeting Nancy in the hospital, quipped with characteristic good humor, "Honey, I forgot to duck"; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan delivered on his promise to cut taxes for American workers in 1981, and achieved the historic tax cuts of 1986 which overhauled the Federal tax code and reduced tax rates for almost all taxpayers, including removing 6,000,000 Americans from the tax rolls; and

WHEREAS, under President Reagan's leadership, inflation fell, interest rates declined and by the seventh year of his Presidency, the stock market hit an all-time high; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan presided over the longest economic expansion in the history of the United States until that time and rebuilt the national defenses of the United States; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan kicked off his reelection campaign at the Neshoba County Fair to the delight of attendees, and he won reelection in 1984 by carrying 49 out of 50 states, including Mississippi, - one of the biggest electoral victories in the political history of the United States; and

WHEREAS, during summit meetings with Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev in December 1987, President Reagan signed a treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear forces; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan's steadfast opposition to communism, his unshakeable resolved to defeat the "Evil Empire," and his secure belief in government for and by the people, led to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and victory in the Cold War; and

WHEREAS, President Reagan's belief in freedom as a God-given right of all peoples led to a democratic revolution across Central America; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Wilson Reagan, father, husband, actor and dedicated public servant, restored the pride, optimism and strength of the United States and earned the deep respect and affection of his fellow citizens, particularly those in Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Legislature notes with deep sorrow and solemn mourning the death of Ronald Wilson Reagan, and extends its heartfelt sympathy to the wife and family of President Reagan.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature commends the former President for his Presidency and his many accomplishments.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Resolution be forwarded to Mississippi's congressional delegation, the President of the United States and to the family of the former President.