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Ronald Reagan's 1981 Christmas Address

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 12/25/2011 22:21 -0400

Things sure have changed in the past 30 years...

Abridged transcript (full version can be found here):

Good evening.

At Christmas time, every home takes on a special beauty, a special warmth, and that's certainly true of the White House, where so many famous Americans have spent their Christmases over the years. This fine old home, the people's house, has seen so much, been so much a part of all our lives and history. It's been humbling and inspiring for Nancy and me to be spending our first Christmas in this place.

We've lived here as your tenants for almost a year now, and what a year it's been. As a people we've been through quite a lot -- moments of joy, of tragedy, and of real achievement -- moments that I believe have brought us all closer together. G. K. Chesterton once said that the world would never starve for wonders, but only for the want of wonder.

At this special time of year, we all renew our sense of wonder in recalling the story of the first Christmas in Bethlehem, nearly 2,000 year ago.

Some celebrate Christmas as the birthday of a great and good philosopher and teacher. Others of us believe in the divinity of the child born in Bethlehem, that he was and is the promised Prince of Peace. Yes, we've questioned why he who could perform miracles chose to come among us as a helpless babe, but maybe that was his first miracle, his first great lesson that we should learn to care for one another.

Tonight, in millions of American homes, the glow of the Christmas tree is a reflection of the love Jesus taught us. Like the shepherds and wise men of that first Christmas, we Americans have always tried to follow a higher light, a star, if you will. At lonely campfire vigils along the frontier, in the darkest days of the Great Depression, through war and peace, the twin beacons of faith and freedom have brightened the American sky. At times our footsteps may have faltered, but trusting in God's help, we've never lost our way.

Just across the way from the White House stand the two great emblems of the holiday season: a Menorah, symbolizing the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, and the National Christmas Tree, a beautiful towering blue spruce from Pennsylvania. Like the National Christmas Tree, our country is a living, growing thing planted in rich American soil. Only our devoted care can bring it to full flower. So, let this holiday season be for us a time of rededication.

Christmas means so much because of one special child. But Christmas also reminds us that all children are special, that they are gifts from God, gifts beyond price that mean more than any presents money can buy. In their love and laughter, in our hopes for their future lies the true meaning of Christmas.

So, in a spirit of gratitude for what we've been able to achieve together over the past year and looking forward to all that we hope to achieve together in the years ahead, Nancy and I want to wish you all the best of holiday seasons. As Charles Dickens, whom I quoted a few moments ago, said so well in ``A Christmas Carol,'' ``God bless us, every one.''

Good night.

Note: The President spoke at 9 p.m. from the Oval Office at the White House. The address was broadcast live on nationwide radio and television.

h/t Jerry

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Mon, 12/26/2011 - 15:03 | 2012031 non_anon

blah, blah, blah, yeah, deficit spending really started w/ Reagan and he carried on the treason of previous presidents that still commit treason to this day.

The Secret Government PBS 1987 Bill Moyers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiRBxDEGDqw

Mon, 12/26/2011 - 16:22 | 2012129 Crate kicker 7

Wow, some of you are real gems in the gene pool.

Mon, 12/26/2011 - 16:54 | 2012159 Monedas

Democracy is like making sausage....you don't even want to see it ! Just one look inside North Korea and you know how enlightened we are ! Not perfect, but light years ahead of the simplistic dictatorships !

Mon, 12/26/2011 - 17:41 | 2012226 Monedas

No one railed against SST and Space Shuttle (both government programs) more than me ! The country with the least Socialism wins....Democrats have not been able to destroy us faster than Communism's collapse ! Sorry for those who want to see the "Great Come Uppance"....we will land on our feet.....and we did it all with worthless fiat ! We stood firm militarily then pulled the rug out from under them just when things were starting to go good ! It's too funny ! They deserved worse....actually....we are too kind ! Monedas 2011 Comedy Jihad Kindness To A Fault ! Here's to the nine lives of rich Capitalists !

Mon, 12/26/2011 - 17:56 | 2012247 Monedas

Clever, fierce, tricky and mighty in war......magnanimous in victory ! That's who we are ! God's gift to the stupid planet of the apes !

Tue, 12/27/2011 - 00:48 | 2012706 Platypi4Lyfe

More than twenty hours on Christmas Day & Boxing Day spreading nonsense & hate on a blog? What a shock that your family won't even spend the holiday with you, I can't imagine why they treat you like a leper.

Tomorrow instead of being a small, insignificant person consumed by racial hate and dogma, go to a soup kitchen, shut your fucking mouth and help some people that could desperately use it. Do something that your saviour would do.

Seven o'clock in the morning the day after Christmas, spreading hate & propaganda that no one cares about? Really? That doesn't trigger something in your head that there's something very wrong? Help yourself, would you please. You make me want to cry.

Mon, 12/26/2011 - 20:44 | 2012446 Teapot_Dome