TDIH: Reagan on Independence Day
"The secret of our progress, our power, and our prosperity."
On this day in 1986, Ronald Reagan delivers a message in observance of America's 210th birthday.
The full quote is even better. He said: "[The Founding Fathers’ vision was] of a striving, God-fearing, self-reliant people living in the sunlight of justice and breathing the bracing air of liberty. As the years unrolled, generations of Americans painted that vision across the broad canvass of the continent. It has always been the secret of our progress, our power, and our prosperity. Whenever we have allowed it to fade we have done so at our peril. Whenever it has burned bright we have amazed the world with our inventiveness, our daring, our achievements, and our magnanimity."
So true, don't you think?
![Portrait of Reagan with his quote: "[The Founders’ vision was] of a striving, God-fearing, self-reliant people living in the sunlight of justice and breathing the bracing air of liberty. . . . It has always been the secret of our progress, our power, and our prosperity." -- Message on the Observance of Independence Day, July 3, 1986"](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc4690738-2ac4-4ebc-8f82-0adc40c2af1b_748x754.jpeg "Portrait of Reagan with his quote: \"[The Founders’ vision was] of a striving, God-fearing, self-reliant people living in the sunlight of justice and breathing the bracing air of liberty. . . . It has always been the secret of our progress, our power, and our prosperity.\" -- Message on the Observance of Independence Day, July 3, 1986\"")
Dear regular readers: Full-fledged history stories return tomorrow. In the meantime, Happy Independence Day!
The speeches by President Reagan were so powerful and hold up over time. I don't remember one, that didn't move me. God bless these United States of America.
Thanks Tara.
The mark of a great leader is the ability to build up and motivate and challenge those he leads while creating opportunities for citizens to meet those challenges and prosper. One who actually serves the people. Where are such leaders today? We haven’t seen much of that lately and it is reflected in the mood and demeanor of our citizens.