President Reagan Moved by the Choir Singing at His Inauguration Parade | The Tabernacle Choir

On January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the 40th president of the United States of America. During the inaugural parade, The Tabernacle Choir sang a spirited rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” while President Reagan, First Lady Nancy Reagan, and their family watched from the stands of the presidential review box.
The Choir performed while aboard a 70-foot parade float, which stopped in front of the box at the request of Nancy Reagan.
President Reagan was clearly moved by the Choir’s performance, and following the performance he said, “The Choir’s singing was a highlight of our inauguration, as we knew it would be. I’m sure I speak for all Americans when I say thank you for saying so well what all of us feel about this land of the free and home of the brave. There is no more inspirational moment for any American-and that includes Ronald Reagan-than to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing ‘Glory, glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on.’”

[@garym2879]

Not saying other Presidents didn't, but you could SEE how much Reagan loved this country.

[@rickjohnson1266]

Rush Limbaugh used to call him "Ronaldus Magnus" which means "Ronald the Great." They never met, despite many appointments and cancelled appointments they had to meet, things kept coming up that prevented it. I know they are together now with Washington in Heaven.

[@mattkendall7701]

It's as if he's having a religious experience. Like he's witnessing something so beautiful it can be described in words.

[@adrianlarkins7259]

Come on America, where has that spirit gone? You spend so much time fighting among yourselves. Unite and be strong again. I'm a UK citizen

[@Mboy245]

Our country is so messed up at the moment. Can't agree on much over here. Much love to the UK from the States 🇺🇲

[@curtiscf1986]

I absolutely love this. You can see what he’s saying to himself in his eyes. “I don’t deserve this! I am not worthy of having this choir, these people, sing to me.” Here is a man who truly loved his country and his people.

[@jordie4423]

God bless the USA 🇺🇸 🙏🏻 ⭐️

[@mymodernworld8606]

indeed!

[@SpiderMan-gv2gd]

Battle Hymn of The Republic was his favorite song. RIP President Reagan

[@sueberg6564]

Now THIS is what a Presidential inaguration is all about!

[@cliffbaerg7607]

RatherI

[@cliffbaerg7607]

L0

[@ercrich2]

Cliff Baerg g

[@azia5051]

Who is watching this in 2021?! I am and also this is my favorite music ever.

[@jordie4423]

Amen 🙏🏻

[@jv-ep2tc]

I believe that on that day, this choir achieved the greatest single performance of this song in the song's history.

[@flammenwerfer6548]

Battle hymn of the republic is the most beautiful song I've ever heard

[@billbright1755]

Mr. President, Sir, it is an honor to sing for you.

[@julieschultz6363]

So you're in the choir? How cool is that?. This song is a joy to sing and by the time we get to the last Amen, I'm having a holy ghost moment that leaves me crying (and shaking) so much I can't even sing. It's a good thing we're up in the choir loft because this church has never been spiritually demonstrative and might not understand.

[@mediaboyz9848]

Wow thats awesome Brother Bright! thanks for sharing :D

[@Wolly735]

I feel like they aren't justing singing. They are filling him, with HIS spirit. That's what we're seeing here. Through time and space, HIS truth is marching on.

[@vincenthenry3047]

I'm from Canada,and watching this video makes me proud and blessed to be neighbours to the USA.

[@Fausto_4841]

This is really poetic, for the MTC to sing this song to the leader of the free world.

[@edoardopesce9226]

It makes me cry every time I watch it. You see everything of Reagan in these images.

[@beefyoso]

You can tell he felt it.

[@judybertagna4527]

A great president who loved this country.

[@arcingcat]

I am crying 41 years later. Greatest President in my lifetime.

[@seanbaskett5506]

Right with you. I'm a Reagan baby born and proud.

[@Marie-ge5yy]

Absolutely!

[@lavernebusey4899]

I am crying as they are the greatest choir in my lifetime!! 🙏🙏❤️❤️

[@bernardbareng4240]

Good bless America 🇺🇸 the country he loves

[@bernardbareng4240]

He is my favorite president of the United States 🇺🇸 my God bless Ronald Reagan and the country he loves

[@tambrosia]

You can say what you like about President Regan, still one of the best in the history of the nation. A man who loved America heart and soul. RIP Mr. President Regan. Pax+

[@jswilley37]

That man sure did love this country.

[@Lethnion]

WoW!! Reagan was so moved. Loved to see how much that man loved his country .

[@freshcutonion8945]

He was holding back tears...he understood GOD ,AND THIS COUNTRY GOD GAVE US.

[@judas4309]

What an amazing song, you can see that everyone in the choir believed in the words that they were singing, that is why it was such a powerful performance!!

[@yongyuan9595]

I can not stop crying even nearly forty years later when hearing the beautiful song. Praise to LORD.

[@LATVERIAN1]

R.I.P. Dad. We love and miss you so. God keep you for all eternity. August 6th, 1934 to February 18th, 1986

[@ernestovaldes5877]

The right song for the right president! You can tell he was moved!

[@auntpittypattys]

thank you god for the mormon tabernacle choir thank you god for president reagan at the top of the heap for great presidents

[@reedwallace8641]

Every time I watched this I can’t help but cry but cry in assurance. This song reminds us all that no matter what lies ahead we can always look to the Father.

[@starlegends3092]

Ya!

[@jane52355]

When leaders fear God and reference His name.

[@azia5051]

This most his favorite music instill the end, God bless Mr Reagan and even his wife too.

[@randyeastwood7620]

It takes faith to live daily the ideals in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It's not supposed to be easy, which is why it's worthy to do so.

[@jayb7755]

That right there is a man who LOVES his country with all his heart!

[@alainriviere7950]

You can see it in his soul. A true Patriot

[@beny6930]

A great man who became a great President.

[@MrHans818]

I agree

[@kennethcarroll5420]

beny you hit the nail on the head

[@dianachavez9223]

I agree A great man. I loved him. Great President. RIP

[@Curtis69213]

Everyone president will start to look epic next to our current fool

[@PorknBeansss]

And I approved your message.

[@bradheffernan3351]

I believe America was at its pinnicle of greatness under President Ronald Reagan.

[@donaldmatthew4980]

Ronald Reagan. Simply the best President you guys ever had, and I'm a Scotsman. God bless Ronald.

[@squatking77]

Donald Matthew “Scotland the Brave”

[@--ODiN--]

Ohh so wasnt the best George Washington and Abraham Lincoln ?.

[@mattmanzano51]

Thank you. He was a cracking President! Just brilliant!

[@olpi71]

Jon F Kennedy was also a great president !

[@rahphonics4296]

I love this

[@mousearebec]

Boy...... how can you not be moved by that rendition. God Bless President Reagan. He certainly gave us pride in our Country.

[@stephtimms1776]

AMEN!

[@steelswarfs]

The Choir never ceases to amaze me. Delivers every time.

[@goodolebb2994]

Seeing the way soooo many of the people in our country are acting these days . . . . it was exceedingly wonderful to find this old video reposted !!! I'm old enough so I can well remember this occasion. . . . . I was sitting in my LazYBoy, with my pregnant wife on the sofa next to me. We were watching the parade on TV ... when this happened! It was one of only a very few times I'd ever heard the Mormon Choir, and both me and my wife were brought to tears by this presentation !!!!! I will forever consider THIS PERFORMANCE to be the FINEST presentation of both this choir and this amazing, moving song ! ! ! !

[@robinaguinaldo4507]

I agree with you and I too was moved by this beautiful presentation of this song. GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

[@karinscott1241]

I was just a dumb teenager at the time, but I was so moved, as I was at seeing this again. So momentous.

[@starlegends3092]

Wow cool!

[@maluperez3028]

The singing of the righteous is a prayer.

[@johnprovince5304]

We still love and miss you Mr. President.

[@cedricdeconcordia7862]

Epic, heart-wrenching and soul-stirring performance even 40 years later!!!

[@Boneyardbound]

A legend among Presidents...the MTC provided an epic moment in his inauguration ceremony and he was moved to tears from this great rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic.. He loved his country and they loved him.

[@donnagreen4506]

I was a senior in college and home on break when I watched this with my mother. I was a staunch Democrat and I did not vote for him but I watch every inauguration no matter who is elected. This is one that stands out because of this moment captured here. My mother pointed out that President Reagan appeared to be moved to tears at the point when the tenors and basses sing their stanza. The coverage we watched showed Reagan's face at the point that they sang "In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea." That part of the song was so impacting and it is impacting especially now when then nation appears to be in turmoil. This ranks as the best inaugural performance ever!

[@jrbutnotewing8227]

Sooooo many years ago and still watching our president as the inauguration parade goes on has me crying again 2021!

[@sydneybond8793]

President Reagan I so miss you. I knew you loved your country. God Bless America

[@kekeke4467]

I also miss Nancy Reagan, truly they were both a credit to the United States of America, and but for them, the world would have fallen into both a real and spiritual darkness that would have seen the extinction of the humanity both physically and spiritually.

[@kimharoldduque2982]

god bless the promise land of america from philippines

[@azia5051]

This most been his favorite music and even I too.

[@SarahPriceHancock]

Such an uplifting moment. I'm grateful it was captured & uploaded to KZbin so I could see it so many years later. President Regan's facial expression was priceless. Oh that all of our world's leaders could be so moved by heart-felt music. The world would be a more peaceful place.

[@Pommezul]

Reagan was indeed one of the best presidents of the U.S.A.

[@mymodernworld8606]

yes he was almost next to lincoln and washington

[@bernardbareng4240]

We can not forget him.

[@GoodLifeInSpain]

Wow! Wow! Wow! God Bless America!

[@elizabethgardner2341]

GOD Bless our beloved President Reagan

[@tortletrainwrek9335]

God bless America.❤ 🇺🇸

[@tylerleemyles9592]

GLORY HALLELUJAH. GOD BLESS AMERICA

[@xiglinia]

A great "gift" to the best US Presidente.

[@waimeaguyz9074]

even after all these years watching this clip, it's still moving.

[@teceyS3]

How merciful is our Heavenly Father and our Messiah, for extending their arms of Love and Mercy towards us all the day long, and inviting us to come unto them, and to come home ♡♡♡

[@mikeme6713]

He was so amazing. Just the best. We need him so much now. Thank God for him.

[@lordrobert12]

Our nation’s best president ever!!❤️❤️

[@joharrison6014]

I second this :)

[@SAAlagarsamySornam]

WE LOVE YOU YOUR EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN...HOW SWEET IT WAS FOR ME TO GETA POST IN 1981....YOU ARE A GREAT COMMUNICATOR OF AMERICA.

[@ldc3000]

On this beautiful fourth of July 2023 I could not find a more fitting beautiful chorus to help remind me of the great sacrifice the men and women of these United States made for me and my family. God bless this great Country and all who served to keep us free. My heart swells with joy when I listen to this being sung at President Reagan's Inauguration.

[@oscarwildeghost]

Say what you want, Mormon's are patriots and true Americans. And Ronnie was the greatest patriot of them all!

[@franceslambert8070]

For goodness sake, I am moved anytime I hear this song, and the LDS Choir takes it to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL!!!

[@88amilale]

Every time I The Mormon Tabernacle Choir it sends shivers down my spine and goosebumps on both arms with a big smile on my face also tears running down my face I am truly blessed to be Part of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 😊😊😊😊

[@Musashi-ry3tg]

America’s Tabernacle of Temple Square the BEST AMERICAN CHIOR WHICH HAS THE SPECIAL SPIRIT 🙏👍👍👍❤️‼️

[@RebeccaRoeHale]

Well, honestly, how can you listen to that wonderful song sung by that glorious choir with the Spirit present and not be moved? I don't know who was standing behind Mrs. Reagan, but he was wiping tears from his eyes halfway through, and I can't blame him one bit.

[@jeanalarson3108]

Neil Reagan, President Reagan's older brother.

[@starlegends3092]

@@jeanalarson3108 cool

[@stephenpritchard4238]

It was a moving moment not many dry eyes.

[@raelynn75]

How fun to see this as an adult since I was only a year old when this happened. Touching video. How can you not be moved when hearing the power behind this choir.

[@spLuchie]

i had goosebumps minutes after watching it, so beatiful and one of the greatest president that ever lived.

[@abk2k3aaronkauflin83]

God bless Reagan and the beautiful USA 🇺🇸

[@anitaadkins]

I was 11 and I remember this. I probably had to watch it because everyone did at that time and we are Mormon. I remember how amazing I thought the MoTab was and is! I was honored to sing in the 90’s with the Mormon Tabernacle youth choir! Amazing 🎉

[@normanalvarez5751]

The first time I was able to vote the best president ever love you mr. Reagan!!!!!

[@kratzlaff308]

Truly one of the best renditions ever of Battle Hymn of the Republic, no wonder why Reagan was almost brought almost to tears for it. And just a small note, the guy standing in the left of POTUS is Secret Service SAIC (Special Agent in Charge) Jerry Parr, the man who became public after saving President Reagan's life three months later.

[@MrVigilanteman]

Reagan mentions in his diary that his initial reaction toward Agent Parr was anger for manhandling him into the limo and then jumping on top of him. Later, of course, he realizes Agent Parr saved his life and gives him the well-deserved recognition for doing it.

[@ActiveCameraPro]

I was just brought to tears!!! Looks like Reagan was too! God Bless this moment in time!

[@adventuresnorthwest3643]

Truly the Spirit of God rested on the shoulders of this man that day and probably many days as President of the United States of America.

[@berukno1601]

Now THAT was a President!

[@maryyueil]

President Reagan was moved to tears by the singing of Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

[@Mrmidtown1]

Amazing. You cannot help feeling immense patriotism from the Battle Hymn.. Just incredible. The MTC manages to make even 1981 sound quality breathtaking.

[@timdunn5986]

Stunning performance. President Reagan could give a speech like no other. What a leader!

[@brucecurtis6910]

As a Democrat, he’s not my favorite president but man what a speaker (and hilarious)! He’s my second favorite speaker behind Honest Abe.

[@KennyVert]

Goosebumps.

[@starlegends3092]

Ey i have that picture that is on your pvp as a bookmark

[@starlegends3092]

I mean pfp

[@TheTribute410]

Can’t imagine what that must’ve been like in person. God bless America

[@marselhoxhaj1679]

I can't help crying listening to this hymn......

[@randypagel1711]

Almost 200 dislikes? Our country is in trouble if we can't agree this was the most amazing thing to see and hear! Thank you President Reagan for your service and God Bless America! How about a Nobel Peace Prize for ending the Cold War and bringing freedom to so many Eastern Bloc countries!?

[@elyse443]

I really feel for children who will never get to hear real music like this live. 😢 Feel the power of man intersecting with God. The real God.

[@starlegends3092]

Its still possible for people to do something like this again. I dont think enyone changed phisics lol As a teen, i enjoyed this video!!

[@stephtimms1776]

@@starlegends3092 Can't change physics or science, but they sure try to now, and history. This was a precious patriotic time in history.

[@benalder6781]

What a really good moment and a really good tear up moment.

[@sandyharris1047]

Thank you for sharing this. May God Bless America, and Ronald Reagan,

[@SharonKofoed]

This footage is SO fun!

[@douggriggs1499]

Wonderful. And wow!! Does the United States ever need him to be time traveled from then to NOW!!

[@AubreyWilkinsWursten]

How have I never seen this?! So sweet!

[@rklive7034]

Great President... Great moment !

[@seanbaskett5506]

A perfect tribute to the best president of modern American history. I was born on his watch, I would know.

[@alastairorr3802]

A truly moving and magnificent performance by this wonderful choir. And so well directed by their conductor, in tricky outside conditions. I came upon this posting while travelling on the train, yesterday evening. I am not ashamed to say I was openly moved, especially at the unaccompanied section near the end - the words, their meaning and the musical phrasing of the choir made a telling impression on me. All the more so, as my Mother passed away two months ago. Thank you so much for posting this footage.

[@SarahPriceHancock]

I'm grateful you heard this moving piece at such a difficult time in your life. I hope you are doing well.

[@richthrush5602]

the best president we ever had GOD BLESS YOU Mr President I salute you.

[@gungagaolu8869]

What a great Choir (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) and may God always Bless America.....Rest in peace President Reagan.

[@felixvisser9925]

A great patriotic song for A GREAT PRESIDENT , GOD BLESS R. REAGAN

[@jaymemangano1154]

He shall temía le best leader

[@elmercabais4983]

A wonderful performance by the great and famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Mabuhay po kayo from the Philippines! Thanks to Pres. Reagan for giving a great part in his time to perform during his inauguration as USA's 40th president. A great love and friendship between the Philippines and America.

[@MakelleBell]

Goodness that was moving! Wow!

[@Curtis69213]

Looked like he was on the verge of tears

[@eduardobraivein8496]

Tears always come from my eyes when I listen to these wonderful somg!

[@jjcevering9411]

I love watching this!!! Fills my heart with JOY ✨🌟✨

[@starlegends3092]

This is more touching then just plain old watching recent tabernacle chior performances. They are all good, but its amasing to see the old times and then the past presedent's reaction

[@user-cf7pe3qg1c]

My wonderful parents threw away our TV by 1977 (for good reason and it changed my life and I am grateful for it.) However, some things were not to be missed. When Reagan was sworn in (1981) I watched it from my high school library TV. I remember asking my choir director if we could go watch it. He did a vote in class and we won! I was 17. That was 40 years ago. I must have gone over my neighbor's house after school to watch the evening festivities because I remember this well. Enjoy! My favorite patriotic song for as long as I can remember!

[@melc9830]

Powerful performance of a beautiful song! What I liked while living through the Reagan years was how most people supported the president, and that created unity within Americans, that kind of unity is sweet in life. When the country is united, we are at our best!

[@starlegends3092]

Ya, id be cool if that happend again Tho i never accually lived back then

[@captainamerica6525]

Well done my good and faithful son...God bless the United States.

[@wdavis6939]

What a President, what a choir. God Bless America.

[@ajsawhill]

glory,glory,glory hallelujah

[@rafaelyanez3818]

The greatest choir perform for the greatest President Ever.

[@danieldeaver2907]

Ronald Reagan was the greatest president to walk the Earth. Abraham Lincoln at second. Really says something.