Ronald Reagan's Remarks at the Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri - 8/19/76

For more information on the ongoing works of President Reagan's Foundation, please visit www.reaganfoundation.org

[@unleashedfx7220]

I am a democrat that has never voted Republican, but I must say that from all Republican presidents, Reagan was by far the most articulate. Respect.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Yes. Ronald Reagan was the most articulated Republican President but also the the most ideologically conservative Republican President except George W. Bush 43.

[@1510Ronald]

no other so loveful being all around the world, what dois he say in Berlin? "Please, Mr. Gorbatschow, gare this wall down!" And what is coming? Thank, you, Ronad and Gorbi!

[@ilikebacon.6483]

@@powerfulstrong5673 trump has most conservative record in history.

[@M.AlexanderZagorski-uo1gu]

DITTO Unleashed! Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6,1911-June 5,2004) was ONE GREAT AMERICAN!🇺🇲

[@leejones7439]

so come over to the 'right' side....

[@zefdin101]

The power of the spoken word... to make 20thousand screaming people go silent, absorbed in thought , hanging on every single word. Ronald Reagan was an amazing man.

[@mariebiemesderfer8233]

As a 12 year old girl this speech was the start in turning me into a lifelong Republican. I loved the speech and later when he was really elected I got to see the dream come true. Loved those days. Reagan was the greatest president of my lifetime!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

The rising political career of Ronald Reagan and the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 turned the Republican Party completely into the party of modern American conservatism movement!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

It's very ironic that Ronald Reagan was a former New Deal style liberal Democrat!

[@michaelkrawczyk6715]

Born the same year and agree, I have never lived under a better president

[@benjaminrneal]

After this speech, I think the crowd realized that they backed the wrong horse.

[@TomDeFazio]

I was just going to write the same thing.

[@robertkresko6338]

But he was better off running as the nominee in 1980. By 1980, the economic downturn and world events had ripened the country to his message. Reagan said as much in his own personal writings around 1978. He also had four years of Jimmy Carter to run against in 1980.

[@jimalexander687]

True. There was enormous anti-Republican backlash after Watergate. Four years later, after the debacle that was the Carter administration, most Americans were ready to be rescued.

[@EJ160E]

GREATEST MIC DROP EVER

[@macclark4112]

Ronnie Reagan the best President at the best time.

[@niromanti5935]

Reagan was such a master orator. The way he gave speeches was just chilling.

[@frankgrimes3559]

WOW! . . . You could hear a pin drop during that speech! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@terrihenricks4160]

The greatest impromptu speech in American political history.

[@zefdin101]

Like so many, many others, it is Ronald Reagan that opened my eyes to what conservatism is, the ideal that free people hold in their hearts that America is unique and that true racial and financial equality starts from within and is not a dispensation of government.

[@sbonnet2004]

You can rest assured it was written in advance.

[@ignaciocarmelo293]

I guess I'm kinda off topic but does anyone know a good place to stream new series online ?

[@marleyelian6069]

@Ignacio Carmelo lately I have been using FlixZone. You can find it by googling =)

[@kodaprince3613]

@Marley Elian Yup, I have been using flixzone for years myself =)

[@BeaNavarrete-ov7pb]

You will be in our hearts forever; we need more presidents like you.

[@tunnasch]

I remember that moment. I was ten years old. Powerful, powerful speech. And oh, how crushed I was that he had lost.

[@williamsorokes5351]

This is the first time I've heard his speech in its entirety, and it's beautiful yet terrifying. No wonder they call him the 'Great Communicator'. WOW!

[@Turtleproof]

You're a simp for a used car salesman who died decades ago? OK.

[@balleater1538]

@@Turtleproof Who tf asked you for your opinion on the matter?

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@Andrea Vlasis The ideology of modern American movement conservativism started by William F. Buckley and Barry Goldwater and later popularized by Ronald Reagan is a totally joke.

[@mattmatt7800]

@@powerfulstrong5673 Your party that worries more about calling dudes that dress up as chicks women than it does about food on our store shelves is the joke. Get over yourself. This great man would have never believed a country he ran could turn into this in such a short time.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@@mattmatt7800 I am not an American. I am a Chinese who has deep interest in American history and American politics. What I found from learning of American history is that the modern American movement conservativism Revolution started by Ronald Reagan is very flawed in ideology.

[@thedelaware8309]

Great speech...It must have been after this speech that Republicans realized they nominated the wrong guy...

[@powerfulstrong5673]

The rising political career of Ronald Reagan and the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 turned the Republican Party completely into the party of modern American conservatism movement!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

It's very ironic that Ronald Reagan was a former New Deal style liberal Democrat!

[@williamhobbs2942]

No doubt did you see when Ford was introducing him even then he looked like a president Jefferson and him were my two favorite

[@williamhobbs2942]

I guarantee Jefferson would not wear a mask I'm sorry a baby diaper if you can smell bacon you can smell covid

[@williamhobbs2942]

Correction Jefferson would not wear one of those

[@tildesarecool7782]

Wow. First time I ever watched that speech. I'd vote for him.

[@dburlin5304]

I hope you all noted, Reagan never explicitly endorsed Ford. His speech was about the ideals and principles of the party, the freedom project. He went on to campaign for those principles in the RNC platform, and the down ballot people, but he never campaigned for Ford, whom his campaign believed engaged in behind the scene chicanery in what was a close primary fight. Read the history. He wasn't even scheduled to speak at the convention, but the crowd went wild when they saw him in the arena, and started chanting "speech, speech, speech." Ford waved him down...what else could he do? The speech was so magnificent, people in the arena that night said they suddenly realized, "Oh, man, we nominated the wrong guy."

[@fundude4566]

Reagan had way more class then Ted Cruz ever will. Ted is no Ronald Reagan and Reagan would've blasted him after that speech last night.

[@BJ-if7yh]

Like hell he would have. Reagan would be EMBARRASSED by a fraud like Trump.

[@dburlin5304]

^^^Agree.

[@RollOnToVictory]

"Vote your conscience"

[@robertkresko6338]

Debra Burlin And yet if you read in his memoirs, Reagan himself claimed that he asked the convention to make it unanimous for Gerald Ford and went on to claim that he went on to campaign in twenty-five states for Ford.

[@syedadeelhussain2691]

A very eloquent speaker. Both he and Maggie Thatcher changed the face of Western Civilization.

[@briane173]

For a time. Reagan used to remind people in his speeches that we're never more than a generation away from losing our freedoms and Constitutional form of government. A look across today's landscape vindicates his warnings. An authoritarian strongman in the WH who does what he wants and calls anyone who dares to challenge him an enemy of the people; and an opposing party that openly embraces Marxism and sells it to the people most likely to embrace it as well -- young voters 18-25 who've never lived under socialism and have had it so good for so long that they think no circumstance could be any worse than today's. Well, it can be worse; and it will be if the pendulum swings ever so more widely that it breaks off its pivot and crashes firmly into one of the two camps aforementioned. Only difference is it wouldn't take 100 years for Americans to know whether we saved a nation or contributed to its collapse; it could easily happen in the next couple of years, barely 48 years later.

[@neb3757]

When compared to the world we could have lived in, if they and I would throw in Pope John Paul II in that mix, never defeated communism.

[@briane173]

@@neb3757 I was about to say, Reagan, Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II all in position at the same time could not have been more fortuitous for Europe AND the U.S. Without John Paul (and without the Commie Old Guard dying off every other week in the Soviet Union), Reagan and Thatcher may not have been able to pull off the monumental collapse of the USSR.

[@neb3757]

@@briane173 your comment from two months ago, wow. Look at what we're doing to ourselves as a nation now.

[@briane173]

@@neb3757 Right?

[@MisterFusion113]

The moment when thousands of Republican primary voters realized with absolute certainty that they had made a great mistake.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@TruthnautBegins]

Starting @5:09 you can see many faces reflect the realization that they had nominated Ford who was the wrong choice.

[@jbelden36]

That man had some kickass charisma, integrity and uplifting optimistic Patriotism. It makes me weep with what phony, crony politicians we have now.

[@jimeagle5483]

And you knew that he meant every word he said.

[@danielclingen34]

He definitely had charisma, he did not have integrity nor Patriotism nor was he uplifting.

[@Turtleproof]

Why did you capitalize patriotism? Oh, right, it's a religion to some people.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@@Turtleproof Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@Jechoniah]

I am so grateful to have lived during the “Reagan Era” and witnessed firsthand the truly wonderful times we experienced in America. For those not yet alive during President Reagan’s administration and who are tempted to think today is normal, I respectfully disagree. What we see today in national politics is truly a disgrace. America will get through this national nightmare and once again her citizens will bask in the sunshine of freedom, decency, respect, and common sense.

[@Turtleproof]

The template of a foolish salesman with Dementia who was a puppet for Russia and the American oligarchs just like Donny? Uh ... buddy, are you living in fantasy land?

[@powerfulstrong5673]

The rising political career of Ronald Reagan and the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 turned the Republican Party completely into the party of modern American conservatism movement!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

It's very ironic that Ronald Reagan was a former New Deal style liberal Democrat!

[@dvchel]

Fortunately, I was able to be born or live in Reagan's legacy in the 90s.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@Soccox]

Reagan was one of the best presidents this country has had-- he was truly a strong intelligent leader-- and loved by many. Bring back Trump-- these politicians in DC are all freaking corrupt

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@David-lj8zo]

What an inspiring speech.

[@jimeagle5483]

I am welling up just thinking about how awesome the man was.

[@smacdiesel]

Reagan was one of the few political figures that never wavered concerning his political philosophy. It steered his entire career as a leader.

[@Turtleproof]

You're not wrong since he had no ideology he was just a commercial actor.

[@Mens_et_Manus]

This guy is the symbol of freedom and anti communism. Every time he spoke publicly the summary of his message was freedom, freedom and more freedom . From his speech ”encroaching control" to “ a time for choosing “ to “the myth of the great society “to his gubernatorial and presidential speeches to even his post presidency speeches he was saying the same thing . His speeches were a perfect reflection of his personality and philosophy, every word seemed to come out of his heart not his mouth. His “ tear down this wall speech “ might be the most iconic but it is not as uplifting or interesting as most of his other speeches. Most people who don’t like him always say you should do more research on him but if they followed their advice they would see a man who spent all of his life fighting for freedom.

[@donaldmcauliffe7653]

I meet President Reagan in 1976 l was 18 years old

[@dougthatcher339]

I will forever treasure the time I actually met President and Mrs. Reagan. They were both very nice and genuine in person as you might imagine from seeing them on tv.

[@petezereeah517]

When Reagan went to Moscow he asked the Russian consulate why a Moscow Jewish family was not allowed to emigrate to the United States. He didn't get an answer. He informed the Soviets that he would be traveling to the Kremlin to meet Gorbachev in a few hours. Reagan told them he would stop on the way to the Kremlin to meet the Jewish family, and invite them for lunch at the White House as his personal guest. I saw a Soviet member of the media relay this account. He seemed to chuckle about it. Then he was asked if the family was allowed to emigrate. He said, "of course." When he was asked why, the smile left his face. He said, "Because we knew Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan doesn't make idle threats." That's a PRESIDENT!

[@501ststormtrooper9]

Hopefully Ronald gets resurrected.

[@oldlonewolf9649]

Why jewish why why why? Why they always must put nose in everything? Peoples are getting tired of this.

[@saarbrooklynrider2277]

@@oldlonewolf9649 I'm getting tired of your stupid comment.

[@adamthestimator]

My first thought after finding this channel: _How am I _*_not_*_ already subscribed to this channel?!?!?_ I shook Mr. Reagan's hand at a Florida appearance during this campaign when I was 4 years old. Still have the picture the newspapers took of the moment. I am proud to have shaken the hand of such a great man, while being held up by the great man who taught and modeled conservatism for me, my dad. One let down in my life (by far not the only one, and not the biggest at all) was that I missed voting for him in '84 by 5 years.

[@thomaspaine3395]

ugottabekidn lucky

[@judgeparker4236]

Masterful, even in defeat. Here the Republicans realized they had just nominated the wrong , man.

[@dvchel]

But it had to get worse for Americans to realize why they would have to vote on Reagan/Bush in 1980.

[@judgeparker4236]

@@dvchel True

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@@dvchel Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@@judgeparker4236 Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@thefloridian6072]

The "we made a mistake speech" is as great today as the first time I heard it. You can see the look on everyone's face. So Carter got 4 years and the mistake was rectified in 1980

[@briane173]

Nothing would make true believers out of the hoards that voted for Reagan twice in the 80s quite like an abjectly inept Carter administration.

[@dan-1617]

What a great speech

[@jackgates6949]

Remember it like it was yesterday...I was 16 and it all happened 15 minutes from me. I remember my dad turning off the TV. He voted for Jimmy Carter. I was furious. It was his first time voting since he immigrating to America. He said Ford was stupid and if he won he would just drag the country along. His vote for Carter was a protest against the Republican establishment. He said Reagan would be back in four years and win. As he often was; he was right. Miss my dad and miss the great Ronald Reagan.

[@jeffreydrhodes]

Thank you for posting this. What a treat I got to watch LBJ's last interview and this lost speech by President Reagan all in the same day.

[@Yobbie72]

Honest to God, that brought tears to my eyes.

[@marbury2403]

Snowflake

[@jancharlesgray899]

It wasn't impromptu; hello, it would have been his Acceptance speech.

[@SpikeWins]

Notice no endorsement of Ford.

[@jck9590]

His endorsement was implied and he went all over the country campaigning for him. Unlike Cruz, who basically said, "Write me in, if your conscience so chooses. Split the vote, Hillary will win...and we'll show all those Republicans who rejected me!" Selfish, and destructive. And if Hillary becomes President for 8 years by that thin write-in margin, he will go down in Conservative history as the most reviled man ever to take the stage... I was an early supporter, but he certainly showed tonight why EVERYONE in DC hates him & mis-trusts him. Even other Conservative Senators.

[@TommygunNG]

"Vice President to be." -- He wouldn't say that to Dole if he wasn't supporting the ticket.

[@donjordan9444]

Reagan campaigned for individual candidates but he never acted as a Ford surrogate or campaigned on his behalf. www.redstate.com/streiff/2016/07/20/ronald-reagan-ever-endorse-gerald-ford/

[@TommygunNG]

Don Jordan First off, that's Redstate, which has zero credibility on this matter (or any other, for that matter). Its facts may or may not be correct. Second, what you said is immaterial, as the issue is a failure to endorse--and a tacit rejection--in a speech at the convention. Third, Reagan did express a positive position. which was more than sufficient given the next point.. Fourth, the big difference between then and now is that there really wasn't a serious doubt to be laid to rest. No one seriously thought Reagan would pull a Cruz or something. Today, on the other hand, there was very specific and credible question, which Cruz had an affirmative duty to resolve. And he did--in favor of Hillary Clinton.

[@pessimystica]

If Cruz hurt anyone, he hurt any of the supporters who were planning on writing him in, which just helps Trump. I just saw a headline how he lost 25% of his FB fanbase, myself included. I voted for him in the Texas primary, but it was obvious he wasn't going to get the nomination, & I figured I'd be voting for Trump... no hesitation on deciding really, other than having to wait it out to see what happened. If he's secretly still hoping to run in 2020, he blew it... & a lot of Texans are disappointed, pissed, & hurt & have said they don't even wanna consider him for the Senate now.

[@JohnSmith-pm4ul]

Thank god for those people of 1980

[@disoriented1]

What better than 'Ronnie' speaking from my hometown?!..I was not of age to vote in '80, but went door to door; In '84, I proudly cast my first vote for President Reagan.

[@sfgnyy]

I have voted Democratic in Presidential elections. However, this is the best convention speech that I have ever heard. I think this is Reagan's best speech. Man spoke from the heart.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@Youtoo2128]

Look at how EVERYONE wanted to shake Reagan's hand and how they all loved him. I miss Ol' Dutch so much. We may have to wait another hundred years to be lucky enough for anyone to even come close to Reagan.

[@briane173]

A leader of his caliber comes along about once every 50 years or so. So if we can last another 10 years or so, perhaps we'll have another decent and principled human being who loves their country more than their party and will pull us out of the vortex around the drain before it's too late.

[@daveparkinson3231]

MacArthur and Reagan. The two greatest men of their time.

[@JM-ji9kx]

@trafficlight9199 FDR was the closest thing the United States ever had to an emperor. He created the impoverished welfare state we're in currently and allowed for the creation of an extinction weapon. RFK was a snot nosed rich kid who rode on the back of his brother. I'll take the greatest West Point graduate of all time who won the Pacific War and the man who brought the Soviet Union to it's knees without firing a single shot

[@501ststormtrooper9]

@JM1990 Hell yea!

[@Arthur_McGowan]

Those who were there say that most of the people in the hall looked at each other and said, "We nominated the wrong guy."

[@bradleychandler8512]

I’d be 84 when that time capsule is opened. Hope I can be there.

[@fahadmominah]

A real president

[@kenttowne2611]

Jerry lost and four years later the RNC considered the man who they cheered in 1976 to be an amiable dunce. Having grown up in fear of either nuclear attack or the useless loss of my life in a protracted foreign engagement, I was grateful for the leadership of Ronald Reagan.

[@joeyboedeker7205]

I am SO GLAD I grew up in those years! Ronaldis Magnus!!!

[@zerimar26]

You could tell on the faces of the people in the crowd thinking "Ah crap,we picked the wrong guy. That includes President Ford!" Whether you disagree with his politics there's no denying Reagan come along at the right time for the country. If not for term limits he could of served at least for 1 more term.

[@user-ck6bf3ke1w]

There would be nobody left to dig it back up if it weren't for this great speech of the century!

[@TheBlueyedblond]

3:07: contrast the look of admiration on Nancy Reagan's face to that of Hillary or Michelle. No words necessary.

[@silversurfer4020]

Thank God for Reagan

[@hkhilner]

Talk about upstaging! Reagan just blew everybody out of the water with this speech. You can just tell by the reaction of the delegates that they thought, "Why the hell did we nominate Ford?"

[@davidfear7351]

Sure made me proud to be a Republican.

[@sairamesh5521]

GOP is a joke. They have repeatedly betrayed advocates for small government over the last 20+ years... They talk and talk about cutting spending and create trillion dollar deficits as soon as they get our votes. It's becoming unbearable.

[@aulorenzo1498]

I was in 9th grade when I saw Reagan make this speech. I became a conservative. Reagan along w/ Rush Limbaugh, taught me what conservatism was.

[@rjm22nd]

I think Reagan in the back of his mind, somewhat sensed that Ford may not beat Carter (which turned out right). So he made that brief speech to in effect, pre-launch his 1980 campaign. And I'm sure the delegates thought to themselves regarding Ford, "Are you sure we nominated the right guy?"

[@MrDuds1984]

People often say that the Reagan presidency came along at the right time in history, not in my view he came along four years late, a Reagan from 77 to 84 would have been epic.

[@trackside77]

I wonder if he had won the GOP nomination in 76, whether he would have beaten Carter in the fall?

[@analogkid4957]

Carter was charismatic during his initial campaign. He seemed a fresh antidote to old Nixon and Ford. I honestly don’t think any Republicans would have defeated Carter in 1976.

[@dynamicconsultinggroup9105]

Everyone watching this speech at this time knew they had the wrong candidate for President.

[@rnw94501]

Look at the faces. Everyone in that arena suddenly realized.....'We nominated the wrong guy."

[@bitchpuddin]

Maga

[@Xerdar36]

Reagan should’ve won… 1976..

[@jimeagle5483]

Everyone in that hall knew at that moment that they had nominated the wrong Republican.

[@TheBombayMasterTony]

Great speech.

[@AmericanFUBAR33]

they knew they nominated the wrong man you can see the regret in their faces, this is legendary.

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

I cannot help but imagine a United States with this man as president in 1976 and never a Jimmy Carter. I would have preferred that!

[@Yobbie72]

Reagan needed to lose in '76, so that he could be re-elected in '84. This man was destined to end the Cold War, and he needed his partner in that endeavor, Mikhail Gorbachev, who came to power in 1985. If Reagan had won in '76, he would have been out of office by Jan 1985.

[@bethbabson7421]

Ford won my elementary school pretend election. Yes, it became tough times but people helped one another during Carter era. Mom sewed for free using what she had if kids needed clothing and their parents had no money to pay her. I performed for President Reagan my Freshman 1980 to 1981 school year in St. Petersburg, FL, campaign stop. I put the thank you card in drawer and hope it shows up one day in box. Mom never would do anything with that but my sister who received cards from Presidents, might. My siblings were older so Largo Band of Gold was much better and they tended to have several of those thank you notes. President Reagan's was very important to me. I literally was told Yuck by two Democrat kids either side of me when stuffed my band shirt with buttons and stickers given to me while enjoying his speech. Speaking of Berlin Wall, my siblings won Kerkrade Music Festival in 1978 against countries, some of them, Iron Curtain nations was a big deal and if you search the video taken in 8 mm is available. When Wall removed I guessed the next generation may not have similar perspectives as we did in Cold War. And, that some may want what we fought WWII over. I had no idea how right I'd be proven!

[@ericdavid7389]

My gosh that was eloquent

[@doowopfanuk]

Wow!

[@mikeygoodboi]

My gosh, that was POWERFUL! Carter would not have stood a chance!

[@johnrhaganjr5535]

Gerald Ford had a good acceptance speech but Ronald Reagan was more powerful what made Reagan great was despite being called the great communicator he was very modest just said he communicated great things about the 🇺🇸 no matter how you slice it Ronald Reagan was very powerful and bold when he spoke

[@gw5309]

I turned 18 in 1976. I proudly cast my 1st vote every in the primary for Ronald Wilson Reagan for President of the United States 🇺🇸 Boy, do I miss him.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

The rising political career of Ronald Reagan and the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 turned the Republican Party completely into the party of modern American conservatism movement!

[@powerfulstrong5673]

It's very ironic that Ronald Reagan was a former New Deal style liberal Democrat!

[@gw5309]

@@powerfulstrong5673 My Dad was also. Ultimately became a Republican Precinct Committeman. He used to say that at one time he was a Democrat. Then he learned how to read. 😀

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@@gw5309 Was he a New Deal liberal Democrat?

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@@gw5309 Why did your father switch party affiliation?

[@johnhall8364]

My childhood hero was Winston Churchill but Ronald Reagan (along with Margeret Thatcher and Pope John Paul) was the hero of my life. I didn’t always agree with all his positions but his combination of great communication skills, sound political vision and most of all a profound love of America, our people and our constitution. He recovered the American spirit, defeated the evil Soviet empire and set us almost a generation of prosperity and confidence. We again need men of his ilk today to lead us out of our new dark age. Btw, I remember listening live to that speech (as a 12 year old ) on our porch looking at the Atlantic Ocean in Maine with my father and Grandfather. My grandfather looked at us and said about Ford being nominated, “they just picked the wrong horse.”

[@SuperHigear]

His words are relevant even today

[@brianrunyon266]

One of my favorite Presidents. This loss, though painful did help him come 1980, as he lerned from that experience.

[@kyolym]

Ford was one of the worst REAGAN WAS THE BEST

[@indefatigable8193]

This is a masterclass in how to swallow your pride and know your power.

[@Rambo55293]

God bless America 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

I sure hope Ted Cruz has a moment like this at the RNC this year. Long live Reagan and long live conservatism.

[@Ryong_Way]

right on!

[@piersoncastor3169]

I understand all that is at risk with electing Hillary Clinton, but at the same time, I can't help but to realize that if Trump loses, the Republican candidates who run in 2020 (possibly Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Nikki Haley, and Joni Ernst) will truly showcase constitutional principles and conservative ideals.

[@cia4U9525]

Ted just gave a bitter, ungrateful speech after being invited to talk. I'm extremely disappointed.

[@johnlyn1]

Trump will not lose and after he wins Cruz will look a bigger fool than he looks now.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

I respect Ted even MORE after last night. He is a committed Conservative and a moral human being. It's sickening to me in American politics that you can run a man's family down and then when he refuses to kiss your ring that people say he should because it's "just politics". If someone called you a serial adulterer, your wife a tramp, and your father a Presidential Assassin would you then be able to just blindly support them and swear your allegiance to them? I wouldn't be able to. I find it incredibly ironic that Trump's supporters have prided themselves on not being politically correct and then when Ted does the ULTIMATE politically incorrect thing in the purest sense of the word they then hiss and boo. If Trump had done what Ted done last night they would be applauding. They are hypocrites in the highest degree but we have to always remember that these are people that are not even close to being sophisticated voters. They are cut from the same cloth as the "hope and change" crowd from 8 years ago. Ted has hedged his bets that these people will soon go away when their cult leader falls by the wayside but when the dust settles us TRUE conservatives will still be standing with the Constitution and with Ted as long as he stands with the Constitution as well. This moment is bigger than ANY one man. There is actually something at stake here. My allegiance is to the Constitution and NOT to some populist leader. If Ted turns on the Constitution I will then turn on Ted.

[@thekidfromiowa]

Two score years ago this day.

[@hectorgallardo295]

People hanging on every word!

[@disoriented1]

As much as I admire Reagan......I also admire President Ford...

[@Hiraghm]

Ford was a DIABN. That's how he became our first unelected President.

[@Hiraghm]

+Jacob Frey Ford was never elected President. He was appointed vice President, and then became President when Nixon resigned, then ran for his first Presidential election and lost. He was never elected to executive office.

[@johnhagan9271]

disoriented1 After Ford edged out Reagan I wish he would've defeated Carter the Iran Hostage Crisis Inflation and Russians invading Afghanistan wouldn't happen even though Ford wasn't a conservative he definitely was a lot better of a President than Nixon Johnson or the laughingstock Jimmy Carter

[@briane173]

Ford was placed in an impossible position, being unelected and then having to try to clean up the mess left by Nixon and Watergate. His decision to pardon Nixon was the right one, but I'm sure he knew that the moment he did that he was toast in 1976. I have to bet that he was relieved but surprised that he picked up enough delegates to take the nomination over Reagan. It was that close.

[@elwoodmcdougal5406]

Reagan raised more dander in this speech than Ford could’ve dreamed about. Ford was installed as President, but Reagan was elected. Both were honorable men, but there was a stark difference between them. Ford did an exemplary job as the quintessential “caretaker’ President, but Reagan was the leader everyone was looking for. It took 4 years of Carter to get 8 years of Reagan... think about that for a cool minute.🤔👍🏻

[@TONDUR]

just so great .

[@daveverplank]

There were quite a few in the crowd who thought they had nominated the wrong guy.

[@diondulmin4048]

GOD BLESS USA...GOD BLESS USA...GOD BLESS USA...GOD BLESS USA...GOD BLESS USA...GOD BLESS USA.. GOD BLESS USA....GOD BLESS USA.....GOD BLESS USA...GOD BLESS USA.....

[@sgtd4260]

President Reagan set the GOLD STANDARD, which ALL politicians should strive to achieve.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower would crush Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match-up!

[@ovathere93]

Now This is a speech.

[@jasonalfaro8963]

Greatest speech ever!

[@billiwilliams9972]

This was the FIRST election I voted in. I wrote Reagans name in. Then I voted for him the 2 times he got the nomination for President.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

The ideology of modern American movement conservativism started by William F. Buckley and Barry Goldwater and later popularized by Ronald Reagan is a totally joke.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson or Richard Nixon could defeat Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match up election!

[@erniemccracken2429]

@@powerfulstrong5673 Eisenhower maybe. But Johnson? He won in 1964 because Goldwater was a weak opponent (a clever guy but not presidential material) and people had sympathy for the Dems after the JFK assassination. Whoever the Dems had as their nominee that year would have won, it wasn't because Johnson was anything special. And then of course in 1968 he didn't have the guts to run at all because he knew he wouldn't win. Nixon? Kennedy beat him in 1960, and Reagan was an even better orator than Kennedy was. Nixon wouldn't have stood a chance against Reagan. The thing about Reagan was that he was likeable. Even people who disagreed with him (and the GOP in general) couldn't help but like him. And that's a great skill for a politician. If people like you, they'll listen to you. You won't win over everybody, but you'll win over a lot of people who otherwise would never vote for you. If Reagan had been 10 or 20 years younger, and if the Constitution allowed it, he would have run again in 1988 and he would have won again, quite easily. A really fascinating contest would have been Reagan v Bill Clinton. It would have been interesting to see how Reagan would have fared against him in 1992 instead of Bush senior. What if Reagan was the incumbent and had to defend his record in government during a time in the early 90s when the economy was doing poorly?

[@powerfulstrong5673]

@@erniemccracken2429 FDR or Eisenhower could crush Reagan in an hypocritical election!

[@echoman292]

"There is no substitute for victory!"

[@jackchambers332]

God guided Reagan.

[@powerfulstrong5673]

Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson or Richard Nixon could defeat Ronald Reagan in a hypothetical match up election!

[@BudSchnelker]

We're almost halfway to the opening of that time capsule. Does anyone doubt that we're trending toward a world in which the freedoms Reagan espoused will be verboten topics in the America of 2076?

[@dmreeoogdaq]

The man was Presidential before he was officially the President.

[@MarkRobbinsMR954]

In 1976, after reagan spoke every republican in america realized they just nominated the wrong candidate in gerald r ford.

[@jetsebutenpost]

Ted Cruz can't even walk in the shadow of this man

[@itumblers]

He's more of a leader than Reagan.

[@sir945]

we need Reagan NOW!!!!!!

[@petezereeah517]

I saw this when it happened. I was a kid. I remember my Dad looking at this and saying, "They should have nominated Him."

[@samdiego1965]

+Pete Zereeah they did eventually

[@leejones7439]

Lord, how much we have fallen since that day in 1976. The world has gone completely insane. Evil has taken hold of all that was once sacred and pure and rational. We stand on the precipice of a once mighty nation going off of the cliff. Pray people....pray.

[@cb8868]

Ford just got upstaged

[@Yobbie72]

In 2076 I will be 96 years of age, if the Lord wills that I see America's Tri-Centennial.

[@briane173]

I'm afraid I'll be 120, so I won't be around to see whether America exists at all in the form in which it was founded, or has become just another failed nation-state that fell under the weight of socialist dogma and tyranny.

[@donaldmcauliffe7653]

President harry s Truman and Ronald Reagan are my favorite president both of them knew how this nation should be

[@timboslice1979]

Greatness, The shining City on a hill began then!

[@RETSZTIRF]

The golden standard was set we have not seen a conservative since. Still disappointing Reagan's face is not on Rushmore.

[@RELubber]

Could you imagine if Reagan ran against Representative Gerald Ford instead of the accidental President Ford? Jerry wouldn't have made it out of New Hampshire.

[@Turtleproof]

Damn, we would have had a good president with a functioning brain instead of a stooge, what a shame.

[@iammdeepak1]

The great communicator. Impromptu. WOW Just WOW

[@dante5622]

Ronald Reagan sure took votes away from Ford during the 1976 election. That was the most votes for a 3rd party candidate for Presidency.

[@michaelluccketta5838]

This great man was majestic