Tow #7 Ronald Regan Farewell Address to the Nation
On
January 11, 1989 Ronald Reagan gives a motivational and patriot farewell
speech, after a very successful second term as president, to the nation. It was the 34th time he spoke
from the Oval Office, and the last.
Reagan’s farewell address encompasses two presidential terms worth of
praise and thanks. The speech also delves into several
references to real life stories that instill a true sense of patriotism in his
viewers, the American people.
The American people viewing Reagan’s live speech were certainly roused
with American pride and patriotism due to the American people’s wide acceptance
and love for Reagan as well as by his own excellent use of anecdotal stories to
represent what it means to be a true American.
During
his speech Reagan recounts a story about an American sailor, aboard the carrier
Midway, rescuing a small leaky little boat in which a group of Indochina
refugees were trying to make their way to America. When one refugee spied the sailor he stood up and yelled, “Hello,
American sailor. Hello, freedom man.”
By sharing this amusing and inspirational moment in history, in which
the true meaning of being an American is shown, Reagan is able to grab
America’s attention as well as inspire them to be like the “Freedom man.” This anecdote is perfect for this
speech as it is a recount of an event directly prior to the election of Ronald
Reagan which is an excellent contrast to Reagan’s following anecdote about the
1981 and 1983 economic summits in which he shows how the world looked to him
for guidance and that one nation broke the silence of the final summit by
saying, “Tell us about the American miracle.'' Reagan was the United State’s 40th president who
served two full terms as U.S. president as well as the Governor of
California. Reagan was also a successive
actor in his younger life and served in the U.S. Air Force.
“Freedom man” anecdote starts at 2:31
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1989/011189i.htm
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