Assembly Republican Leader Martin Garrick delivered a speech today about Ronald Reagan's enduring legacy, at the signing of his bill to create California's Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission to celebrate his 100th Birthday in 2011. You can watch his speech, or below is a transcript of his remarks:
GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER:
Now I would like to bring out a great leader in the Assembly -- we're talking here about Assemblyman Garrick. Thank you very much. (Applause)
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER MARTIN GARRICK:
Thank you, Governor. And Mrs. Reagan, it's almost surreal for me to be here standing so close to you on
this special day to honor one of my heroes. It's truly an honor to share this stage with you. And thank you to the people from the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library for all that you do. This is a magnificent place. And to all of my friends and fellow Reaganites, I want to say it's been too long and we need to do this more often.
I spoke at a graduation ceremony last month for the Army-Navy Academy in my district. As I prepared to address the group of cadets and their families I thought about the first time I heard Ronald Reagan speak in person. It was at the Marlborough High School graduation in Los Angeles in 1974, the last year he was governor.
In the speech "the great communicator" spoke of the price of freedom in America. He spoke of the golden hope of mankind and he spoke of American exceptionalism in the face of socialism and communism. He reminded the graduating students that his generation had gone from a horse and buggy all the way to the moon. He also noted that he, then at the age of 63, had already lived 10 years longer than his life expectancy and that this was a source of great aggravation in certain circles.
Governor Reagan's speech left quite a mark on me as a young man, then only 21 years old and on the rest of the audience that day. Little did we know at that time just how much the great leader would achieve both for our state, our nation and in his lifetime. Six years after that speech I was fortunate enough to join with some of the faces I see today here in the crowd to work on the president's 1980 election in his White House Transition Team and in his administration.
Today I am deeply honored to be able to play a role in honoring Ronald Reagan's legacy as a Californian and an American. As you know, President Reagan was California's first movie start governor. He starred in 53 films during his career. Now, how many have you starred in, Governor? (Laughter) I think it's 30, isn't it? You've got some catching up to do, I think.
But he did more than just conquer Hollywood. He was the first and only person to serve as governor of California and president of the United States. He handed over the Horseshoe to Jerry Brown and the Oval Office he took back from Jimmy Carter. Even though his political opponents set a low bar he far exceeded any and all expectations.
President Reagan inherited a country stuck in stagnation and unleashed the greatest peacetime economic expansion in America's history. He dared to dream not only of a peaceful end to the Cold War but also of the destruction of the evil empire and he accomplished both.
Within a year of leaving office the Berlin Wall fell and Soviet communism crumbled. President Reagan restored pride and power to our military and he once again made our nation a beacon of hope, freedom and optimism for all of the world.
February 6th, 2011 will mark the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth. Assembly Bill 1911, with the Governor's signature, creates California's Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission. It will celebrate and honor one of the most influential Californians and Americans in history. And in keeping with President Reagan's distrust of big government we made sure that his bill won't use any taxpayers' dollars and won't grow the bureaucracy.
Just as Ronald Reagan taught the next generation about the greatness of America, I look forward to helping to teach future generations about Ronald Reagan's character, his optimism, his ideals and his enduring legacy. This commission and the celebration of his 100th birthday will help us ensure President Reagan's proper role in history.
Thank you very much. (Applause) Now it's my pleasure to introduce Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth. (Applause)
GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER:
Now I would like to bring out a great leader in the Assembly -- we're talking here about Assemblyman Garrick. Thank you very much. (Applause)
ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN LEADER MARTIN GARRICK:
Thank you, Governor. And Mrs. Reagan, it's almost surreal for me to be here standing so close to you on
this special day to honor one of my heroes. It's truly an honor to share this stage with you. And thank you to the people from the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library for all that you do. This is a magnificent place. And to all of my friends and fellow Reaganites, I want to say it's been too long and we need to do this more often.I spoke at a graduation ceremony last month for the Army-Navy Academy in my district. As I prepared to address the group of cadets and their families I thought about the first time I heard Ronald Reagan speak in person. It was at the Marlborough High School graduation in Los Angeles in 1974, the last year he was governor.
In the speech "the great communicator" spoke of the price of freedom in America. He spoke of the golden hope of mankind and he spoke of American exceptionalism in the face of socialism and communism. He reminded the graduating students that his generation had gone from a horse and buggy all the way to the moon. He also noted that he, then at the age of 63, had already lived 10 years longer than his life expectancy and that this was a source of great aggravation in certain circles.
Governor Reagan's speech left quite a mark on me as a young man, then only 21 years old and on the rest of the audience that day. Little did we know at that time just how much the great leader would achieve both for our state, our nation and in his lifetime. Six years after that speech I was fortunate enough to join with some of the faces I see today here in the crowd to work on the president's 1980 election in his White House Transition Team and in his administration.
Today I am deeply honored to be able to play a role in honoring Ronald Reagan's legacy as a Californian and an American. As you know, President Reagan was California's first movie start governor. He starred in 53 films during his career. Now, how many have you starred in, Governor? (Laughter) I think it's 30, isn't it? You've got some catching up to do, I think.
But he did more than just conquer Hollywood. He was the first and only person to serve as governor of California and president of the United States. He handed over the Horseshoe to Jerry Brown and the Oval Office he took back from Jimmy Carter. Even though his political opponents set a low bar he far exceeded any and all expectations.
President Reagan inherited a country stuck in stagnation and unleashed the greatest peacetime economic expansion in America's history. He dared to dream not only of a peaceful end to the Cold War but also of the destruction of the evil empire and he accomplished both.
Within a year of leaving office the Berlin Wall fell and Soviet communism crumbled. President Reagan restored pride and power to our military and he once again made our nation a beacon of hope, freedom and optimism for all of the world.
February 6th, 2011 will mark the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth. Assembly Bill 1911, with the Governor's signature, creates California's Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission. It will celebrate and honor one of the most influential Californians and Americans in history. And in keeping with President Reagan's distrust of big government we made sure that his bill won't use any taxpayers' dollars and won't grow the bureaucracy.
Just as Ronald Reagan taught the next generation about the greatness of America, I look forward to helping to teach future generations about Ronald Reagan's character, his optimism, his ideals and his enduring legacy. This commission and the celebration of his 100th birthday will help us ensure President Reagan's proper role in history.
Thank you very much. (Applause) Now it's my pleasure to introduce Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth. (Applause)
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