Within hours of launch, thousands of well-wishers had already signed the virtual birthday card for Ronald Reagan — who would have turned 102 Wednesday — posted on a specially created Facebook page from The Heritage Foundation to commemorate the nation’s 40th president.
Well-wishers included some high-ranking VIPs, according to The Daily Caller. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wrote: “On Ronald Reagan’s 101st birthday, let’s remember what strength abroad, confidence in the private sector and optimism can do for America.”
And from former presidential hopeful Rick Santorum: “Ronald Reagan once said ’There are no easy answers but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.’ We celebrate his life and legacy today on his 102nd birthday.”
The Heritage Foundation, meanwhile, recalled Reagan’s first inaugural address, given during a time of great economic crisis and overseas turmoil.
“From time to time,” Mr. Reagan said, in his address, “we have been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by and of the people. But if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price.
“We hear much of special interest groups,” he continued. “Our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and our factories, teach our children, keep our homes and heal us when we are sick — professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truckdrivers. They are, in short, ’We the people,’ this breed called Americans.”
As of late Monday evening, 5,367 had signed the Facebook card, The Daily Caller reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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