In 1980, Communism, the Soviet Russian version, was winning. Slowly, but winning none the less. Thirty years of MAD, Mutually Assured Destruction, had taken its toll of America’s spirit and America’s military. We knew that the Russians would come through Fulda Gap, not if but when. We were outnumbered and outgunned in Europe and around the world.

In our own hemisphere, the hemisphere of the Monroe Doctrine, the Soviets had footholds in three nations and were about to make that four or five. The President of the United States talked about our national “malaise”.

Then, the nation asked Ronald Wilson Reagan to be its President.

When you tuck your children into bed tonight, remember Ronald Wilson Reagan and thank God for his life. Bless him because your children can sleep without fear of nuclear bombs falling from the skies. America can sleep well each and every night because of the things that Ronald Reagan did twenty years ago. Your children, my lovely PG and her college classmates, are the first generation in decades who are free of fear of nuclear war.

Never forget where we were in 1980. We knew we could not win World War Three without going nuclear. We believed that the war would end with no real winner, and had no other alternative. We KNEW we couldn’t beat the Soviets.

But Ronald Wilson Reagan had his faith in God and his faith in America. He couldn’t accept American in malaise. He wouldn’t accept defeat and despair. And… wonder of wonders, despite the pundits and naysayers, WE WON THE COLD WAR. A wave of liberty swept out from the United States of America and around the globe. Hundreds of millions of people became free. The Berlin Wall was torn down.

Just as Ronald Wilson Reagan had always believed could happen, with faith in God and faith in America.

Sleep well tonight, America. And bless Ronald Wilson Reagan, who has gone home to his reward.