A great man has passed away. I don't even know how to express my feelings. Ronald Reagan was the son of shoe salesman from Illinois and he lived the American dream, but he never lost his sense of humility and modesty. That humility was the basis of his philosophy towards government. Like other fiscal conservatives, he felt that our nation's economy was best served by individuals making their own choices about their money should be spent, and not government officials such as himself.

He was a man who told it like he saw it. He never minced words when describing the old Soviet Union as "the evil empire", and his firm stance on defense measures like the Ballistic Missile Defense System, were partially been responsible for its collapse.

I'm not the best writer in the world, so I'll close out with the words of The Great Communicator himself, from his 1994 letter when he announced his Alzheimers disease:

In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your president. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.

I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.

Thank you, my friends.

Thank you, Ronald Reagan.