Reagan Address to Jr. High School Students

Nov 14, 1988

White House Travel | DC Event

President Reagan marked the beginning of American Education Week and spoke to school students in the East Room of the White House. He talked about the foundations of American government, the values of democracy, and the regard for the United States held by other countries. He also answered questions from the students. The event was telecast .. Read More
President Reagan marked the beginning of American Education Week and spoke to school students in the East Room of the White House. He talked about the foundations of American government, the values of democracy, and the regard for the United States held by other countries. He also answered questions from the students. The event was telecast in several classrooms throughout the country.

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TRANSCRIPT

TIME SPEAKER TEXT
00:00:38 Reagan, RonaldPresident

You know, this is a real treat for me -- having you here and to have, in a little while, the chance...

00:01:04 Reagan, RonaldPresident

This marks the beginning of American Education Week, and I'm particularly pleased to be talking to...

00:01:40 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Now, last week the United States did something so exceptional that people around the world marveled...

00:02:34 Reagan, RonaldPresident

The United States is the world's oldest democratic government. And at my age, when I tell you something...

00:03:50 Reagan, RonaldPresident

That vision of self-government was the basis for the American Revolution, the first revolution of...

00:04:28 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Now, the Revolution may seem like something they say happened a long time ago -- to me 200 years seems...

00:05:04 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Over these 200 years, country after country has followed our path, and I believe that ultimately all...

00:07:18 Reagan, RonaldPresident

From the beginning, the American vision was that our country would be the cradle of freedom for all...

00:07:55 Reagan, RonaldPresident

But America's world leadership goes well beyond the tide toward democracy. We also find that more...

00:09:09 Reagan, RonaldPresident

But beyond politics and economics, we find that American culture has also spread around the world....

00:09:45 Reagan, RonaldPresident

The same thing is true with science and technology. We lead the world in Nobel Prizes for science,...

00:10:32 Reagan, RonaldPresident

You know, I've seen remarkable technological change in my lifetime. Maybe I'm just going to date myself...

00:12:08 Reagan, RonaldPresident

And, again, I would say that the most important thing you can do is to ground yourself in the ideas...

00:12:56 Reagan, RonaldPresident

By renewing our commitment to the original values of the American Revolution and to the principles...

00:13:26 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Here in the White House there's a famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence....

00:14:20 Reagan, RonaldPresident

And we're entering one of the most exciting times in history, a time of unlimited possibilities, bounded...

00:14:55 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Now it's time for me to ask you for your questions, but first I'd like to ask you one: What are some...

00:15:13 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Yes?

00:15:14 Yolanda Coleman

Okay. My name is Yolanda Coleman. And I'm from Jefferson Junior High School, and I'm a seventh grade...

00:15:40 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Young man, you had your hand up. Didn't you have your hand up?

00:15:46 Jason Mills

My name is Jason Mills. I'm from Poolesville Junior-Senior High School. And one thing that I'm glad...

00:15:55 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Can you speak a little louder? I -- --

00:15:55 Jason Mills

Okay. One thing that I'm glad about in America is that you can choose what school you can go to, like...

00:16:05 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Yes. Anyone else with another comment? Well then, we'll get down to the questions. And what you were...

00:16:54 Yolanda Coleman

Again, my name is Yolanda. Mr. President, do you plan to work with your wife, Nancy Reagan, in the...

00:17:04 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Well, yes, I am already. And we have appropriated quite a sum of money for the drug battle. And we...

00:18:17 Yvette Ross

My name is Yvette Ross, Jefferson Junior High School. I'm an eighth grade student. Mr. President,...

00:18:32 Reagan, RonaldPresident

No -- I'm having a little trouble -- --

00:18:35 Yvette Ross

Do you feel that in your two terms as President that you and your administration have carried out...

00:18:45 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Have we carried out the plan set by the Founding Fathers? I think we have subscribed to that. When...

00:20:15 Casey Lee

My name is Casey Lee, and I'm from St. Stephen's School. And I was wondering what was the most important...

00:20:26 Reagan, RonaldPresident

I could sum that up very briefly: the Federal deficit -- the fact that for over a half a century our...

00:22:10 Ben Allnutt

Hi. My name is Ben Allnutt. I go to Poolesville Junior-Senior High School. I was wondering if the...

00:22:24 Reagan, RonaldPresident

No, I don't believe that it is that big a problem. You mean our Federal deficit? No, I think that...

00:23:16 Cameron Fitzhugh

My name is Cameron Fitzhugh, and I'm from St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia. I was wondering...

00:23:27 Reagan, RonaldPresident

I do. That's a big argument that's going on in government. And I definitely believe it is because...

00:24:56 Crystal Adair

My name is Crystal Adair, and I'm an eighth grader attending Jefferson Junior High School. And my...

00:25:22 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Well, we have vastly increased the amount of Federal money that is going into education, although...

00:27:03 Stuart Washington

Stuart Washington from Jefferson Junior High School. Mr. President, do you wish to accelerate the...

00:27:18 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Yes, I think the new frontier in the whole world is out there in space. And we've made such progress...

00:28:27 Chris Allen

My name is Chris Allen. I'm from Poolesville Junior-Senior High School. I was just wondering what...

00:28:35 Reagan, RonaldPresident

What we feel about the new -- --

00:28:37 Chris Allen

Gun ban law.

00:28:37 Reagan, RonaldPresident

The gun -- --

00:28:39 Chris Allen

Ban.

00:28:41 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Gun ban? Well, I think there has to be some control. But I thought that in California we had a system...

00:31:00 Anil Artis

Anil Artis from Jefferson Junior High School. Do you think the ``Saturday night special'' should be...

00:31:02 Reagan, RonaldPresident

The what?

00:31:06 Anil Artis

Do you think the ``Saturday night special'' should be banned?

00:31:09 Reagan, RonaldPresident

Well, I don't have very much of a quarrel with the very cheap weapon and so forth that makes it so...

00:31:30 Ms. White

Mr. President, thank you very much on behalf of the students. Students, we now have time for one more...

00:31:41 Nora Taylor

Mr. President, my name is Nora Taylor, from St. Agnes School. I was wondering when do you think the...

00:31:51 Reagan, RonaldPresident

I don't know, but believe me, I'm certainly not against it. I have a feeling, though, that probably...

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