Some more quotes from a great man!
"We think there is a parallel between federal involvement in education and the decline in profit over recent years." -- Reagan, '83
"...a faceless mass, waiting for handouts." -- Reagan, '65, describing Medicaid recipients.
"Because Vietnam was not a declared war, the veterans are not even eligible for the G. I. Bill of Rights with respect to education or anything." -- Reagan, '80
"Today a newcomer to the state is automatically eligible for our many aid programs the moment he crosses the border." -- Reagan, '66. In fact, immigrants to California had to wait five years before becoming eligible for benefits. Reagan later acknowledged his error, but repeated the same thing nine months later.
"Fascism was really the basis for the New Deal.." -- Reagan, '76
"It would be a user fee..." -- Reagan, '82, explaining how a five cent a gallon tax on gasoline isn't actually a tax.
"Taxes should hurt. I just mailed my own tax return last night and I am prepared to say `ouch!' as loud as anyone." -- Reagan, '70, after approving California's largest tax increase in history. Reporters soon pointed out that Reagan didn't pay a cent on state taxes that year. For all his talk about shrinking government, California's state budget more than doubled under his governorship, from $4.6 billion to $10.2 billion.
"I have a smiling fellow at the end of the table who tells me what we do." -- Reagan, '81, on how budget decisions are made.
"I never knew anything above Cs." -- Reagan, '81, describing his academic record.
"I know all the bad things that happened in that war. I was in uniform for four years myself." -- Reagan, '85, justifying laying a wreath at a nazi cemetary in Bitburg. Reagan spent WWII in Hollywood, making films.
"They haven't been there. I have." Reagan, '85, justifying his policies on Nicaragua. Ronald Reagan had never visited Nicaragua.
"They've done away with those committees. That shows the success of what the Soviets were able to do in this country." -- Reagan, '87, defending McCarthyism and the House Un-American Activities Committee.
"In England, if a criminal carried a gun, even though he didn't use it, he was not tried for burglary or theft or whatever he was doing. He was tried for first degree murder and hung if he was found guilty" -- Reagan, '82. Later admitted by White House Spokesman Larry Speakes to be untrue.
""I never wear (makeup). I didn't wear it when I was in pictures." -- Reagan, '84. This statement is promptly disputed the next day by G.E. Theater makeup man Howard Smith, "Death Valley Days" makeup man Del Acevedo, and debate panelist James Weighart, as well as Mayor Edward Bergin, recalling a recent presidential visit to Connecticut.
"80 percent of air pollution comes not from chimneys and auto exhaust pipes, but from plants and trees." -- Reagan, '79
"My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." -- Reagan, '84
"I've been told that in the Russian language there isn't even a word for freedom." -- Reagan, '85. The word, btw, is svoboda.
"I cannot recall anything whatsoever.... My answer therefore and the simple truth is, 'I don't remember, period'" -- Reagan, Feb. '87, denying knowledge of the Iran-Contra "arms for hostages" deal.
"Mr. President, why don't we openly support those 7,000 guerillas that are in rebellion rather than giving aid through covert activity?"
"Well, because we want to keep on obeying the laws of our country, which we are now obeying."
"Doesn't the United States want that government replaced?"
"No, because that would be a violation of the law." - Reagan, ''87. At the time of the press conference, the U.S. was giving the indiscriminately murderous Contra guerillas covert aid, in direct violation of the law. Reagan's lie was so obvious that members of the press corps laughed loudly and openly at his statements.
"A few months ago, I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and evidence tell me it is not." -- Reagan, Mar. '87
