 |
| Photo by Mike's America as President Reagan speaks aboard the "Ferdinand Magellan" in Perrysburg, Ohio in 1984. See more Mike's America Reagan photos and recollections here. |
The morning after the 1988 presidential election I stood in the White House Rose Garden as President Reagan thanked the staff who had worked so hard to help George H.W. Bush win a resounding victory over Democrat Michael Dukakis.
I remembered on the campaign trail how President Reagan had invoked the dying wish of George Gipp the Notre Dame football player whom Reagan memorialized in the film "Knute Rockne All American." In the film, Reagan repeats Gipp’s famous words: "Some day when the team is up against it… ask them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, but I'll know about it and I'll be happy."
As the President finished speaking and turned to go back into the Oval Office I shouted out, ala ABC’s Sam Donaldson, “That was one for the Gipper.” The President returned to the podium and proceeded to regale us with another of his famous George Gipp stories.
22 years later I’m thinking of that moment and of Reagan’s conservative legacy of smaller taxes and less government that is at the heart of the nationwide movement to restore this country starting November 2nd.
We’re up against a tough team of committed big government/big union ideologues who will say anything and stop at nothing to push through their harmful and irresponsible agenda.
Talk to your family, friends and associates. Make sure they vote. Tell them: Let’s win one more for the Gipper!
Audio: Reagan portrays George Gipp in his deathbed speech in Knute Rockne All American.
No comments:
Post a Comment