Bill Text: IL SR0048 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Salutes President Ronald Reagan on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-02-10 - Resolution Adopted [SR0048 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-SR0048-Introduced.html

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SR0048 LRB097 10050 GRL 50226 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The centennial of President Ronald Reagan's birth
occurred on February 6, 2011; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan was the only U.S. president born
in the State of Illinois, in the town of Tampico; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan spent his formative years in
Illinois, growing up in Dixon; and
WHEREAS, While serving as a lifeguard on the Rock River
during his teenage years, Ronald Reagan was credited with
saving 77 lives; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan went to Illinois' Eureka College,
where he majored in economics and sociology and graduated from
that institution in 1932; and
WHEREAS, After college, Ronald Reagan entered the field of
broadcasting as an announcer for the Chicago Cubs out of the
WHO radio station in Des Moines, Iowa; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan then traveled to Hollywood to embark
on a career in motion pictures, eventually starring in more
than 60 films; and

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WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan left acting to serve in the Second
World War, eventually rising to the rank of Captain in the
United States Army Air Force; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan put his acting skills to use in the
armed forces, helping make more than 400 training films to
assist AAF pilots; and
WHEREAS, Upon returning to Hollywood, Ronald Reagan joined
the Screen Actors Guild union, eventually serving six terms as
president of the organization; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan's role as George Gipp in the movie
"Knute Rockne: All American" led to his nickname "The Gipper",
which he was called for the rest of his life; and
WHEREAS, On the set of the movie "Hellcats of the Navy",
Ronald Reagan met the woman who would end up being the love of
his life, Nancy Davis; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan was the proud father of four
children - Maureen, Ron, Jr., Patti, and Michael; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan served as a spokesman for General
Electric; he later served as a host for the popular TV show

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General Electric Theater; and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan went on to be elected to serve as
the two-time governor of California, serving from 1967 to 1975;
and
WHEREAS, Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United
States in 1980 - the first native-born Illinois person to reach
the highest office in the land; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan's optimism and belief that the
United States' best days were yet to come helped rejuvenate the
American spirit; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan never mistook his political
opponents for enemies, and worked with his Democratic Congress
on behalf of the American people; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan's grace under pressure during
his assassination attempt, with quips such as "Honey, I forgot
to duck", helped console the American people during that very
dark hour; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan's strong support for our
national defense and his popularity among our nation's fighting
men and women led to the naming of the aircraft carrier USS

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Ronald Reagan in his honor; and
WHEREAS, During President Reagan's presidency, the United
States was respected throughout the world, and foreign
relations improved with Europe, India, China, and other
nations; and
WHEREAS, During the Reagan presidency, America saw years of
unprecedented economic growth and prosperity; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan never forgot his Illinois roots -
frequently coming back to our State to visit his boyhood home
of Dixon, Eureka College, and other communities; and
WHEREAS, As president, Ronald Reagan was graced with the
nickname "The Great Communicator" for his ability to convey his
vision to the American people; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan's popularity among the American
people led to his winning 49 states in his reelection and
capturing more electoral votes than any other presidential
candidate in history; and
WHEREAS, Working with national leaders and our democratic
allies, President Reagan played a crucial part in ending
communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union; and

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WHEREAS, When the reformist leader Mikhail Gorbachev took
power in the Soviet Union, President Reagan worked with him to
diffuse Cold War tensions; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan worked with General Secretary
Gorbachev to reduce nuclear arms by concluding an agreement on
the INF Treaty, which, for the first time ever, reduced the
number of nuclear weapons; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan gave a famous speech in 1987
calling on Mr. Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall, which
did fall a little more than two years later; and
WHEREAS, By the end of the Reagan presidency, Cold War
tensions between the Soviet Union and United States had
dramatically decreased; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan's speech comforting the nation
following the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger helped
console a grieving nation; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan's leadership inspired many young
Americans to enter public service; and
WHEREAS, President Reagan's courageous fight against

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Alzheimer's disease led to greater public awareness of that
terrible illness; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of landmarks, roads, and buildings have
been named as a tribute to President Reagan across America,
including Washington DC's Reagan Airport and Ronald Reagan
Building, and Illinois' Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we salute President
Ronald Reagan on the 100th anniversary of his birth, thank him
for the service to our country as a member of our armed forces,
as a public servant, and as President, and honor him for
helping to revive the American spirit.