President Reagan's Remarks Welcoming British Prime Minister Thatcher on November 16, 1988

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States and Mrs. Reagan of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America Oh Minister, this can poach otters oh hey, Prime Minister Thatcher, here is a story from our Old West that said that one day a cowboy was going to riding a horse and suddenly stumbled into the Grand Canyon and is supposed to have said: Why, something sure has happened here, Prime Minister Thatcher, when we look at the world as it is today and as it was when we first met here eight years ago , we too have the right to say that something sure happened when we first met on these grounds in the economic crisis of 1981 we said that both inflation and unemployment in our country were reaching dangerously disturbing levels the aggressive designs of scrawny, big dictators and small, were seen everywhere totalitarian expansion was underway on four continents terrorism was growing in the face of the largest weapons buildup in human history our own defenses had fallen into disrepair and decay a new nuclear missile It was aimed at Europe and Asia there was talk of unilateral cuts and American withdrawals and nuclear freezes and questions about the alliance our alliance the great alliance built was such difficulty and audacity since the last world war it was in grave danger all these problems spoke of an even more crisis profound a crisis of faith the crisis of will among democracies here in our own nation there were those who questioned whether our democratic institutions could survive if the modern world had made them obsolete, well, now it has changed, now the enthusiasm, vigor and energy In the science of economics we are learning that the path to prosperity is not It is more bureaucracy and redistribution of wealth, but less government and more freedom for the businessman and for the creativity of the individual.

Extraordinary changes in the world and that is why at this time Minister Thatcher, we are especially pleased to welcome you here to our shores and to have this opportunity to recognize the special role that you and the people of Great Britain have played in achieving of this notable change. It was my privilege last June, shortly after my return from Moscow to highlight in a speech at Guildhall her extraordinary role in revitalizing freedom today and I welcome her to these shores. I and the American people reaffirm our gratitude again at this critical hour. Margaret Thatcher and the people of Britain stood firm. in defense of freedom and defended all the noblest traditions of the island nations of it, his was the part of courage, resolution and vision.

Bismarck once reflected that the supreme fact of the 19th century was that Britain and the United States shared the same language, and surely future historians will note that a supreme fact of this century was that Britain and the United States shared the same cause, the cause of human freedom, together we have come a long way in the fight for that central cause, even in a terrible disappointment after the last World War. when we realized that everything we had fought for in that great conflict, world peace and freedom would once again slip away from us and that we would have to start over and stand together again and face the threat of war and tyranny totalitarian, even then we did not lose heart and stick together when you were here for the first time, Prime Minister Thatcher, we mean a decade fraught with danger.

Today we can hope that, by facing those dangers, we have transformed this decade into a turning point, a turning point for our time and for all times, to continue. This work is deeply reassuring to me and to all who care about freedom that you will continue to share with America your vision with a firm hand and this is especially critical for us at this time of transition in our government, whatever that may be. the future holds for us. Today the American people expressed our gratitude, our affection, and our determination to stand by them until freedom triumphs.

Sir Winston put it very well when he said that the day may come when clean love for one's neighbor, respect for justice and liberty, will enable the tormented. generations to march serene and triumphant meanwhile they never go back they never get tired they never despair sir. So, let me thank you warmly for those words of welcome and for this wonderful ceremony that I will never forget. It is a great honor to be your last official guest after eight historic years of his presidency, one of the most important in American history. It is an opportunity to affirm and know the deep friendships not only between us but also between the British and American people, it is an opportunity to salute all that they have achieved during these eight years on behalf of this great nation and the free peoples of all parts and a chance to look towards the future, towards the bright promise of the future mr.

President, when you welcomed me to the White House on my first official visit to Washington under your presidency, you predicted two things: first, that the decade would be less dangerous if the West maintained the strength necessary for peace and, second, that Great Britain and the United States would stand by. In that effort, both promises have been fulfilled and generously fulfilled. We thank you for being such an unconditional and loyal ally and friend of our country. Our nations together have faced the challenges of our time and have not backed down. We continue forward strengthening peace, spreading prosperity and safeguarding freedom, the conviction of Mr.

President, the fact that serious and secure peace is based on a strong defense has allowed us to take a historic first step in the reduction of nuclear weapons. You, sir, have presided over a period of peacetime economic expansion unparalleled in recent American history, but above all, sir. President, you have restored faith in the American dream, a dream of unlimited opportunity based on individual effort and personal generosity. As a result, respect for America is high in the world today, and thanks to its bravery and leadership, the fire of individual freedom burns brighter. not only in the United States, not only in the West but throughout the world, we in Britain, mr.

President, we are proud to be your partners in this great adventure. We consider it a privilege to join you in expanding freedom and promoting the democratic way of life. 200 years ago, Tom Paine told the founders of this great nation that we have it in our power. to start the world again mr. President, the office you hold is the greatest in the world, but it is the man who holds that office who has allowed us to start the world anew. We greet him and thank him, oh boy, ceremony.