President Reagan was one of my closest political and dearest personal friends.
He will be missed not only by those who new him and not only by the nation that he served so proudly and loved so deeply, but also by millions of men and women who live in freedom today because of the policies he pursued.
Ronald Reagan had a higher claim than any other leader to have won the Cold War for liberty and he did it without a shot being fired.
To have achieved so much against so odds and with such humour and humanity made Ronald Reagan a truly great American hero.
We here in America can easily lose sight of the global impact of Reagan's presidency. There are people around the world, especially in Eastern Europe, who are free today due in part to Ronald Reagan's efforts as President of the United States. It's fitting that we should indulge our sorrow on this sad occasion.
One of Ronald Reagan's last public statements:
"When the Lord calls me home . . . I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you."
What greater eloquence has ever been uttered?
Update:James has a fitting tribute.
