American hostages in iran failed. The Winter Olympics were held in lake placid, new york and Mount Saint Helens a ruptured. This was the backdrop for the political that conventions that year and speeches made by Ronald Reagan and jimmy carter. By the time Ronald Reagan ran for president , he had served two terms as governor of california in had an early career entertainment and became the president of the screen actors guild. Ronald reagan ended his expectancies acceptance speech with a moment of silent prayer. Pres. Reagan thank you very much. Thank you. [chanting] youre singing our song. Define myself for the first time myong time in a movie first thrill tonight was to find myself for the first time in a long time in a movie on prime time. [applause] as you can imagine, is the second big thrill. Chairman, mr. Vice president this convention, my fellow citizens of this great nation, with a deep awareness of the responsibility conferred by your trust, i accept your nomination for the president of the United States. [applause] [applause] pres. Reagan i do so with deep gratitude, and i think also i might interject on behalf of all of us, our thanks to detroit and the people of michigan and to the city. [applause] and i thank you for your response to my recommendation as george bush for Vice President. Im very proud of our party tonight. Has shown toon allamerica a party united with positive programs for solving the nations problems. A party ready to build a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these words. Family, work, neighborhood, peace, and freedom. [applause] had a quarrelve or two, but only the method of obtaining a goal. There was no argument here about the goal. Establish a, i will liaison with the 50 governors to encourage them to eliminate wherever it exists discrimination against women. [applause] i will monitor federal laws to ensure their implementation and add statutes if needed. I wantan anything else, my candidacy to unify our country, to renew the american spirit and sense of purpose. I want to carry our message to every american regardless of Party Affiliations who is a member of this community of shared values. Have before in our history americans been called upon to face three grave threats to our very existence, everyone of which could destroy us. We face a disintegrating economy, a weakened defense and an Energy Policy. Is the direct personal and moral responsibility of Democratic Party leadership in the white house and in the congress for this unprecedented calamity which has befallen us. [applause] they tell us theyve done the most that can humanely be done. They said the United States has had its day in the sun, it has passed its zenith, but the American People no longer have the will to cope with their problems, that the future will be one of sacrifice and few opportunities. My fellow citizens, i utterly reject that view. [applause] the American People are the most generous on earth, who created the highest standard of living. Im not going to accept the notion that we can only make a better world for others by moving backward ourselves, and those who believe we can have no business leading this nation. [applause] i will not stand by and watch this great country destroy itself under mediocre leadership that drifts from one crisis to the next, eroding our national will of purpose. We have come together here because the American People deserve better from those to whom they entrust our nations highest offices, and we stand united [applause] we stand united in our resolve to do something about it. We need a rebirth of the american tradition of leadership at every level of government and in private life, as well. The United States of america is unique in World History because it has a genius for leaders. But leaders on many levels, back in 1976, mr. Carter said trust me. And a lot of people dead, and now many of those people are out of work. Many have seen their savings eaten away by inflation. Many others on fixed incomes, especially the elderly, have watched hopelessly as the cruel tax of inflation wasted away their purchasing power and today, a great many who trusted mr. Carter wonder if we can survive the carter policies on national defense. Government asks us to hope and dream on one man, that we trust what he does for us. My government places trust not in one person or one party, but in those values that transcend persons and parties. [applause] the trust is where it belongs, in the people. A responsibility to live up to belongs, in its leaders. That relationship between the people and their elected leaders is a special compact. 360 years ago in 1620, a group of families went across a mighty ocean. When they arrived at plymouth, massachusetts, they formed what they called a compact, an agreement among themselves to build a community and abide by its laws. The voluntary binding up of free people to live under the law set the pattern for what was to come. Thentury and a half later, descendents of those people pledged their lives, their fortunes, and there honor to found this nation. Some forfeited their fortunes and their lives. None sacrificed on her. Sacrificed honor. [applause] four score and seven years later, Abraham Lincoln called on the people of america to renew their dedication and commitment to a government of, four, and by the people. It once again time to renew our compact of freedom . To pledge to each other [applause] to pledge to each other all that is best in our lives, all that gives meaning to them for the sake of this, our beloved and blessed land . Let us make this a new beginning. Let us make a commitment to care teach ouredy, to children the virtues handed down to us by our families, to have the courage to defend those values and virtues and the willingness to sacrifice for them. To restore the american spirit of voluntary service, cooperation, pride in community initiatives, a spirit that flows like a mighty river through the history of our nation. As your nominee, i pledge to you to restore confederal government the capacity restore to the federal government the capacity to do the peoples work without dominating their lives. [applause] i pledge to you a government that will not only work well, but wisely. Tempered by prudence and willingness to do good, balanced by the knowledge that government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have heaven us to its power to harm us. The first republican president once said, while the people return their virtue and vigilance, no administration by any extreme of wickedness or folly can seriously injure the government in the short space of four years. If mr. Lincoln could see what has happened in the last three and a half years, he might hedge a little on that statement. [applause] but with the virtues that are our legacy as a free people and with the vigilance that sustains liberty, we have time to use our renewed compact to overcome the injuries done to america these past three and a half years. First, we must overcome something the present administration has cooked up, a new and altogether indigestible economic stew. Partart inflation, one high unemployment, one part recession, one part runaway taxes, one part deficit spending, seasoned with an energy crisis. It is an economic stew that has turned the national stomach. [applause] ours are not problems of abstract economic theory. These are problems of flesh and blood. Problems that cause pain and destroy the moral fiber of real people who should not suffer the further indignity of being told by the government it is all somehow their fault. We do not have inflation because, as mr. Carter says, we lived too well. The head of the government that has refused to live within its mean and has in the last few days told us this coming years deficit will be 60 billion theres the point that finger at business and labor, both of which have been engaged in a losing struggle trying to stay even. [applause] our taxes higher taxes we are told are somehow good for us, as if when government spends our money, it isnt inflationary, but when we spend it, it is. [applause] those who preside over the worst Energy Shortage in our history tell us to use less so that will run out of oil, gasoline, and natural gas a little more slowly. Desirable, ofs course, but we mustnt waste energy, but conservation isnt the sole answer to our energy needs. America must get to work producing more energy. [applause] the Republican Program for solving economic programs is based on growth and productivity. Large amounts of oil and natural gas lay beneath our land and off our shores and touched because the present administration seems the American People would rather see more regulation, taxes, and controls the more energy. Coa offers a greatl potential, so coal offers great , produced under rigorous standards. Foriding enough electricity millions of jobs and homes, it must not be thwarted by a minority opposed to Economic Growth which finds friendly ears and regulatory agencies for obstructionist campaigns. Make no mistake, we will not correct permit the safety of our people or environmental heritage to be jeopardized, but we are going to reaffirm that the Economic Prosperity of our people is a fundamental part of our environment. Our problems, our problems are acute, yet all we hear from leadership are the same proposals for more government tinkering, medlin, and control, all of which led us to this sorry state in the first place. Can anyone look at the record of this administration and say well done . With where we are today and say keep up the good work . No. Can anyone look at our reduced standing in the world today and say lets have four more years of this . I believe the American People are going to answer these questions as youve answered them in the first week of november and their answer will enough. Eve had [applause] and then, it will be up to us to getting next january 20 to offer administration and congressional leadership of competence and more than a little courage. We must have the clarity of vision to see the difference between what is essential and what is merely desirable, and then, the courage to bring our Government Back under control. It is essential. [applause] it is essential that we maintain the Forward Momentum of Economic Growth and of the strength of the safety net between those in our society who need help. We also believe it is essential the integrity of all aspects of Social Security be prefer preserved. [applause] essentials, it is clear our federal government is overgrown and overweight. Indeed, it is time our government should go on a diet. [applause] therefore, my first act as chief executive will be to impose an immediate and thorough freeze on federal hiring. [applause] then, we are going to enlist the very best minds from business, to conduct aatever detailed review of every department, bureau, and agency that lives by federal appropriation. [applause] and enlist the help and ideas of many dedicated and hardworking Government Employees at all levels who want a more Efficient Government just as much as the rest of us do. [applause] i know that many of them are demoralized by the confusion in their work as the result of failed policies. We instructions to the group enlist will be simple and direct. We will remind them that Government Programs exist from the american taxpayer and are paid for by money from american programs mustand have waste eliminated or must go. [applause] by executive order where possible, congressional action as necessary. Turneding that can be over to state and local government will be turned over to state and local government, along [applause] along with the Funding Sources to pay for it. Toare going to put an end the money merrygoround where our money becomes washingtons to be spent by states and cities exactly the way federal bureaucrats tell us it has to be spent. I will not accept the excuse that the federal government has grown so big and powerful that it is beyond the control of any president , any administration or congress. End togoing to put an the notion that the american taxpayer exists to fund the federal government. The federal government, the federal government exists to serve the American People. [applause] on january 20, we are going to reestablish that truce. We will initiate actions to get substantial relief or taxing paying citizens and actions to put people back to work. None of this will be based on any new form of monetary tinkering or fiscal sleight of hand. We will apply to government the common sense we all using our daily lives. In our daily lives. Work and family are the center of our lives. The foundation of our dignity as a free people. When we deprive people of what theyve earned or take away their jobs, we destroyed their dignity and undermines their families. We cant support families unless there are jobs and they cant have jobs and less people have money to invest and the faith to invest it. [applause] these are concepts that stem from an Economic System that for more than 200 years has helped us master a continent, creating a previously undreamed of prosperity for our people, and millions around the globe and that system will service in the future if our government will stop ignoring the basic values on which it was built and stop betraying the trust and goodwill who keeperican workers it going. [applause] the American People are carrying the heaviest peacetime tax burden in our nations history and it will grow heavier under present law next january. Taxing ourselves into economic exhaustion and stagnation, crushing our ability to save, invest, and produce. This must stop. Hauled this destruction and restore sanity to our system. Ive long advocated a 30 reduction in income tax rate over a period of three years. This reduction [applause] this tax reduction will begin with a 10 down payment tax cut in 1981, which the republicans in congress and i have already proposed. A phased reduction of tax rates would go a long way toward easing the heavy burden on the American People, but we shouldnt stop there. Within the context of Economic Conditions and appropriate budget priorities, during each fiscal year of my presidency, i would strive to go further. This would include improvement in business depreciation taxes so we can stimulate taxes in order to get equipment. [applause] put more americans back to work, and put our nation back on the road to being competitive in world commerce. We will also work to reduce the cost of government as a percentage of our Gross National product. The first task of national set realisticto and honest priorities in our policies and budget, and i pledge my administration will do that. When i talk of tax cuts, im reminded every major tax cut in this century has strength in the economy, generated renewed productivity, and in it new revenues for the government by creating new investment, new jobs, and more commerce among our people. Haspresent administration been forced by us republicans to play follow the leader with regard to a tax cut. We mustelection year, take with a proverbial grain of salt and tax cut proposed by those who have already given us the greatest single tax increasing our nations history. [applause] and tell us we must also do with less, have they thought of those who have always had less, especially the minorities. This is like telling them just as they step on the first rung of the lateral of opportunity, the latter is being pulled out from under them. That might be the democratic leaderships message to the minorities, but it will not be our message. Hours will be we have to move ahead, but were are not going to leave anyone behind. Thanks to the economic policies of the Democratic Party, millions of americans find themselves out of work. Millions more have never had a fair chance to learn new skills, hold a decent job, or secure for themselves and their families a share in the prosperity of this nation. It is time to put america back to work, to make our cities and and townse our cities resound with the confident voices of men and women of all races, nationalities, and fades, bringing face, bringing home a paycheck of honest money. [applause] for those without skills, we will find a way to get new skills. For those without opportunities, we will stimulate opportunities in the inner cities where they live. We will restore hope and make America Great again. [applause] when we move from Domestic Affairs and test our eyes a broad, we see an equally sorry chapter in the record of the present administration. A soviet combat brigade trains in cuba 90 miles from our shores. A soviet army of invasion occupies afghanistan, further threatening vital interests in the middle east. Americas defense strength is at its lowest ebb in a generation while the soviet union is vastly outspending in strategic and conventional arms. Our european allies, looking nervously at the growing menace from the east, turn to us for leadership and failed to find it. 50 of our, more than fellow americans have been held captive for over eight years eight months by a dictatorial foreign power that holds us up to ridicule before the world. Adversary large and small test our will and seek to confound our resolve, but we are given weakness when you need strength. Vacillation when the times demand furnace furnace. Ss, the cartermne administration lives in the world of makebelieve. Regardless of what will happen yesterday or tomorrow but you and i live in the real world were disasters are overtaking allegation without response from washington. This is makebelieve self deceit a