#TBT: Five Reasons Why We (Still) Miss Ronald Reagan On The 10th Anniversary Of His Death

The United States of America – and the world – lost Ronald Reagan ten years ago today. His conservative legacy, though, is stronger than ever, especially as America struggles through the middle of a big government, liberal presidency under Barack Obama.

Here are just five reasons why we still miss our nation’s 40th president.

1. Peace through strength. 

Under Reagan’s leadership, the United States rebuilt the U.S. military to more effectively push back against the Soviet Union. Thanks to his firm dedication to keeping the United States strong at home and abroad, we won the Cold War.

2. Economic growth. 

In both 1981 and 1986, Ronald Reagan signed into law bipartisan tax reform acts that lowered individual and corporate tax rates to historic lows. His tax reforms helped grow the economy and led to the 1980s boom.

3. First female Supreme Court justice. 

In 1981, Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O’Connor to the Supreme Court, making her the first woman to ever serve on the bench.

4. Fired air traffic controllers. 

On August 5, 1981, Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 air traffic controllers who ignored his executive order to return to work and held an illegal strike. The move reinforced the country’s perception that Reagan had every intention to reform the federal bureaucracy.

5. “Tear down this wall.” 

On June 12, 1987, Ronald Reagan addressed the people of West Berlin near the Berlin Wall and challenged Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Soviet Union, to “tear down this wall.”