One of Reagan's first public speeches was
a commencement address to the Class of '57 at Eureka College, Reagan's
own alma mater. (June 7, 1957)
A Time For Choosing is one of Reagan's
best known speeches from the pre-presidential years. Dated 1964, this
speech was first televised as support for Barry Goldwater. The message
was so popular, Reagan was immediately viewed as one of the new
up-and-coming politicians in the Republican Party.
Once Reagan appeared on the political scene, his career snowballed. Less than three years after the delivery of A Time For Choosing, Reagan was elected Governor of California. He delivered his first Inaugural Address as Governor on January 5, 1967.
Reagan returned to his alma mater to
dedicate their new library on September 28, 1967 with a speech titled
The Value of Understanding the Past.
To Restore America was first
televised on March 31, 1976 as part of Reagan's bid for the Republican
nomination over Gerald Ford.
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