Reagan Radio Commentaries of 1979

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Domestic Policy Discussions Foreign Policy DiscussionsPopular Culture/Current EventsPolitical Philosophy

Broadcast Name Batch Number Description
Taiwan79-01        
Taiwan I79-01The United States, for the first time, broke a treaty without cause when, on December 15th 1978, announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Mainland "Red" China. The treaty broken was with the Chinese government on the island of Taiwan.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 61
Taiwan II79-01This broadcast from Reagan is his reaction to a recent announcement that the United States would establish formal diplomatic relations with mainland "Red" China. He explains the history of our relationship with Red China, the conditions for making the change and why it is a bad move.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 45
Taiwan III79-01
Jim Hendricks79-01
Patent Medicine I79-01
Patent Medicine II79-01
Human Rights79-01Reagan takes aim at President Carter's official recognition of the People's Republic of China (mainland China). Carter had said that Human Rights was the soul of his foreign policy, but the PRC was a horrible Human Rights violator.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 155
Health Insurance79-01
Telescope I79-01 The free market creates a profit motive for the innovator, but the product often benefits everyone in the society. Reagan's got an interesting example of a need that was seen and filled. Urban sprawl has made astronomy difficult. An observatory built 30 years ago in the middle of nowhere is now surrounded by homes in a suburb. That's why the Rand Instrument Corp. perfected a mobile observatory with a 16 to 40 inch telescope. Not realizing it, this development turned into a military surveillance breakthrough.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 310-313
Telescope II79-01
Miscellaneous I79-01
Miscellaneous II79-01
Miscellaneous III79-01
South Africa79-01Under pressure from activists, corporations doing business in South Africa began to stop. However, the elected chief minister of the Zulu, Gatsha Buthelezi, is opposed to the action. Those corporations pulling their operations from South Africa are laying off black employees or removing good from the country that black South Africans need.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 189
Phone79-02The government is suing the phone company AT&T over its private monopoly, while it maintains its own government monopoly over the postal service and first class mail. What service improvements have we gotten from AT&T? Costs have gone down, quality has gone up. And the postal service? Is it getting cheaper?
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 316
OPEC79-02Reagan makes the argument that recent OPEC price hikes are our own fault, that our own inflationary monetary policies are devaluing the dollar. The OPEC nations are just trying to keep up with the loss. He also points out that an OPEC price increase would have much less of an impact if we would simply use our own oil wells.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 321
Federal Trade Commission79-02
The Official Rules79-02
Guest: John McClaury
Anti-Poverty Abuses I79-02
Anti-Poverty Abuses II79-02
Wind Energy in Denmark79-02
Guest: John McClaury
Counterintelligence79-02
Australia I79-02
Australia II79-02
Peace Corps79-02
A Policeman79-02
Miscellaneous 179-02
Guest: John McClary
Miscellaneous 279-02
Regulations79-02
Proposition 13 and the Post Commission I79-03
Proposition 13 and the Post Commission II79-03
Deregulation79-03
Dishonest Environmentalists79-03
Fish79-03We thought we were protecting our ocean fishing territories, but we were really just shooting ourselves in the foot. The Fisheries Conservation and Management Act of 1977 set a 200-mile range, preventing other countries from fishing off our coasts, but also putting limits on the amount of fish we could catch. As a result, within two years of its passage, the United States now imports 90% of its fish.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 290
Constitutional Amendment79-03Could there be a balanced-budget amendment around the corner? (In hindsight, no.) There is a great deal of public support for it and numerous states have passed their own tax limitation bills. There are also 25 state legislatures that have passed resolutions calling for a Constitutional amendment. Too bad it never happened.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 284
Pot79-03
Saying "No" Part I79-03
Saying "No" Part II79-03
Conspiracy79-03The results of a House investigation into the assassination of JFK have been released. They point to a conspiracy, but fail to suggest who was behind it. Reagan seems to favor Communist perpetrators, given Lee Harvey Oswald's connections to the Soviet Union and support for Castro.
Available on "Reagan In His Own Voice"
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 234
Lawrence Welk79-03
Available in "Stories In His Own Hand" Page 80
Income Tax79-03A recent change in the tax code for singles vs. married couples has flipped things from being unfair towards singles to being unfair to couples, especially when a working wife is redefined as a secondary earner and her full income is taxed as the highest braket of their combined incomes.
Available on "Reagan In His Own Voice"
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 280
Hamburgers79-03
Long Walk79-03
Miscellaneous79-03
Nancy79-04In a slight turn, Nancy Reagan, not Ronald, delivered this broadcast. On a recent trip to New York City, Nancy Reagan was invited to tour a Harlem private school. She shares the story of her visit and some additional information about the "Inner-City Scholarship Fund" which kept open some 56 schools threatened with closure.
Available on "Reagan In His Own Voice"
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 355
Lettuce Strike79-04
Taiwan's Future79-04Some in the military believe Taiwan could withstand an a war with their mainland counterparts, but there are several retired from the military who disagree. In light of the discussions from previous broadcasts about military members with differing opinions from the administration, who would you trust?
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 72
POW79-04
Cuba79-04Reagan shares information from Congressman Steve Symms of Idaho, who had recently taken a trip around the Caribbean, including Cuba.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 158
The 100 Club79-04
CIA79-04
Miscellaneous79-04
Inflation79-04
Human Rights79-04
Comparisons79-04Reagan compares and contrasts the 3 superpowers (based on size and population). The Soviet Union has the most land. China has the most people. Yet, we have the greatest GNP, the most efficient food production, more cars, more roads, more phones, more TVs, more computers. We have better wages, larger homes, and longer life expectancy.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 229
Nuclear Power II79-04
Nuclear Power I79-04
Higher Standard of Living79-04
Student Economists79-04
Panama79-05The treaty's ratified, is it all over? Don't you believe it! The Panamanians are making a lot of new demands outside the original scope of the treaty, and the United States seems to be unwilling to push back.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 211
Small Business I79-05
Small Business II79-05
Scared Straight79-05
Palestine79-05Reagan shares some history of what happened in the Middle East after Sykes-Picot, the post-World War I secret agreement that carved up the former Ottoman Empire and ties it to the trouble currently going on in the area.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 215
Miscellaneous79-05
Agriculture79-05Reagan often stuck up for the farmer. During price spikes on beef in 1975, when everyone blamed the farmers, he pointed out the numerous factors that go into beef production. Farmers are upset about inflation and had recently created a "tractorcade" to Washington D.C. Reagan cites government interference as exacerbating the problem.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 304
Rhodesia79-05
District of Columbia79-05
Miscellaneous II79-05
Rural Renaissance79-05
Washington Weather79-05
Salt II Part I79-05In part one: One can easily get the desired results to a poll by manipulating the questions being asked. A couple polls show that the American people favor the SALT II treaty, but upon closer look, the question asked were simply about arms limitations and never mentioned SALT II. In part two, we learn about the polling done at the behest of "The Committee On The Present Danger" and when SALT II is specifically mentioned, less than 10% approved.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 88-89
Salt II Part II79-05
Miscellaneous III79-05
New England Energy Barriers79-06
Guest: John McClaury
Land Use: The California Precedent79-06
The Real Impact of Inflation79-06
Real Estate Signs79-06
Jonestown79-06
David and Goliath79-06
Schools79-06Just when did education start to go into decline? Reagan believes it was when Federal aid became Federal interference. The NEA is still trying to get their Department of Education created, though there have been stumbling blocks.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 352
Budget79-06There's a lot of talk right now about the balanced budget Constitutional Amendment, but Reagan thinks there's another amendment that would do just as much to control the federal spending. Many states grant their governors the power of... the line-item veto. Granted to President Bill Clinton by law in 1996, it was challenged and overturned by the Supreme Court. The power would have to be granted via a Constitutional Amendment.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 285
Food Stamps79-06
Bilingual Education I79-06
Bilingual Education II79-06Reagan made a mistake. As governor, he thought bilingual education meant having teachers that could assist non-English speakers. No, it means having teachers teach in their own language. This seems to go against the idea of the US being a "melting pot." Reagan ends with a not-so-humorous suggestion that traffic signs be made to accommodate 70+ languages. Perhaps this is why we no long have the words "Walk/Don't Walk".
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 346
Regulations Go to College79-06Starting in 1964, the number of laws pertaining to higher education has increased by 1000%. The number of regulations must be a great deal higher and they cover every aspect of college life. A university president recently told Reagan that the cost of complying with government paperwork has grown from $50K to $625K per year.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 360
The Salcido Family79-06
Miscellaneous79-06
Free Enterprise79-06Why does capitalism get such a bad rap? Maybe the term free market should be used because it better contrasts with the idea of government control and ownership. Reagan uses the phone system as a means to show how the private sector, the free market, can build an industry faster, better and cheaper than the government.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 228
T.K.E.79-07
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 413
Three Mile Island I79-07
Three Mile Island II79-07
Whistle Blowers; Poverty's Causes79-07
Parable of the Talents Updated79-07
Guest: Williams Gavin
McCarthy79-07
Miscellaneous79-07
Grove City College79-07
I'm Only 1779-07
Oil79-07
Fluid Flame Burner79-07
Disaster Area79-07
Sex Education79-07Reagan has a problem with the way sex education "is presently taught" because its boiled down to a physiological topic. Gone are the concepts of commitment, morality or (heaven forbid) religion and their impact on the decision-making process.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 347
Graffiti79-07
Banned Words79-07
California Gas Shortage79-08What caused the California gas shortages? Some are blaming Californians for being gas hogs, but that's not the case. Studies show that Californians, on average, use less gas than those in the area of Washington D.C. Significant contributors to the shortage are the Department of Energy price controls and regulations regarding the changing of California refineries and purchasing foreign refined oil.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 322
Oil79-08
Sex Education79-08
People's Park I79-08
People's Park II79-08
Free Trade vs Protectionism79-08
Political Bestiary79-08
Marijuana79-08
The Delaney Amendment79-08
Miscellaneous I79-08Its a desk clearing day, but its staying behind the Iron Curtain. First, we have some more talk about SALT II. Second, we learn about the "equality" of Communism in Romania, where what seems like half the government is related to Nicolae Ceaușescu.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 104
Miscellaneous II79-08Reagan talks about new H.E.W. regulations, a lost affirmative action plan from the University of Alabama, the tale of and, finally, a congratulatory note to Margaret Thatcher, new Prime Minister of England.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 46
Investment Lag79-08
Crime79-08
Vietnam War79-08
Operation Get Smart79-08
John Wayne79-09Reagan remembers "an old friend" who had just passed away. He shares a couple stories of how "Duke" helped Nancy Reagan during some particularly violent Hollywood union strikes which threatened Reagan.
Available on "Reagan In His Own Voice"
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 412
Double Standard79-09
The Pope in Poland79-09"Atheism is as much a part of Communism as is the Gulag." (I am also reading Paul Kengor's The Devil and Karl Marx. I would recommend it.) Reagan talks about a recent visit to Poland by Pope John Paul II, in which 60,000 young people attempted to attend a gathering ticketed for half that size.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 174
Nuclear Power79-09
Oil Profits79-09
Miscellaneous79-09
Money79-09This is kind of a miscellaneous episode, though all the stories deal with money, hence the title. In the wake of California's Prop 13 passing, candidates are promising to cut spending... or are they? The Senate passed an amendment to create a spending limit, but it didn't seem to stop them. A Harvard economist believes part of the economic woes is lack of saving, so he is encouraging Congress to cut taxes on savings and investment. IN another story, two Chicago economists, studying all 50 states, found that those that cut spending are doing better than those that increased taxes.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 261
A Green Lawn79-09
Bukovsky79-09Vladimir Bukovsky, recently exchanged to the West for the General Secretary of the Chilean Communist Party, Luis Corvalán, has written a book about his experiences living in the Soviet Union, particularly regarding the abuse of psychiatry for political purposes.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 149
Molecules79-09
A Tale of Two Countries79-09Reagan looks to Poland and Pope John Paul II for the courage to stand for their religion against the atheistic Communism of the Soviet Union, then looks at the attacks upon religion in our own country, specifically speaking of Madalyn Murray O'Hair's efforts to remove "In God We Trust" from our money.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 176
Joan Baez I79-09
Joan Baez II79-09
The Family79-09
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 375
Corruption79-09
Busing Amendment79-10
Sen. Jackson on SALT II79-10
Soviet Trade79-10What is "dual-use" technology? It's something that can be used for both civilian AND military purposes. With help from the United States, the Soviet Union built the Kama River Truck Factory. Turns out the motors being produced in the factory are being put in armored personnel carriers and military assault vehicles. You try to be nice to some people...
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 73
Trains79-10Reagan loved trains, even called himself a train buff in this broadcast. But, Amtrak is a financial money pit and he believes it needs to be severely restructured.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 306
Nigeria79-10Virtue. Reagan uses this broadcast to ask, "Are we choosing paths that are politically expedient and morally questionable? Are we in truth losing our virtue." After a recent election in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), General Obasanjo of Nigeria warned against the United States recognizing the new Prime Minister. How could he do this? Oil. 1 of 8 barrels imported by the United States came from Nigeria (according to Reagan). Reagan feels we are in danger of losing our virtue by failing to support this newly-elected government and its democratic values we claim to favor.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 16
Assembly Line Medicine I79-10
Assembly Line Medicine II79-10Reagan continues a conversation spurred on by an article in the American Spectator by F. S. Manor, a Canadian journalist. Along with discussing the Canadian health system, Major includes a statement from a Swedish health official in which he complains about physical check-ups, that they are "expensive and wasteful since only seldom would a doctor find any pathological condition." and that if something was to be discovered, "it prompts the patient to insist on expensive modern treatment that will often prolong life for as many as 20 years, during which time the patient will continued to make demands upon the state health services."
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 368
Namibia I79-10 In this 2-broadcast discussion, Reagan talks about a UN double-cross, Marxist terrorists, murder and a United States government that turned its back on the newly formed country of Namibia, leaving it in the hands of an unelected pro-communist government.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 190-193
Namibia II79-10
The MSHA Test79-10
Free Speech for Business?79-10
Energy-Saving Computer79-10
Project Match79-10
Miscellaneous79-10
Elementary Energy Lessons79-10
Congressional Promises and Performance79-11
Income Tax Indexation79-11
Chile79-11We turn a blind eye to human rights violations in the Soviet Union, but when we find an former ally seeking to overthrow a socialist regime committing their own human rights violations in the process, we come down on them hard. Such was the situation in Chile when a military coup ended the leadership of Salvador Allende.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 142
International Year of the Child79-11
Tax Expenditures79-11Reagan opposes government surpluses, but not the way you may think. He believes a government surplus should be returned to the people. The last surplus in California Reagan administered, $850 million was returned to the people. But there's some new terminology being used in Washington now... "tax expenditures." Its not what the government spends its money on, it's the money you and I get to keep. The government doesn't view your money as yours. You're just holding it for them for a little while.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 283
Another Side of the U.N.79-11
A Different Watergate Story79-11
Miscellaneous I79-11
Neoconservatives79-11
Common Sense from a Neighbor79-11
America79-11
Miscellaneous II79-11
Free Speech79-11
Showcase U.S.A.79-11
Miscellaneous III79-11
What to Expect from the Soviet Succession79-12
Thank You, Chairman Brezhnev79-12
Better Representation for Skilled Tradesmen79-12
Government Housing Programs79-12
Alaskan Anger79-12
Waiting in Line79-12
Citizen vs Chicago Transit Authority79-12
Tax Revolt Going Strong79-12
The Magic Money Machine79-12
Administration Report Clears79-12
Oil Companies79-12
Marijuana79-12
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 396
Voting Records79-12
Power79-12
Food Stamps79-12
Living Dangerously Sometimes79-12
Defense I79-13 Reagan spends 4 broadcasts talking about the controversy regarding the cancellation of development of the B-1 Bomber and the reemergence of the B-52 as the main long-range bomber during the Cold War. Much of the broadcasts comes from a newspaper reporter who rode along on a practice mission, its a little hair-raising.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 105-108, 119-120
Defense II79-13
Defense III79-13
Defense IV79-13
Talking Back79-13
Miscellaneous I79-13
Ships79-13
Salt II79-13Arms limitations treaties don't necessarily limit arms, they simply encourage development of new arms that aren't covered under that treaty. Reagan makes reference to the Second London Naval Treaty which limited the creation of battleships, which, in turn, led to innovation in aircraft carriers.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 62
Miscellaneous II79-13
Miscellaneous III79-13
Miscellaneous IV79-13
In Business79-13
How to Handle Dissident Bureaucrats79-13
Local Energy Solutions79-13
Temperature Restrictions79-13
Vlasenko79-14There is a right way and a wrong way to escape the Soviet Union. The wrong way would be that taken by Yuri Vlasenko, who requested a Visa from the US Embassy in Moscow in March of 1979. When the request was denied, he revealed he carried a bomb that he would detonate if he was not granted the Visa. Reagan tells the story as a lead-up to one about seven Soviet citizens, five from one family, living in the Embassy because they cannot get Visas and who fear what will happen if they leave. Reagan, as President, would seek their negotiated release. The Library of Congress has a committee hearing documents concerning their relief from 1981.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 177
Six Lies on Energy79-14
Department of Education79-14
Salt II79-14SALT II was started with 5 objectives in mind, but the treaty now being debated in the Senate meets none of the 5, so, why are we even debating over its passage??
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 90
Hollywood East79-14
Defectors79-14
In Defense of Success79-14
Coal79-14
California79-14
The Draft79-14
Guest: Martin Anderson
Red Tape79-14
Radioactivity79-14
The Golden Fleece79-14
Gadgets79-14
Land79-14
Cuba Overseas79-15
Cuban Conditions79-15
Israel I79-15
Israel II79-15
Salt79-15
Health Care79-15Congress is trying to get us into a national health system, while England is try to get out of it. Reagan cites several examples of unions, associations and companies securing private health services for their members/employees. There are 8 private health plans with 2.5 million members and growing. And why not? 750,000 people are on waitings lists for hernias, gallstones hip replacements and other minor ailments.
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 369
Miscellaneous and Goodbye79-15Reagan has a final desk-cleaning day, sharing a few random stories before announcing this will be his final commentary. In one story, he mentions the attempts to disqualify a judge from hearing the challenge to the Equal Rights Amendment purely on the basis of his religion. Not mentioned by Reagan, we have tracked down that this was Judge Marion Callister. He was not disqualifed and he made a ruling in 1981.
Available on "Reagan In His Own Voice"
Available in "Reagan In His Own Hand" Page 416