The Great Communicator

Remembering President Reagan...

"You've heard, I'm sure, that I like to tell an anecdote or two," President Ronald Reagan once said. "Well, life not only begins at 40 but so does lumbago and the tendency to tell the same stories over and over again."

Reagan’s background as an actor and a radio personality taught him that a funny anecdote wasn’t just memorable and repeatable: it also had the unparalleled ability to convey truth.

"Howard Baker ... told me on the steps of the Capitol, at the time of the inaugural, 'Mr. President, I want you to know I will be with you through thick,' and I said, 'What about thin?' And he said, 'Welcome to Washington.'"

Though he always maintained an affable air, his humor never strayed far from his principles. Big government, heavy taxes, and communism were some of his favorite things to laugh at. 

"What is needed is a sweeping, comprehensive reform, but certainly not like the proposed new tax form that was sent to me the other day," Reagan said. "It had two lines on it. The first line said, 'What did you make last year?' and the second line says, 'Send it in.'"

The public loved President Reagan. He stood for something and we were proud to stand with him.

These anecdotes are a hallmark of Reagan’s legacy, as well as a reminder of the lasting power of the stories that we tell—of how they could express truths, teach lessons, and spread laughter long after the teller is no longer with us. 

This power is what inspires our journalism at The Epoch Times. Because one day, the headlines today will be the history of tomorrow. By then, we hope that the truths, lessons, and laughs that we’ve lived through will still be there to comfort, to guide, and to entertain. 

It’s why we’ll keep reporting as we do, no matter what challenges may come our way. 

And we hope you’ll be there to share in the stories we collect as we all navigate this special era together.