McIntosh honors Reagan in speech

Former congressman and Republican gubernatorial candidate David McIntosh addressed College Republican members at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Georgian Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. McIntosh spoke in honor of former President Ronald Reagan's 90th birthday. \nMcIntosh served Reagan's administration as special assistant to the attorney general and as special assistant to the president for domestic policy.\nMcIntosh attributed Reagan's accomplishments -- including an American victory in the Cold War, renewed strength in the armed forces, economic prosperity and the fall of the Iron Curtain -- to his support of personal freedoms and desire to encourage them at home and abroad.\n"Not since our Founding Fathers has a leader talked about freedom, what it is and how it should be cherished, as much as Reagan has," McIntosh said. "If you look at the speeches he has delivered over his lifetime, you'll find the recurring themes and notions that distill evidence of what Reagan stood for as a great man."\nMcIntosh described national life before Reagan's presidency and the process by which he believes Reagan secured the country's future.\n"Many of you were born during his administration, but I remember fearing that the Russians would destroy the world," he said. "I also remember race riots, the Vietnam War and waiting in line to buy gas when it was rationed by the government. Reagan carried us forward at a crucial time in our history. He was able to take the traditions of the past and take them into the future, and he did it with grace."\nReagan's impact on the nuclear arms standoff between the United States and the former Soviet Union was also discussed.\n"The two superpowers upheld a policy of mutual destruction. Entire populations were held hostage," McIntosh said. "Reagan said, 'Let's change that.' He came up with the idea to build a defense shield, and he shared that concept with the world."\nHe asked the audience to follow Reagan's legacy.\n"Tonight, let us rededicate our lives to help keep the American torch of freedom lit," McIntosh said. \nA brief question and answer session followed McIntosh's talk. In his responses, he revealed his future plans. \n"Right now, Ruthie (McIntosh's wife) and I are settled in Muncie, where I've been talking to law firms in hopes of using my connections to help improve high-tech industry in Indiana," McIntosh said. "I also intend to concentrate on one of my passions, which is to continue to build up the Republican Party."\nWhen asked if he would have done anything differently during his gubernatorial campaign last year, McIntosh responded with several reasons for his defeat.\n"In our campaigns, Gov. O'Bannon and I did not compete on character, we competed over an issue. In our case, that issue was the property tax. As a result, people didn't really get to see who I was as a person," he said. "Also, I had advisers from out of state who didn't really understand Hoosiers.\n"Even if I had run a perfect campaign, there is still a chance I might have lost because, last year, the people of Indiana decided that they wanted to return incumbents."\nAfter the question and answer session, College Republican President Jim Banks, senior and event moderator, presented McIntosh with a copy of "Ronald Reagan: The Great Communicator," written by Reagan and edited by Frederick J. Ryan.\n"David McIntosh is an example of Reagan's legacy. Tonight, he motivated younger Republicans to get involved right away after they graduate," Banks said.\nFreshman Casey Cox, events director, commented on McIntosh's character.\n"He drove here on his own to speak to us," Cox said. "That says a lot about him as a person.\" \nDuring the cake and punch reception following his speech, McIntosh expressed what he hopes for the futures of the students in the audience.\n"I hope that these college students stay interested in politics and stay committed to freedom," he said.