Elizabeth Dole Remembers President Reagan
Elizabeth Dole served as Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison and as United States Secretary of Transportation under President Ronald Reagan.
By Stewart D. McLaurin, Executive Director, The Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration
Q. What is your greatest memory or experience working with the President in the White House and as Secretary of Transportation?
A. There were so many moments that I will always treasure, but one day in particular which I shall never forget occurred during my service as Assistant to the President for Public Liaison. The President and I were alone as we waited for him to be introduced for a major speech. I couldn’t resist. I said, “Mr. President, I just have to ask, you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and yet you’re always so gracious, so kind, so thoughtful of others. You’re never flustered or frustrated. How in the world do you do it?” President Reagan loved to reminisce, and he leaned back in his chair and said, “Well, Elizabeth, when I was Governor of California, it seemed like every day yet another disaster would be placed on my desk. I had the urge to hand it to someone behind me to help me. One day I realized I was looking in the wrong direction. I looked up instead of back and I’m still looking up. I couldn’t go another day in this office if I didn’t know I could ask God’s help and it would be given.” In fact, the first entry that he wrote in his diary after the assassination attempt that almost took his life, read as follows: “Whatever happens to me now, I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can.”
Q. What could young people today, the future leaders of our country, learn from President Reagan’s leadership and example?
A. President Reagan had the courage of his convictions. He was a man of strong principles who did not vacillate, and a leader of total and complete integrity. He exhibited to his Cabinet, the White House staff, to his fellow citizens, and to world leaders that his word was his bond. He was guided by his faith, and the values that emanated therefrom. Every person who had the privilege of working with him knew that his compass was clearly and continuously set according to his basic principles. Young people today can learn from Ronald Reagan’s life that core values are absolute; they don’t change based on circumstances, trends, or styles.
Q. Having worked with many Presidents and world
leaders, each unique, what made President Reagan a great President?
A. President Reagan came to office with very strong beliefs as to what was critical for America’s future and he will be remembered as a great President because he remained focused on his goals and objectives until they were accomplished.
His two most important goals were to restore America’s role as the leader of the free world and to repair America’s economy, which was in shambles when he took office.
He achieved the first goal by strengthening America’s military and by words and policies that helped to tear down the Iron Curtain, thereby bringing freedom to millions of people.
He achieved the second goal by cutting taxes and placing his faith in the glories of the free enterprise system, fighting excessive regulations which were stifling so many small businesses. President Reagan was a firm believer in smaller government, for he had great faith in the American people to make wise decisions and invest their hard earned dollars. Less taxes meant businesses could invest more, and expand and upgrade their plants to hire more people, thereby increasing revenue to the federal government. Sixteen million new jobs were created during his tenure.
And President Reagan governed effectively to achieve his goals by working “across the aisle.” He used to say, “If we can’t get the whole loaf, let’s get 70 percent. We can always go back and get the rest.” Ronald Reagan, however, never compromised his values as he negotiated to achieve his objectives.
Q. Tell us about your most significant accomplishments during the Reagan Administration.
A. As President Reagan’s Secretary of Transportation, safety was a top priority, although I was privileged to oversee the sale of the government’s freight railroad, Conrail, for $1.2 billion and the building of two gateways to the nation’s capital, Union Station and Reagan National Airport. I am pleased to have given leadership to make it possible for a statue of President Reagan to be placed during the Centennial at Reagan National Airport.
We had the safest years to date in air, rail, and highway safety. While we undertook a broad range of safety initiatives in all modes of transportation, I believe that “Rule 208” totally changed the climate for automotive safety in America, resulting in the installation of air bags in passenger vehicles and incentives to ensure the enactment of safety belt laws in states across the country. The rule was designed to save as many lives as possible as quickly as possible. Not a single state at the time had passed a safety belt law, usage was at 13 percent, and air bags were virtually non-existent. I remember having to search high and low just to find an air bag-equipped car to put on the White House lawn for President Reagan and the Cabinet to see! And there was little consumer acceptance. Many folks feared that air bags would go off when they crossed the railroad tracks. As a result of “Rule 208”, today 49 states have belt laws and national belt use is 85 percent
and climbing.
President Reagan and I called the week of July 11, 1984, “Trifecta Week.” The same week that the safety belt and air bag rule was implemented, the President also signed into law the 21 Minimum Drinking Age, thereby eliminating the “blood borders” between states with different rules regarding drinking age. Since 1984, more that 360,400 lives have been saved due to this safety trifecta.
