Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Address, January 20, 1981 

I remember watching this speech. I was a Ronald Reagan supporter at age 14. So was my Dad, Aunts, Uncles. Neighbors. The WW2 Generation and most were still of working age - 60s. Approaching Retirement. All voted for Ronald Reagan. And during his Presidency, I made sure I watched all his national addresses. I was able to finally vote for him in 1984 during his re-election campaign. I just turned 18. The USA of 1981. Totally different than today. Population, 226 million versus the 327 million of 2020. 100 million more. As if a whole different nation moved in! Yes! Most of that population growth is from immigration. Reagan speaks of States Rights, Limited Government, Lower Taxes, helping Industry. Tax burdens and unemployment. “Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem” - Amazing…. “Government”, that is Wash DC. The USA had more Industry and that Factory back in “81“. Even in my home town while in High School, 1981 thru 1985, that Factory building and working people, the “Middle Class”.. I can write pages on this speech. Take it apart and write full essays on them. But, my purpose is not fill this comment with hundreds of words. I will say that President Ronald Reagan was not able to fulfill, accomplish all that he hoped for. He did pass major portions of his economic recovery plan. And he hired and consulted all the right people. And Industry flourished in my local region. Full parking lots. Well maintained property and offices. A couple of places had water fountains surrounded by flowers at that front entrance. All gone.

After all the problems of the 1970s.....wow. You knew a true winner took command. He blows the screen away and 43 years later what he said resonates. God rest his soul.

It amazes me that fewer than a million people have viewed this video. Everyone living in the U.S. should see this whole speech, and learn what Ronald Reagan did, and why he did the things he did, when he was President. More than that though, this speech is timeless, and about being American. That's what makes it still current today, more than forty years after President Reagan delivered it.

Can't ask for better speech ...you can always make things better for nation, with leaders like Ronald

This is the first time I have watched n listened to President Reagan. In the 80s I was not into politics being too occupied by family discord. Reagan was truly a President after God's heart.

We need the spirit of President Reagan back now to save America.

This is the greatest inaugural speech ever made by President Ronald Reagan in the United States of America and around the world. Very distinctive personality

This was a man that meant every word of the oath he took when being sworn in .

This speech should be heard over and over again, by all Americans, as well as by OUR government, and, throughout the world!!! I will listen to it, as often as I can, and share it with whoever I can, whenever I can, so we begin to truly get it, finally, from the very depths of our Being, and reflect it, more and more, in our actual lives, personal, and public.

President Ronald Reagan is the greatest President America has elected during his time.

This is an universal speech, you can apply this concepts to any government around the world. Reagan was a common sense revolutionary. Tears. Un discurso maravilloso. Ojalá tuvieramos un Reagan en Argentina

Remember the old days. Presidents were gentlemen, ladies were elegant. The country was united and peaceful.

The next president in 2024 could just reread this same address pretty much word for word and it would still apply to today.

This speech, skillfully written and beautifully delivered, inspires some of the very best thoughts and feelings that people can have. We need this kind of inspiration in our day.

He is speaking about today. What a man of vision.

I was there that day - such a big event for me as a young man. Then, I stood on PA Ave. and watched the parade. What a treasured memory!

We desperately need a Patriot like Reagan right now.. or someone like him

"And after all why shouldn't we believe that? We are Americans." Those two sentences demonstrate more than anything else why Reagan was a great president. He believed in America. He believed in the American people. It's very easy and very popular these days to take a cynical and unpatriotic view of America, as it was in the '70s. But the promise of this great country, the potential that Reagan believed in wholeheartedly, still exists. We just need another Reagan to reignite that belief in the American people.

For the online course on 'Rhetoric - The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking' generously provided by Harvard Univ. free of charge, I had the honor to refer to this ceremonial speech as one of my very favorites. Outstanding delivery as a state man and as a human being!

The best President ever Thanks for removing the wall

I wonder why men don't wear morning suit anymore for occasions like presidential inaugurations. That was only 41 years ago.

"Government is not the solution to 'Our' problem. Government 'Is' the problem " [25 mins 40 seconds] True then, true now in 2021

As a Gen Z right here. Everytime i see president reagan speaking or himself, i literally tear a little bit. Not just because i miss the great communicator doing great things in his time, but there is no other person or politician like him right now that will heal our country in these times of crisis and division. I totally miss the time that i wasn't even born yet because those are really great times to live with and the people in the era of reagan (1980s) knew it. Reagan forever!!👍👍👍👍

The Marine singing brought me to tears and the rest of inauguration had me in tears.

One of the best Presidents of the United States of America!

This was a true patriot and lover of our nation! As I hear Mark Hatfield speak, I remember the last Republican senator of Oregon before the fall of Oregon to the Democrat Rule which to this is day is taxing and spending Oregonians into poverty and homelessness! President Reagan, I miss you so much! May God bless you! I look forward to the day we meet in heaven!

Thank you, President Reagan. He was our best President.

They were all looking spiffy back then!! Before the 80's truly kicked in! :D Good times!

Could you imagine the inauguration in 2021 taking place in the same national unity? Unfortunately, not a chance.

Mr. President your words of wisdom have almost completed the needed reform you set the stage for. Thank you so very much for everything. Lord, could you be sure he gets the message? Amen

“America the Beautiful” - What a beautiful song! What a beautiful voice!

General Omar Bradley. Wow - now there’s a living legend (as was).

Amazing , at the same time SAD. By listening I cannot scape reality and accept we had gotten worse . The educational system we have , when it comes to social studies, has been the most harmful tool against America.

Trump definitely watched this speech for his inauguration. His speech is really good about normal people who are heros and unsung. Dutch was 70 years old at this speech. I am 60 and man did he just give me a boost.

Decent man, very likeable and held the office with respect and dignity. I adamantly disagreed with his ideas about trickle down economics, but still have major respect for him. RIP.

Look who American has now, I was 16, just joined the Royal Navy, fine man President Reagan.

beginning of the greatest presidency of modern history

I enjoyed President Reagan. He was honest and friendly to all he encounted.

Listening to this speech, it is even more important now than it was then. We are desperately in need of leaders who believe like this. Sadly, the political elite, including most leading Republicans, have turned their back on the American people and embraced a big government, european socialist philosophy. God help us all.

This is a President we need as Ronald Reagan was a good man and he served well. As for the president we have now is not as good as Reagan was as he is not a leader in office. For Reagan was good minded and we need more like him.

İ love Ronald Reagan, He is one of the American best president. May his soul continue resting in perfect peace.

Ronald Reagan - The best president of my generation. I once met him! A time I will never forget.

hard to believe this was 40 years ago ....I was 15 and having my first child. Just crazy to think about .

Analyzing the speech, its liberal reference of "We, Us and Our" are dominant than " I and my". Talks volumes and great lessons from a great leader.

He was my first President I voted for, in 1984. There has been a debate to decide which President in modern times was better, between President Reagan & President Trump. Strange that when we see what works and doesn't work, that we would vote for what (who) doesn't work. In the 1990s, things would have probably been better if we would of elected the business man Mr. Parott, to be the President.

Rest in Peace and thank you for your service, Mr. President! I miss you so much.

The American economy became more developed thanks to Reaganomics.

Pesta rakyat yg sebenarnya karena presiden betul2 pilihan mayoritas rakyatnya, bukan menang dg kecurangan

And look what they have to this country. I'm in absolute tears watching what the things in power are doing God help us al

God bless this man ! ! ! Beautiful speech, great President.

When indeed you have a God fearing leader and a man of great magnificence.... your country will prosper beyond your borders 🙏🏾🥂👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Ronald Reagan was uniquely appointed by God to lead the world!🙌🏾

He was a great President! 🇺🇲

Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6,1911-June 5,2004) was ONE GREAT AMERICAN!🇺🇲

Never seen this before. Powerful! 🇺🇸

I was there in the audience below. Laus Deo

His speech starts at 21:37

Forty Years Ahead of Time !!!

I adored him so much. He was for me the best President of the United States.

He was a very first President I ever voted for very first election I ever took part in and I will always remember him and what his dream was and I try to carry it on it's kind of hard to do these days with all this infighting but I have a feeling we will persevere just like he used to say

Brilliant man.

January 20th 1981 along with January 20th 2017 were two of the BEST days in America's History. 25:36 is the highlight of the speech.

Extraordinary American Democracy on Earth Under Heavens

How things have CHANGED!!!

This ceremony has now been turned over to horrible commentaries during the time that we are not allowed to watch the entire thing with our own minds, without comment, from the media. This was so enjoyable, compared to what our changes of President have become. SHUT THE MEDIA UP DURING THIS WONDERFUL CEREMONY!!

We miss you Mr President and your leadership!!

Ronald Reagan was the best US president ever wishful thinking wish we could clone you.

Sad that President Biden is tearing everything that President Reagan did. We need someone like Reagan to run our country now.

It's a shame they edited it . I would have enjoyed all of the music and invocations.

Ein großartiger Präsident und ein wunderbarer Mensch.

I want Reagan come back, he was presidential and uniting

The best constitution ever drafted!

Yes Mr President government has always been the problem... We need small government in order that not all the powers will be in the hands of those who do not care about the middle class, and the poor. After 39 years of this speech, we still have the same problems!

Imagine what President Reagan is going to say to the dictation, authoritative , deceptive Chinese government if he was alive today.

Marine band is something eh 🗽

America needs to be an industrial giant again.

Reagan is absolutely right.We The People,To The People,By The People and For The People,The People is the Government,not by the Elected,go figure,The Republic of The United States of America,In God We Trust.

23:54 *"Those who do work, are denied a fair return for their labor by a tax system which penalizes successful achievement and keeps us from maintaining full productivity."* Higher taxes never solved anything. It only gives the government the ability to spend more. The older brother (government) takes the saved-up allowance from his younger brother (taxpayer). The older brother doesn't care, he will just spend it on whatever he wants because he knows his little brother can't do anything about it. Eventually, Mother (The Federal Reserve), who favors the older brother, starts giving the older brother money on a loan to buy new stuff that he doest need (because the older brother is totally good for it....right?). But in order to pay back that money the older brother needs to take even more money from his little brother. RInse. And. Repeat.

God be with us and we all need to pray for the next four years and no it's just that four years God is with us

Magnificent! Looking and LISTENING to our president Reagan, where did we go wrong? Every American, young, old, democrat, republican, should hear and remember this speech. May he rest in peace but always be around in everyone’s memory, to show us how it’s done! In peace and unity. For ever and ever. Amen.

God bless you Pres Reagan! Your steadfast and determined leadership is sorely missed in 2020!

The American peaceful transition of power was really a beautiful thing to watch. May god help us all.

The "A-Team" starts its work on this day.

Love it, esp the opening... it should make sense for all who care about this country.

Maior e melhor presidente da história dos EUA simplesmente uma lenda R.reagan 👏👏👏

02:01 - Goldwater was a mentor to Reagan. Reagan's 1976 challenge for the Republican presidential nomination caused a rift between them. they eventually made amends. Goldwater endorsed Reagan in 1980 and continued to support him during Reagan's two terms in office...

Last time you had a great President..

Please ignore this. I'm just trying to practice this legendary speech for an oratory competition. 21:38 37:44 38:52 39:18 39:48 40:49 41:21

2:44, future President George W. and his brother Jeb. 👀

5:27 Secret Service agent who takes the bullet for Reagan

What a great day this was for the United States. It would be again when President Trump was inaugurated.

They hated him! He was so competent!!!

A different time ,trust nothing america Big Love

20:14 So help you God I thought President Reagan was gonna say "So help you God" lol

Aku sayang ayah,.ayaj tercinta jaga diri yang baik,.

The prayer is now more than ever, a prayer needed for the U.S.A and may we know that which President Reagan in his leadership had for us and we be able to achieve it , once again, as the pretentious , barbarous and inhumane pass away while we grow to recognize the truth of our soul.

Today our president and viced president although swear to defend the constitution of the united states do not do it

he was truly americas last great president

I am going to be a best President like President Reagan

4:12 Bob Bole 4:21 1985 Inauguration Chairman Howard Baker 4:25 Wendall Ford 6:26 William H. Renquist

22:07 "The orderly transfer of authority as called for in The Constitution" ....Too bad we don't have someone right now who doesn't recognize how this works!!