Read the address.

Question

First Inaugural Address, January 20, 1981, by Ronald Reagan

These United States are confronted with an economic problem of great proportions . . . It threatens to shatter the lives of millions of our people. Idle industries have cast workers into unemployment, causing human misery and personal indignity. 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 . . . We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow. And let there be no misunderstanding—we are going to begin to act, beginning today . . .

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time, we have been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. If no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price.

We hear much of special interest groups. Our concern must be for a special interest group that knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and our factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we are sick—professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They are, in short, “We the people,” this breed called Americans.

If we look to the answer as to why, for so many years, we achieved so much, prospered as no other people on Earth, it was because here, in this land, we unleashed the energy and individual genius of man to a greater extent than has ever been done before. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on Earth. The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price.

It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government. It is time for us to realize that we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope.

Answer 1

Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address, delivered on January 20, 1981, addresses the significant economic challenges facing the United States at that time. Reagan emphasizes the impact of government on personal and economic well-being, asserting that government often presents more problems than solutions. He discusses the hardships of unemployment and the unfair tax system that hinders productivity and success.

Reagan calls for collective responsibility among all citizens, urging that solutions must be equitable and not disproportionately burden any one group. He seeks to unify the American people, celebrating those who contribute to society, irrespective of their occupations or backgrounds.

He reflects on America's history of achievement, crediting the nation's prosperity to the freedom and individuality granted to its citizens. Reagan contends that the current troubles are a direct result of excessive government intervention, and he insists that America should aspire to greatness rather than succumb to pessimism.

Finally, he calls for a revitalization of national spirit, courage, and faith, framing it as a pivotal moment for renewal and a brighter future.