that was the father of the american revolutionary --, samuel adams -- revolution, samuel adams. in a letter from charles carol to charles wateren, charles carol was a signer of the declaration of independence, one of the 56, he said, on the mercy of my redeemer i rely for salvation and on his merits, not on the works i've done in obedience to his precepts. william curbing wag the first associate justice appointed by george washington to the supreme court. william in his will said, sensible of mortality but being of sound mind, after recommending my soul to almighty god through the merits of my redeemer and my body to the earth. john dickinson was also a signer of the constitution, in his will he said, rendering thanks to my creator for my existence and station among his works, for my country enlightened by the gospel and enjoying freedom and for all his other kindnesses, to him i resign myself, humbly confiding in his goodness and mercy through jesus christ for the events of eternity. again, john dickinson, signing of the declaration of independence. john hancock, we know signed

[applause] like samuel adams, he was an american patriot. like henry clay, he was a superb orator.president. like will rogers, because the giver and oklahoma's favorite son had a lot in common. they both starred in the movies. they both loved horses. they were both great at telling a joke. when ronald reagan walked into the oval office in january 1981, our nation has faced a number of crises. vietnam, watergate, oil shocks, and economic troubles. inflation and unemployment were high. public confidence was low. experts said america's best days were behind her, and that we ought to lower our expectations. but ronald reagan and his boundless optimism would have none of that. we are not, as some would have us believe, and doomed to inan inevitable decline, he said at his first inaugural ball. "we have every right to dream come into dream heroic dreams." and so, ladies and gentlemen, we did. president reagan demonstrated the power of big ideas. he was guided by a deeply held core values, principles about taxes and about spending, and about national defense. and most of all, perhaps, abo

[applause] like samuel adams, he was an american patriot. like henry clay, he was a superb orator.will rogers, because the giver and oklahoma's favorite son had a lot in common. they both starred in the movies. they both loved horses. they were both great at telling a joke. when ronald reagan walked into the oval office in january 1981, our nation has faced a number of crises. vietnam, watergate, oil shocks, and economic troubles. inflation and unemployment were high. public confidence was low. experts said america's best days were behind her, and that we ought to lower our expectations. but ronald reagan and his boundless optimism would have none of that. we are not, as some would have us believe, and doomed to inan inevitable decline, he said at his first inaugural ball. "we have every right to dream come into dream heroic dreams." and so, ladies and gentlemen, we did. president reagan demonstrated the power of big ideas. he was guided by a deeply held core values, principles about taxes and about spending, and about national defense. and most of all, perhaps, about the essential