“It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of President Ronald Reagan. He was a true friend of Britain and one of the most influential leaders of our time.
President Reagan will be remembered for his tireless efforts to bring freedom and democracy to the world. His leadership helped to end the Cold War and brought about a new era of cooperation between East and West.
I was proud to have worked closely with President Reagan on these issues, and our friendship was based on a shared commitment to advancing liberty.
President Reagan will be sorely missed, but his legacy will live on. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.”
There are frequently figureheads in history who become well-known and distinguished from their peers, not just because of their policy or political leanings, but also due to their attitude and long-term impact; Reagan and Thatcher, two highly controversial yet legendary Western political leaders of the 1980s, exemplify this reputation.
The world was a different place during their reigns, as the Cold War threatened to tear the globe apart and Reaganomics/Thatcherism were beginning to take shape. These were two very different leaders with very different ideologies, yet they shared a mutual respect for one another that was unrivaled by any other international political relationship of their time.
President Reagan once said of Margaret Thatcher, “She is without a doubt one of the finest leaders our country has ever produced…I will miss her dearly.” When Thatcher passed away in 2013, Reagan’s wife Nancy asked Margaret Thatcher’s daughter Carol to deliver a eulogy on behalf of the family at Lady Thatcher’s funeral service, which took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Thatcher’s eulogy of Reagan is a beautiful tribute to a man who she respected deeply, and served as a reminder to the world of the significant impact that he had on both her life and legacy.
“Ronald Reagan was a true visionary, not only for America but for the entire world. His commitment to liberty and freedom helped to bring down the Iron Curtain and end the Cold War. He will be remembered as one of our greatest Presidents.” – Margaret Thatcher, Eulogy of President Ronald Reagan, June 11, 2004.
In 2004, to commemorate one of her closest friends and his unrivaled strategies as the 40th President of the United States, Margaret Thatcher delivered a eulogy for Ronald Reagan written from the perspective of a close friend rather than just a diplomat. In this tearful and heartfelt tribute, Thatcher recounts Reagan’s life and relationship in such a way that not only gave individuals an inside look at their personal connection but also made them feel like they knew him personally.
Thatcher starts off by talking about how Reagan had a “greatness” about him, which is something that can be said about very few people. She goes on to say that his greatness did not come from his humble beginnings or from his wealth and power, but rather from his character and convictions. Thatcher then talks about how Reagan was a man of his word and how he always stuck to his principles, no matter what.
She talks about how he was always looking out for the best interests of the American people and how he always had their best interests at heart. Thatcher then goes on to talk about how Reagan was always looking out for the world and how he always tried to make it a better place.
She talks about how he was a great leader and how he always inspired others to be their best. Thatcher then talks about how Reagan was always there for her, even when she was going through tough times. She talks about how he was a great friend and how she will miss him dearly.
Thatcher’s tribute to Reagan is effective in generating genuine feeling and a sense of credibility from her worldwide, most likely grieving audience. From the start, Thatcher enthralls her global viewers with his genuine feelings about Ronald Reagan, stating, “We have lost a great president, a great American, and a great guy” (1-2).
The delivery of great president, great American, and great man in succession immediately grabs the attention of listeners and causes them to reflect on their own personal definition of greatness. In other words, Thatcher’s opening statement asks her audience to think about what made Reagan a great leader not just in America, but across the globe.
Simultaneously, Thatcher also begins to establish her credibility to speak on behalf of Reagan through the use of inclusive language such as the pronoun “we” in “we have lost…” (1). The pronoun we unites Thatcher with her international audience by making them feel as if they are grieving alongside her. Furthermore, Thatcher employs pathos throughout her eulogy by sharing several anecdotes that paint Reagan in a relatable and sympathetic light.
She first describes a moment during the Falklands War when she received a call from Reagan in the middle of the night. Thatcher recalls being surprised that he would be up so late and even more so that he would be thinking about her during such a difficult time. This small detail not only humanizes Reagan, but it also makes him seem like a concerned friend checking in on Thatcher during her time of need.
Thatcher then goes on to recount another personal story about Reagan involving his love for jelly beans. According to Thatcher, every time she would visit him in the Oval Office, he would have a jar of jelly beans waiting for her. This simple act of kindness made their professional relationship feel more personal and special.
By sharing these intimate stories, Thatcher is able to connect with her audience on a deeper level and evoke an emotional response. Overall, Thatcher’s eulogy for Reagan is both touching and sincere. She does an excellent job of highlighting his positive qualities as a leader while also providing insight into his personal life that makes him seem more relatable. In doing so, Thatcher effectively honors Reagan’s legacy and leaves listeners with a lasting impression.
Thatcher’s Eulogy of President Ronald Reagan was both touching and sincere, invoking emotion from her global audience. She did an excellent job of highlighting his positive qualities as a leader while also providing intimate insight into his personal life that made him seem more relatable. In doing so, Thatcher effectively honored Reagan’s legacy and left listeners with a lasting impression.
President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, was eulogized by Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher managed to invoke emotion from her global audience by sharing intimate details about Reagan’s personal life in addition to highlighting his positive qualities as a leader. As a result, Thatcher left listeners with a lasting positive impression of Reagan.