“If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation.” —Samuel Adams (1780)
“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” That was the opening crawl in George Lucas’s now-epic 1977 film “Star Wars,” followed by eight prequels and sequels. The film was accompanied by an equally epic soundtrack by an exceptional composer, John Williams, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
Indeed, it seems like it was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away that Ronald Reagan issued his 1977 blueprint for “Federalism and the New Republican Party.” That template was rooted in the timeless principles he set forth in his 1964 speech, “A Time for Choosing,” and it’s as applicable today as it was then.
(You can read his remarks and other major speeches in our comprehensive historical tribute pages to President Reagan.)
According to then-former California Governor Reagan, who was a major inspirational force behind The Patriot Post, here are the foundational tenets of the Republican Party: