Ronald Reagan’s Informed Patriotism: Civic Knowledge, National Pride Still Important

Since the advent of television, American presidents have used their farewell addresses to deliver messages that can only come from a chief executive preparing to depart the White House for the final time. These speeches typically seek to recapitulate in the best light the previous four or eight years and use the bully pulpit one last time to conclude a presidency on a note of optimism.

But these farewell addresses frequently contain a word of warning as well. Dwight Eisenhower famously used his valediction to warn of the rise of “a military-industrial complex.” Jimmy Carter spent much of his address reiterating the live threat of a nuclear war. And Ronald Reagan warned that the current “resurgence of national pride” would not last long without what he called “informed patriotism.”

DM

About the Author

Daniel M. Rothschild

Daniel M. Rothschild is the director of the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.

Featured Tags

Manage following

Ronald Reagan

Patriotism

Since the advent of television, American presidents have used their farewell addresses to deliver messages that can only come from a chief executive preparing to depart the White House for the final time. These speeches typically seek to recapitulate in the best light the previous four or eight years and use the bully pulpit one last time to conclude a presidency on a note of optimism.

But these farewell addresses frequently contain a word of warning as well. Dwight Eisenhower famously used his valediction to warn of the rise of “a military-industrial complex.” Jimmy Carter spent much of his address reiterating the live threat of a nuclear war. And Ronald Reagan warned that the current “resurgence of national pride” would not last long without what he called “informed patriotism.”