Edwin Meese, the keeper of the Reagan flame, is leading an army of over 200 Reagan alumni to Republican Donald Trump's presidential campaign as it heads into the final week before Election Day.

The long-time Reagan ally and former attorney general said in a statement, "Many of us remember 1980, a time when, as today, America suffered from high unemployment and even higher interest rates, a military that needed to be strengthened and rebuilt, and diminished stature in the world of nations. Ronald Reagan turned that around with resolute policies, such as the most significant tax cut in American history, which stimulated the national economy and created 20 million jobs, and a visionary foreign policy of 'peace through strength,' whereby he rebuilt our military and won the Cold War without firing a shot."

He added, 'We need a Trump-Pence administration to change the direction of our country. We all know that Hillary Clinton will continue Obama's failed policies, growing the size, scope and cost of the federal government, and endangering our national security."

Other notables of the Reagan Alumni Advisory Council are former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, who served as Reagan's assistant secretary for enforcement in the Treasury Department, U.S. Attorney, and later as associate attorney general, and Faith Whittlesey, who served in the Reagan White House as assistant to the president for public liaison and twice as his Ambassador to Switzerland.

Others include Haley Barbour, William Bennett, Gary Bauer, Jeffrey Lord, and Ed Rollins.

The statement issued by Trump today:

REAGAN ALUMNI LAUNCH COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT

Today, Donald J. Trump announced the Reagan Alumni Advisory Council for Trump-Pence representing (over 200) esteemed former Reagan advisors that support Donald J. Trump for President. Co-Chairs include the Honorable Edwin Meese III, Ambassador Faith Ryan Whittlesey and the Honorable Francis A. (Frank) Keating.

The Honorable Edwin Meese III served as President Reagan's Attorney General and also as White House Counselor to the President. He said, "Many of us remember 1980, a time when, as today, America suffered from high unemployment and even higher interest rates, a military that needed to be strengthened and rebuilt, and diminished stature in the world of nations. Ronald Reagan turned that around with resolute policies, such as the most significant tax cut in American history, which stimulated the national economy and created 20 million jobs, and a visionary foreign policy of "peace through strength,"whereby he rebuilt our military and won the Cold War without firing a shot. We need a Trump-Pence Administration to change the direction of our country. We all know that Hillary Clinton will continue Obama's failed policies, growing the size, scope and cost of the federal government, and endangering our national security."

Ambassador Faith Whittlesey, who served in the Reagan White House as Assistant to the President for Public Liaison and twice as his Ambassador to Switzerland remarked, "Donald Trump believes, as Ronald Reagan did, that smaller, more limited, government that focuses on its core obligations better serves the public by creating conditions in which individuals can freely make choices and pursue opportunities that result in greater prosperity for all.Donald Trump has provided a list of prospective candidates to the Supreme Court all of whom respect the sanctity of human life, religious freedom, and the intent of the Founders. His America First foreign policy will bring about a much-needed reassessment of commitments abroad in view of our nearly $20 trillion in debt and a pressing need to rebuild our homeland infrastructure."

Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, who served as Reagan's Assistant Secretary for Enforcement in the Treasury Department, U.S. Attorney, and later as Associate Attorney General, added, "Donald Trump embraces the Reagan philosophy of lower taxes, limited government, the repeal of the administrative state, and the right and responsibility of every citizen to determine his own future. That is the antithesis of a Hillary Clinton presidency."

Meese, Whittlesey and Keating added, "We are disappointed that the media only wishes to cover personalities in this presidential campaign.Instead, we all need to focus on the policies that will be guiding our country going forward. Donald Trump and Mike Pence support policies that are needed to restore America's greatness, while Clinton-Kaine's policies will accelerate America's decline."

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com