CLEVELAND — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence likes to talk about how he morphed from a Democratic “community organizer” to a royal red Republican because of Ronald Reagan, but in a preview of his vice presidential nominating speech here Tuesday he added that he once made the Gipper blush.
Making a surprise stop at an American Conservative Union luncheon, Donald Trump’s running mate told of meeting Reagan at the White House in 1988 during his first losing House race.
“I felt like I was talking to Mt. Rushmore,” said Pence, describing the jitters he felt when meeting Reagan with his wife, Karen.
As he waited for the photo op, a Reagan aide handed him a note about what to say that could be used in a press release back home. Instead, Pence said he wanted to say something more from his heart.
“This is the man and reason I became a Republican,” Pence told the ACU crowd.
“The president graciously asked as the cameras were clicking, he said, ‘Mike, how’s the campaign going?’ And I said, ‘It’s going fine, but I’ve got something I’d like to say.’ And he said, ‘Say it.’ And I said, ‘Mr. President, I would just like to thank you for everything you’ve done for this country. And everything you’ve done to encourage my generation of Americans to believe in this country again.'”
Pence added, “For the rest of my life I will believe in that moment that the 40th president of the United States of America blushed, and said, ‘Well that’s a very nice thing of you to say.'”
Apparently Pence wasn’t the only one to praise Reagan, because in comments later to the candidates, Reagan said, according to Pence: “‘You know, a couple have thanked me for what I did for this country.’ But he said, ‘I don’t think I did anything for this country.’ He said, ‘I think the American people decided to right the ship and I was just the captain they put on the bridge and they did it.'”
In his ACU address, following an introduction from Chris Cox, the National Rifle Association’s top lobbyist, Pence said that what he saw in Reagan and his reaction he now sees in Trump.
“What I saw there was extraordinary humility, what I saw there was an unshakable faith in the capacity of the American people to achieve greatness and astound the world. And what I saw there in the East Room of the White House, I promise you, I hear it and I see it in the man who I believe will be the next president of the United States.
“He loves his country, he believes in the American people and their boundless potential. He is unintimidated by the world, but he is in awe of the people of this country. And I know, that I know, that I know, if we will work every day between now and six months from tomorrow, that on that day, Donald Trump will raise his hand, become the 45th president of the United States of America and he and we will make America great again.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
