09/15/2026
We must be We must be staunch in our conviction that freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few, but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings. So states the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which, among other things, guarantees free elections.
The objective I propose is quite simple to state: to foster the infrastructure of democracy, the system of a free press, unions, political parties, universities, which allows a people to choose their own way to develop their own culture, to reconcile their own differences through peaceful means.”
President Ronald Reagan
On June 8th, 1982, Ronald Reagan became the first president to address the British House of Lords. In his landmark speech, President Reagan championed the cause of human liberty and contrasted it with the destitution found in the socialist countries of the old Eastern Bloc. He also laid the foundation of a crucial project: supporting democracy to beat socialist tyranny. 18 months later in December 1983, Reagan’s vision became real with the founding of the National Endowment of Democracy. From his speech that day:
“We can and should be proud of our message of democracy. Democracies respect individual liberties and human rights. They respect freedom of expression, political participation, and peaceful cooperation. Governments which serve their citizens encourage spiritual and economic vitality. And we will not be shy in offering this message of hope.”
Pairing the traditional American ideals of liberty to his historic defense build-up, he provided moral clarity and purpose to our righteous cause which soon saw the end of the Cold War and the ‘evil empire’ that was the Soviet Union.
This September 15th, the peoples of the world observe International Day of Democracy. While the Soviet Union of Reagan’s day is gone, we face new challenges. Communist China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and radical non-state groups challenge the Free World from abroad. Republicans led our country, which led the Free World, with conviction, clarity, and determination to victory. Today we renew our commitment to lead the Free World against those who would oppress us.
“Men and women of the world move toward free markets through the door to prosperity. The people of the world agitate for free expression and free thought through the door to the moral and intellectual satisfactions that only liberty allows.
We know what works: Freedom works. We know what's right: Freedom is right. We know how to secure a more just and prosperous life for man on Earth: through free markets, free speech, free elections, and the exercise of free will unhampered by the state.”
President George H. W. Bush
