Desirable 11-page typescript of Ronald Reagan’s inaugural address, which he delivered on Tuesday, January 20, 1981, at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., the first inauguration to be held on the building's west side. The pages are presented in two matted displays that measure 38 x 11.25 and 32.25 x 11.25, with Reagan signing neatly at the bottom of the final page in black ink. The speech, in part: “The economic ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades. They will not go away in days, weeks, or months, but they will go away. They will go away because we as Americans have the capacity now, as we've had in the past, to do whatever needs to be done to preserve this last and greatest bastion of freedom. In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem...In the days ahead I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. Steps will be taken aimed at restoring the balance between the various levels of government. Progress may be slow, measured in inches and feet, not miles, but we will progress. It is time to reawaken this industrial giant, to get government back within its means, and to lighten our punitive tax burden. And these will be our first priorities, and on these principles there will be no compromise.” In fine condition.



In his first Inaugural address on January 20, 1981, President Ronald Reagan addressed major issues affecting the nation, including rising inflation, the Iran hostage crisis, and unemployment. His speech points out that the government was part of the problem in that present economic distress, not just the nation alone. By defining and keeping in check the power and influence of the government, Americans could work together to recover and build a better future. He created a distinction between the powers granted to the Government and the power reserved for the nation, and he set forth a reminder that the Federal Government did not create the Nation—the Nation made the Federal Government.