Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is marking the birthday of former President Ronald Reagan on February 6 by recalling his historic connection to American Samoa. She highlighted Reagan’s video message sent to American Samoa and the South Pacific Conference, which was hosted in the territory by then-Governor Peter Coleman.
“President Reagan sent a special video message to American Samoa for the South Pacific Conference, at the invitation of Governor Coleman. That was a historic moment from a U.S. President, particularly back then in the early 1980’s,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Every head of government from the South Pacific was on hand, so all the titles were there: king, president, prime minister, and governor. The special event was held at the Lee Auditorium for the Conference to hear from President Reagan, using the seats from the Fono to seat the dignitaries.”
Amata noted that Governor Coleman personally invited President Reagan to lead the U.S. delegation at the conference in 1982. “Governor Coleman personally invited President Reagan to head the U.S. delegation to the South Pacific Conference he was hosting in our islands as chairman in 1982. While the President couldn’t make the long trip to the South Pacific, he offered to address the opening remotely, which was the first (and probably only) time a U.S. president ever addressed the Conference, and it was a big undertaking in those pre-internet and pre-digital days.”
Reflecting on Reagan’s legacy, Amata stated: “President Reagan was born 115 years ago, and served as the 40th President of the United States. His great legacy is the eight determined years of public policy that directly preceded and led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, and his ringing call at Germany’s Brandenburg Gate: ‘Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!’”
She also referenced other notable aspects of his presidency: “He was known for a major U.S. economic turnaround, his optimism and connection with the American people, his enjoyment of telling jokes, along with several appointments to the Supreme Court, including the first woman to serve on the Court, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Among his many finest moments were comforting the American people after the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986, and the Normandy 40th Anniversary of D-Day speech memorializing ‘the boys of Pointe du Hoc.’”
