AUGUSTA — Maine Republicans honored the 100th birthday of Ronald Reagan today during a ceremony in the State House Hall of Flags.

Reagan, the nation’s 40th president, would have turned 100 on Feb. 6. With a wagon full of jelly beans and large signs with Reagan slogans, the GOP talked about his legacy.

Gov. Paul LePage said he admires Abe Lincoln, Harry Truman and Reagan as great presidents.

“I have several presidential heroes and Ronald Reagan is one,’ LePage said. ‘The real tie is I pledge myself to read a lot and study Reagan, so that by the time I’m done being governor, I will be politically correct.”

A bust of Reagan that is normally in LePage’s office was brought out for the event.

The event featured a video appearance by Grover Norquist, chairman of the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project and founder of Americans for Tax Reform.

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Senate President Kevin Raye, R-Perry, and House Speaker Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, spoke fondly of the influence of Reagan.

“He was the most gifted communicator ever to occupy the White House,” Raye said.

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, released a statement to honor Reagan.

“A friend of freedom, a foe of tyranny, and always – always an advocate for America, President Reagan inspired our nation eloquently and powerfully to recapture and reaffirm our founding ideals of individual freedom, common sense, and limited government,” Snowe said in the statement.

The Maine House and Senate also passed a bipartisan resolution on today honoring Reagan.
 


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