This, too, adds to Reagan's greatness. Of course, there is a clear political lesson in all this, not just for George W. Bush, but for Republicans running for office everywhere. Conservative principles succeed at the ballot box. Conservative principles also succeed in the real world when they are put into practice. For every Republican candidate out there, every time he or she reads a negative poll, or fears a tough legislative confrontation, or worries about making the next politically astute move, perhaps they will pause a moment and ponder Reagan's wisdom.
Conservative principles win.
Stick to them. Turns out that the Gipper took this from a London Daily Mail column by historian Ferdinand Mount. Down through the years, the Gipper used this line again and again. Just as the Gipper's legacy will.