Dear Friend:

Government spending under justifiable scrutiny, the United States facing an international foe with no conceivable resolution in sight, instability rocking the Middle East and Americans questioning a battle-worn White House…

The year was 1978.

Government spending was at an all time high, the international foe of note was the Soviet Union, Iran was unraveling, and the White House and the country were still recovering from the aftershocks of Watergate.

President Ford’s loss to Jimmy Carter in 1976 coupled with the aftermath of Watergate spread a tide of blue across the country…impacting Republican officials and candidates.  1978 saw Democrats maintaining majorities in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.

1978 was also the year that I was elected to the U.S. Congress for the first time.

What an environment for a Freshman member of Congress to cut his teeth on…but I was not alone.  I entered the House with a couple of notables – one named Newt Gingrich and the other Dick Cheney.   Another notable ran for Congress and lost that year – George W. Bush. 

It was an interesting time to be sure but it taught me and my peers in the Republican minority a couple of critical lessons:  First, being in the minority means that you must be agile in mind and in debate if you are to advance your agenda while also reaching across the aisle to find common ground; second, the majority of Americans were asking for a return to the core values of our party; and third, if we were to make them believe we were a party which embodied smaller government  we needed to prove it by our actions and trust that eventually the voters would respond.

And respond they did. 

In 1980 Ronald Reagan vowed to restore “the great, confident roar of American progress, and growth and optimism”.  On January 20, 1981 Reagan took office  - swept in with an electoral spread of 489 votes to President Carter’s 49.  The voters, troubled by inflation and the yearlong confinement of Americans in Iran, brought the Republican ticket into office – and with the Presidency, a U.S. Senate majority.

The Congress was the next frontier, and Reagan’s policies to strengthen our nation’s defense, curb inflation and stimulate economic growth led to legislation –including aggressive tax cuts and limits on government spending–which brought about a renewal of national self-confidence and led ultimately to an unprecedented number of electoral votes in the 1984 re-election campaign. 

It was not “change” in mere word that the American people were asking for.  It was “change” in deed.

I was immensely proud to be a part of the U.S. Congress that served with President Reagan.  Of high importance to me was the unshakeable commitment he had for our Nation’s defense.  Reagan knew that our common defense was the federal government’s first priority and, even though he was an aggressive watch-dog on spending, he increased funding for defense by 35% over his two terms in office.  In practice, he understood instinctively that we should aim our foreign policy goals to achieve “peace through strength”.    Not only were the American people paying attention, but so were our allies and our potential enemies.   Historic negotiations with Soviet leader Gorbachev led to a treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles.  Reagan engaged in our newest conflict with international terrorism, and his expressed determination to respond resulted in freeing of our hostages in Iran even as he mounted the inaugural platform.

The groundswell created by a renewal of our new American optimism carried over to an appreciation of the true character of our Country—and our Party.

Looking back over the span of 30 years I am amazed at how obvious that is and yet how we have at times deviated from that path of strength.  I remember very well watching the 104^th U.S. House of Representatives being sworn in with a Republican majority – bringing to an end a 40-year Democratic rule, only  to watch just 12 years later as the country chastened us for deviating from the “Contract” our party had made with America.

Yet, in spite of admitted missteps we have made, I remain extremely optimistic about our prospects as a Party and our ability to…when we act just not in word but in deed…re-capture the voice of the American people and to bring back the self-confidence Reagan helped to inspire in the 1980’s.

It is hard to believe that time has passed so quickly and hard at times to believe that while we have endured much as a country we are currently facing challenges that require the full attention of the American people.  If we are to continue to prevail as a country we must have the American people with us as they were with Reagan in appreciating our need for a strong national defense.  While the tragedies of the late 80’s including the attacks on American soldiers in West Berlin shook our country, we never imagined that terrorism would find its way here, shuttled into our lives on planes filled with everyday folks destined to meet deadlines and conduct meetings and reunite with young families.

Looking back 30 years in the rear view mirror finds much is grainy with time.  Overall as Americans, we have the ability to live in a country, which allows us such freedom, that we often times allow the most poignant of moments to fade. 

Let us not ever forget what happened to us on 9.11.  In addition, as we look forward to the elections of 2008 and the horizons beyond, let us remember that we have the ability to greatly influence the future…for the good.

As Bobbi and I embark on this election, we have much for which to be grateful.  When I was first elected to the U.S. House in 1978 our 3 children, Jeff, Kelly and Kathleen were 5, 3 and 2 years of age respectively.  Now, Jeff now has 3 children of his own Reagan, Julia and Jack ages 5 years, 3 years and 2 months, and we are further blessed by Kelly’s 2 step-children Allie and Andrew.  Moreover, Kathleen is one of the proudest Aunts you will ever find.  The work that I do in the Congress is in light of a strong belief that we truly are the party of superior ideas and if we return to those core principles the American people will come with us and the country will benefit.  Of greatest importance to me is knowing that I am one of many who want to build something better for my children and grandchildren.  I believe strongly that we have the ultimate opportunity and utmost responsibility to do all we can to ensure that when our history is written we will have left as a legacy a stronger foundation upon which this democracy might thrive.

Over the years…in some instances dating back to the very beginning….you have been a great supporter of mine and I thank you heartily for it.  While I believe our campaign is strong in our message and our numbers, I must confess to having spent the vast majority of my time since the last election doing the job I was elected to do.  The legislative battles have been intense and time consuming—and I have given less attention than I should to my political fund raising.  While it is never easy to ask, I am making a concerted effort to raise a significant amount of money between now and the filing deadline of March 31, 2008.  Anything you could do to support me in this endeavor would be most appreciated.

Together we can step-by-step rebuild the platform on which I firmly believe we will return to a Republican majority fueled by national optimism.  I greatly appreciate your consideration of my request to help me in my endeavors and thank you in advance for your continued support.

Best regards,

Daniel E. Lungren-CA 03