Air Traffic Controllers

In this week’s podcast, we present President Reagan’s remarks and question-and-answer session with reporters on the Air Traffic Controllers Strike on August 3, 1981, which happened 40 years ago today. Writing about that speech in his book “Speaking My Mind,” Ronald Reagan said, “I'm not very good at firing people; maybe it goes back to the fact that as a child I can remember my father being out of work.  I know the hardship and dislocation it can cause a family.  But I also believe that people should keep their word when they make a promise.  This is why I fired the air controllers.”