Neal Peden-Jones
Madison, Mississippi

Shortly after the 1981 Inauguration, President Reagan and his close White House staff arranged for some of the campaign workers the very nicest of favors. We were invited, over a period of a few months, to attend a luncheon with President Reagan at the White House. Those of us invited could feel only an excitement and deep appreciation.

I was lucky to be one of three persons seated with the President at his table. I knew him to be a wonderful raconteur but this particular day he kept us laughing and due to his complete "just the everyday man " demeanor, he drew us into the conversation. He gave us the feeling of his wanting to know our opinions; wanted to learn what our jobs were and how involved we felt we were in the process. He opened the door to such frank discussion, we relaxed and began to discuss our positions in his administration, even to critiquing what we perceived to be the expectation of our duties. He was sincerely interested in our opinions.

That day I came away from this memorable event with a real sense of the man for whom I had worked. His openness, his interest in each of us, and his ability to evoke participation from all of us, attested to the measure of the person who has inspired millions and in doing so, has left behind a better America.

To have had the good fortune to work for such a person is its own reward. Those of us who did so, are blessed. How better to keep this flame alive for future Americans than the Reagan Ranch project!