Like many of you, I am yearning for presidential leadership. I want a president who leads and sets the tone.
32 years ago yesterday, President Reagan once again demonstrated that he understood leadership and presidency:
"On August 5, 1981, President Ronald Reagan begins firing 11,359 air-traffic controllers striking in violation of his order for them to return to work. The executive action, regarded as extreme by many, significantly slowed air travel for months.
Two
days earlier, on August 3, almost 13,000 air-traffic controllers went on
strike after negotiations with the federal government to raise their
pay and shorten their workweek proved fruitless. The controllers
complained of difficult working conditions and a lack of recognition of
the pressures they face. Across the country, some 7,000 flights were
canceled. The same day, President Reagan called the strike illegal and
threatened to fire any controller who had not returned to work within 48
hours. Robert Poli, president of the Professional Air-Traffic
Controllers Association (PATCO), was found in contempt by a federal
judge and ordered to pay $1,000 a day in fines.
On August 5, an angry President Reagan carried out his threat, and the federal government began firing the 11,359 air-traffic controllers who had not returned to work. In addition, he declared a lifetime ban on the rehiring of the strikers by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On August 17, the FAA began accepting applications for new air-traffic controllers, and on October 22 the Federal Labor Relations Authority decertified PATCO."
On August 5, an angry President Reagan carried out his threat, and the federal government began firing the 11,359 air-traffic controllers who had not returned to work. In addition, he declared a lifetime ban on the rehiring of the strikers by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On August 17, the FAA began accepting applications for new air-traffic controllers, and on October 22 the Federal Labor Relations Authority decertified PATCO."
Don't you miss presidential leadership?
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