Students then joined Foundation supporters and friends for the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable luncheon. The audience received a detailed analysis on the 2016 Presidential election from historian, syndicated columnist, and Hoover Institution Fellow Victor Davis Hanson. “I don’t think, in my life, I have seen a more polarized climate,” Hanson noted. He also explained that Trump’s opposition failed to connect with their constituents. Following lunch, the students traveled to Rancho del Cielo, President Reagan’s Western White House, where they walked in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan through his adobe house, his tack barn filled with his most treasured vehicles and riding equipment, and the Secret Service command post. John Barletta, President Reagan’s longest-serving Secret Service agent, also addressed the young audience at the Ranch. Barletta commented on the significance of the historic property, declaring, “Here at the Ranch, you’ll find Ronald Reagan’s soul.” Student Blaise Ebiner of Pomona, California, agreed, affirming that the Ranch “showed how humble and practical Reagan was…and how hardworking he was.” That evening, Foundation alumna and author Kate Obenshain rallied the young audience to stand up and fight for the free exchange of ideas and to stay true to their own beliefs in the face of opposition. The final day of the conference featured longtime Foundation faculty member Dr. Burt Folsom, author Robert Spencer, Dr. Derryck Green, Foundation Vice President Patrick Coyle, and Young Americans for Freedom National Chairman Grant Strobl. Dr. Folsom began with a twopart lecture on textbook bias, captivating the students with his engaging and interactive presentation. 12
President Reagan’s Secret Service agent, John Barletta, meets with Chloe Lujan from Sonora High School.
Students (from left) Elijah King and Ricardo Avila from California learn from some of our nation’s leading conservatives during the High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.
Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Fall 2017
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