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WASHINGTON (CNN) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates praised President Ronald Reagan on Tuesday for being "circumspect" about putting American credibility or troops at risk in the absence of "a clear mission or strong odds of success."

Gates said Reagan "understood that erasing the impression of U.S. political and military weakness would ultimately reap diplomatic rewards and strategic breakthroughs."

Reagan's "willingness to use American power was a lesson that others would learn as well," Gates said at a Library of Congress event honoring Reagan's contribution to the fall of the Berlin Wall. "But President Reagan was circumspect about putting or keeping America's troops and America's credibility at risk without a clear mission or strong odds of success."

He wisely avoided a "direct and potentially catastrophic military conflict with the U.S.S.R.," Gates said. Instead, the president "expanded the containment playbook far beyond Europe and took the fight to the enemy worldwide. From Afghanistan to Cambodia, Nicaragua, Angola, Ethiopia and elsewhere, Soviet surrogates soon faced their own lethal insurgencies."

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(CNN) - Mitt Romney is heading to Reagan country.

The former Massachusetts governor is scheduled to speak this Friday to the Young America's Foundation at the Ronald Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California. Romney is expected to be the dinner banquet speaker for the foundation's West Coast Leadership Conference, which consists of young conservatives from 44 colleges and universities across 12 states.

"Young people provide much of the energy in the conservative movement, and if we are going to be successful as a party we need to harness that energy and put it work on behalf of the principles we all believe in – more freedom, lower taxes and limited government," says Romney Adviser Eric Fehrnstrom.

Since February, Romney has made a series of moves that could aid in any 2012 reprise of his 2008 presidential bid: He has attended nine events for senatorial candidates, appeared at more than a dozen rallies or fundraisers for those running for governor this year or next, and spoken at almost two dozen meetings of Republican Party groups or conservative organizations. He's also finished a new book, due out next year.

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Ted Kennedy and Ronald Reagan forged a strong friendship.

(CNN) - It was a surprising, little-known Washington pairing: Liberal icon Ted Kennedy and conservative stalwart Ronald Reagan were actually quite close, former first lady Nancy Reagan told CNN Monday.

"Most people didn't realize the friendship, or didn't accept it, or didn't know about the friendship," Mrs. Reagan told CNN's Larry King. "You know, Ronny was so identified with the Republican Party. And Teddy obviously with the Democrat Party. But that doesn't make any difference, Larry, really. It shouldn't make any difference. I'm afraid it does now, but it shouldn't."

Mrs. Reagan also said the two men were happy to lend a hand to each other, either privately or publicly. In 1985 then-President Reagan even spoke at a fundraising event for the John. F. Kennedy Memorial Library in McLean, Virginia after Ted Kennedy asked him to.

"Teddy had asked Ronny to speak…he did, very happily," Mrs. Reagan said.

Mrs. Reagan also said the two men were drawn to each other's firm commitments to their own beliefs.

"They both had very definite opinions about things. It was a wonderful, wonderful friendship," she said.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) – It was one of the most fascinating White House photo ops since President Richard Nixon met Elvis.

At a White House ceremony on May 14, 1984, President Ronald Reagan awarded Michael Jackson with the Presidential Public Safety Communication Award for allowing the song "Beat It" to be used in a public service campaign against teen drinking and driving.

Reagan's comments that day were peppered with Michael Jackson song references:

"Well, isn't this a thriller? . . . I know why you're here, and with good reason – to see one of the most talented, most popular, and most exciting superstars in the music world today – Michael Jackson. And Michael, welcome to the White House," said Reagan.

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(Photo credit: Victoria Angulo/Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation) Former first lady Nancy Reagan at her husband’s grave at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on the fifth anniversary of the former president's death.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - An emotional Nancy Reagan on Wednesday helped unveil a statue of her late husband, President Ronald Reagan, calling the 7-foot figure "a wonderful likeness."

Mrs. Reagan paused during her brief speech at the ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, appearing to battle emotions as she mentioned her last visit to the marbled hall for Reagan's memorial in June 2004.

"It's nice to be back under happier circumstances," she said.

The statue is one of two from California in the National Statuary Hall Collection donated by states to honor significant figures.

Mrs. Reagan stood arm-in-arm with Rep. John Boehner, the House minority leader from Ohio, to pull down the curtain from the statue. She thanked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California for making the event possible.

In her remarks, Pelosi noted that the former president's statue contains pieces of the Berlin Wall, "as a symbol of his commitment to national security and to his success." The wall was torn down shortly after Reagan left office.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Senate voted by unanimous consent Tuesday night to approve the creation of a panel to plan a celebration of the centennial of former President Ronald Reagan's birth in February of 2011.

The measure passed the House in March, 371-19. Arizona Rep. Jeff Flake and former presidential candidate Ron Paul were the only congressional Republicans who did not vote in favor of the proposal.

The 11 members of the Reagan Centennial Commission will not be compensated. The Congressional Budget Office estimated earlier this year that reimbursement for travel expenses and other associated administrative costs would bring the eventual price tag for the project to roughly $1 million, which will be covered by private donations, not federal funds.

Next month, Congress will hold an event welcoming California's statute of Reagan to the Capitol.

The statue will reside in the Capitol Rotunda alongside other figures of prominent Americans in the National Statuary Hall Collection.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - A statue of former President Ronald Reagan will be placed in the U.S. Capitol in June, as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection.

Former first lady Nancy Reagan will join House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader John Boehner, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell at the statue's unveiling on June 3.

Reagan, who served as president from 1981 to 1989, died in June 2004. He was 93.

A new panel will plan events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Reagan’s birth.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – The House voted Monday night to approve the creation of a panel to plan a celebration of the centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth in February of 2011.

Earmark opponent Jeff Flake and former presidential candidate Ron Paul were the only Republicans who did not vote in favor of the measure, which passed 371-19.

The 11 members of the Reagan Centennial Commission will not be compensated, but the Congressional Budget Office estimated last month that reimbursement for travel expenses and other associated administrative costs would bring the eventual price tag for the project to roughly $1 million.

Update: The estimated $1 million cost of the project will not be covered by federal funds, according to a provision added to the bill before final passage by the House.

The Statement: Speaking at a campaign event Saturday, Oct. 25, in Reno, Nevada, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama described elements of his tax plan and said, "Under my plan tax rates will actually be less than they were under Ronald Reagan." He made the same statement earlier in the week at campaign events in Richmond, Virginia, and Miami and Tampa, Florida.

Get the facts!

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Watch Fred Thompson discuss frequent comparisions between him and former President Ronald Reagan.

(CNN) - Campaigning in Clinton, Iowa, former Sen. Fred Thompson stops by the Sweetheart Bakery. After delivering a speech, the Tennessee Republican takes questions from the audience and one woman alludes to the comparisons of him and Ronald Reagan. Both men gained fame as actors and some rate the former senator’s communication skills with those of the conservative icon. Here, Thompson demurs on the comparison, and says it takes more than charisma to win a presidential campaign.

– CNN Political Producer/Video Editor Wes Little

Washington (CNN) – In answering a question about the war in Iraq, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee misstated former President Ronald Reagan's birth date.

"Today is the birthday of Ronald Reagan," Huckabee said, explaining that Reagan "ended the Cold War."

Reagan was born on February 6, 1911. Tuesday, however, is the third anniversary of Reagan's death.

– CNN Internet Producer Peter Hamby