President Ronald Reagan signed bill establishing the Martin Luther King National Holiday

Jet, June 28, 2004

As the nation mourns the death of Ronald Reagan, 93, America's 40th president, JET Magazine recalls his major act of positive historical significance to Black America.

On Nov. 2, 1983, President Reagan signed into law a bill designating the third Monday of January each year as a federal holiday to honor the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (JET, Nov. 21, 1983).

The ceremony in the White House Rose Garden was attended by Mrs. Coretta Scott King and family, members of Congress, Civil Rights Movement veterans, educators and business and religious leaders.

During the signing President Reagan said:

"All right-thinking people, all right-thinking Americans are joined in spirit with us this day as the highest recognition which this nation gives is bestowed upon Martin Luther King Jr., one who also was the recipient of the highest recognition which the world bestows, the Nobel Peace Prize.

"America is a more democratic nation, a more just nation, a more peaceful nation because Martin Luther King, Jr. became her preeminent nonviolent commander."

The legislation established a King Holiday Commission that arranged the first official celebration in 1986.

During that first celebration the President spoke at D.C.'s Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and later hosted Mrs. King at the White House.

Today Dr. King remains the only single American honored with a national holiday.

Labeled by political historians as the Great Communicator, the late president took advantage of media opportunities to promote American patriotism and bravery. In 1984 he appeared on the cover of (JET, Jan. 23, 1984) with the Rey. Jesse L. Jackson and Navy Lt. Robert Goodman.

Jackson's unprecedented bid of diplomacy won the release of Goodman as a prisoner of war. The Navy bombardier was captured by the Syrian army after his plane was shot down during alleged combat on Syrian strongholds during multi-national peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon.

Though Jackson's mission was not formally sanctioned by the Reagan White House, when Reagan learned of Goodman's impending release, he said, "All Americans must be pleased that the government of Syria has told our ambassador that they have agreed to release Lieutenant Goodman as a result of the effort of the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

"We are delighted that this brave young man will soon be united with his family and that his ordeal is over."

When Goodman returned to the U.S., Reagan welcomed the lieutenant, Jackson and members of the mission to Washington.