President Reagan: 'Harley is back and standing tall' - 14/20 iconic photos
President Reagan visited Springettsbury Township's Harley-Davidson plant in 1987, the first of a series of chief executives to mug at the York County, Pa., plant. That's Harley employee Eric Myers on the bike. Presidential visit No. 1: Mr. Reagan goes to Harley, Presidential visit No. 2: Clinton hugs Harley and http://www.yorktownsquare.com/2007/02/presidential_visit_no_3_bush_m.php.
Continuing the series of telling York County, Pa.'s, history through images: ... .
In plain view: A popular Ronald Reagan received a warm reception during his visit to one of York County's largest employers. "You cut the hours of work needed to make a motorcycle by one-third. You cut inventory by two-thirds. You tripled the number of defect-free machines you shipped. . . . You’re the only major motorcycle manufacturer in the world to have increased production last year. Like America, Harley is back and standing tall."
Behind the scene: Harley-Davidson workers in York have gone on strike three times since 1969. Still, three U.S. presidents have visited the local Harley plant in the past 21 years to, among other things, seek a political advantage by linking up with the venerable American cycle company. Interestingly, political analyst Terry Madonna contrasted two presidential visits to Harley: In 1987, Ronald Reagan, a Republican free trader, visited and spoke about how well Harley resurged under protective tariffs. In 1999, Bill Clinton, a Democrat, visited and paid tribute to the company’s success in free trade.
Harley is a tangible reminder of the heavy manufacturing interests operating in huge plants and making large things that gave York industries international notoriety.
Further details: Two recommended titles about Harley: Rich Teerlink and Lee Ozley's "More than a Motorcyle," 2000; and Peter C. Reid's "Well Made in America," 1990.
Past posts in this series:
- 400 years ago, John Smith explored Chesapeake Bay - 1 of 20 iconic images
- Declaration signer James Smith tops York County patriot list - 2 of 20 iconic images
- Going to market a longtime York County pastime - 3 of 20 iconic images
- William C. Goodridge: From slavery to success story - 4 of 20 iconic images
- Rebs' short York visit creates long memories - 5 of 20 iconic images
-Artist Horace Bonham captured everyday life - 6/20 iconic images
-York County farm vs. factory tension relieved in overnight raid - 7/20 iconic images
- York County stood firmly behind Allies on all fronts in WW II - 8/20 iconic images
- Downtown thrived in post-WW II York - 9/20 iconic images
- After WWII success, Farquhar sells assets to out-of-town outfit - 10/10 iconic images.
- Sears, York County Shopping Center in the middle of things - 11/20 iconic photos
- Three Mile Island emergency indelibly written into memories - 12/20 iconic photos.
- People of varying religious groups founded York County - 13/20 iconic photos
- President Reagan: 'Harley is back and standing tall' - 14/20 iconic photos
- Mayor of York, Pa.: 'We are no longer unprotected' - 15/20 iconic photos
- Grange Hall represented past way of York County life - 16/20 iconic photos.
- York County Honors Choir product of proud moment - 17/20 iconic photos.
- Meeting of riot victims brought hope for racial accord - 18/20 iconic images.
- Property rights foundational factor in Lauxmont dispute - 19/20 iconic photos.
- New baseball diamond serves as York cornerstone - 20/20 iconic photos
- Season 2 of York's campaign to come back - Iconic photos 21-23
- York on knees as its men storm Normandy beaches - Iconic photos 24-25
- One image illustrates two long-neglected subjects in York area - Iconic photos 26-27
- Images explain changes in York County factories - iconic photos 28-29.
