Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute Rings Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange

Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute Rings Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange

Event Marks 40 Years Since President Reagan Became the First and Only Sitting President to Ring the NYSE Bell 

SIMI VALLEY, CA — The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) rang the opening bell today at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), commemorating the historic 40th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s original bell-ringing ceremony on March 25, 1985. President Reagan was the first and remains the only sitting U.S. president to take part in the trading floor tradition, making his participation a defining moment in market history that underscored his administration’s commitment to free markets and economic growth. 

“When Ronald Reagan rang the bell 40 years ago, he not only marked a unique moment in presidential history but also underscored the philosophy of economic freedom that transformed our nation,” said David Trulio, President and Chief Executive Officer at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. “President Reagan’s legacy and principles are as vital today as they were then: low taxes, less regulation, and keeping the burden of government down to drive growth and prosperity for all Americans.” 

Today’s ceremony serves as both a remembrance of a notable moment in American economic history and as a reaffirmation of the Reagan economic principles that have contributed so much to the nation’s prosperity. In March 1985, President Reagan energized the trading community by declaring, “we’re bullish on the American economy,” and symbolically “turned the bull loose” with his historic bell ring. His visit paved the way for a legacy of pro-growth policies, which continue to inspire debates on tax cuts, deregulation and sound monetary policy today. 

“In the 1970s, people thought the United States was in permanent decline,” said Steve Forbes during the event. “Some things just keep repeating themselves. The word malaise was popular. People thought we had to manage our decline, to do it in a good, orderly way, and that the world was going to leave us behind. Reagan comes in, what does he do? He puts in policies, removing barriers, tax barriers, regulatory barriers, puts restraints on spending, and lo and behold the United States went from decline to a vigorous nation. It was ‘Morning In America,’ once again.” 

The event not only commemorates the momentous occasion from 1985 but also highlights President Reagan’s continued influence on American economic policy. His earlier visits – from his initial encounter with the NYSE board in September 1979 and his campaign trail appearance on the trading floor in March 1980 to his momentous return in 1992 with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev – underscore his longstanding commitment to a robust, free-market economy. These milestones shaped a platform of growth and opportunity that remains as relevant in 2025 as it was during his presidency.

About the Reagan Foundation and Institute

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with advancing his legacy and principles – individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride.  

A globally recognized nonpartisan organization based in Simi Valley, CA, with a leading policy institute in Washington, DC, RRPFI delivers impactful public affairs programming, policy convenings and projects of national and international significance, and distinctive educational initiatives.  In addition, RRPFI sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the largest and most visited presidential library, which routinely hosts major special exhibitions. 

An hour from Los Angeles International Airport, RRPFI’s Simi Valley campus sits on 400 acres, serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and former First Lady Nancy Reagan, displays a chunk of the Berlin Wall, and houses the plane President Reagan flew as Air Force One to 26 countries.  Onsite are the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, Presidential Learning Center, Air Force One Pavilion, and the Reagan Leadership Academy.  More information is available at www.reaganfoundation.org. 

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