THE PRESIDENT: Well, this is a big day. Very important for a very important subject. Today it’s my privilege to award our nation’s highest civilian honor to the father of supply-side economics: Dr. Arthur Laffer. (Applause.)
I know Art has been to the Oval Office, unlike most people, many times. But this is a very special time for you. This is a tremendous award. You have the Congressional Medal of Honor on the military side, which, of course, is something incredibly special. And the presidential medal is — I just want to congratulate you. There’s nothing like it, right?
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DR. LAFFER: Nothing.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Art.
Joining us for this momentous ceremony are Art’s six children. Thank you very much. Congratulations. (Applause.) And we’re also grateful to be joined by Vice President Mike Pence. We just got back from Florida. (Applause.) Had a big night. That was a big night in Orlando, Mike. Right?
Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Alex Acosta, Elaine Chao, and Ben Carson, thank you very much for being here. And our top economic advisor and a great friend — of all of us, actually. I hear that voice and I just say “money, money, money.” Larry Kudlow. (Laughter.) Right? Larry. Thank you, Larry.
MR. KUDLOW: Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Few people in history have revolutionized economic thought and policy like Dr. Art Laffer.
He developed a brilliant theory, shaped unprecedented economic reforms, and helped turn a severe recession into a remarkable boom. He proved that the most powerful way to grow the economy and raise government revenue was not to increase tax rates but to adopt strong incentives that unleash the power of human freedom and innovate, create jobs, and deliver greater opportunity to all Americans. And he’s proved it over and over again.
A Yale graduate, Art went on to earn his PhD in Economics from Stanford University. He became the youngest-ever tenured professor at the University of Chicago. Oh, that’s good. That wasn’t too long, was it? (Laughter.) He’s very deceiving. He’s a little older than he looks. He looks like he’s in his forties. (Laughter.) He’s a little older than that. Just a little bit, right?
DR. LAFFER: A lot.
THE PRESIDENT: Don’t talk about it. (Laughs.)
In 1970, Art served as the very first chief economist at the Office of Management and Budget, where he designed an economic model that is still used today to forecast tax revenue and accurately predict economic growth.
Art then returned to the University of Chicago. At the start of the Ford administration, our nation’s economic situation was becoming dire indeed. We remember.
In 1974 alone, 2 million Americans joined the unemployment lines, and inflation hit 11 percent. Right now, we have inflation at almost nothing. (Applause.) I like that better. Don’t you? It’s good to read this because we read this and we realize how well we’re doing rightnow.
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The consensus in Washington, on both sides of the aisle, was that the government could tax, inflate, and regulate its way to prosperity. But Art had a different idea. Right? You did have a different idea. I’d have you tell it. It would be much more interesting, huh?
In 1974, Art came to dinner with the White House Chief Staff — Chief of Staff Don Rumsfeld; Deputy Chief of Staff Dick Cheney — who’s been, by the way, a tremendous supporter, and we appreciate Dick very much; and Wall Street Journal reporter Jude Wanniski.
The dinner has since become very, very legendary in many minds. Art drew on his napkin a series of lines and a curve that changed history. With the now famous “Laffer Curve” — still, a very, very highly respected economic curve — Art showed that if tax rates are too high, people stop spending and they stop investing.
The result is less growth and lower tax revenues. On the other hand, at the certain point on the curve, lower tax rates spur investment, economic growth, and raise government revenue.
I think Steve Forbes agrees with that. (Laughter.) Where’s Steve? I’ve heard you for a long time talking about that. Very much agree.
Prominent academics called this theory “insanity,” “totally wacky,” and “completely off the wall.”
With optimism, confidence, and exceptional intellect, Art would go on to prove them all wrong. He proved them wrong on a number of occasions.
In 1978, California Governor Jerry Brown asked Art to help him implement Proposition 13, which the people had overwhelmingly enacted to dramatically reduce the state property tax. I think they could use it again out there, by the way. They should do that immediately. The results were so successful that job creation soon grew at twice the nationwide rate. Within two years, 43 states adopted similar reforms.
During that same period, Art also advised Ronald Reagan, and helped shape his low-tax, pro-growth agenda. After President Reagan’s election, Art served on the President’s Economic Policy Advisory Board. He played a vital role in both the 1981 and 1986 tax rate cuts, which ultimately lowered the top marginal tax rate from 70 percent to 28 percent. That’s not bad. That’s a pretty big reduction, I would say.
The Reagan economy soared, creating sustained economic growth, shrinking poverty, expanding incomes, and dramatically increasing federal revenue. Sounds very familiar. Sounds very, very familiar, actually. Our economy has never, ever been stronger than it is today. (Applause.) It’s true.
Dr. Laffer’s policies not only expanded opportunity for our citizens; they spurred economic reforms around the world and helped lift untold millions out of poverty. Art has advised many world leaders, including former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — a great one.
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Staying true to the pro-growth vision that Dr. Laffer helped develop, in 2017, we passed historic tax cuts and reforms into law. Now, unemployment has reached its lowest level in over 51 years, with fast-growing wages, low inflation, and real GDP. And this is GDP growth that’s higher than anybody ever thought possible. First quarter was 3.2. And everybody said the first quarter is not going to be so good because the first quarter is never very good for us. But it was not only good; it was double and even triple what people expected. And we’re going to see some other very pleasant surprises, especially when the trade deals are all worked out. And they’re coming along very well, Art, as you know.
Our tax cuts and reforms also created Opportunity Zones in distressed communities, another idea that Dr. Laffer helped develop early in his career.
In 1999, TIME magazine named Dr. Laffer one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. Former Wall Street Journal reporter Jude Wanniski wrote, “In studying public finance, there is nothing more important than an appreciation of the Laffer Curve.” I’ve heard and studied the Laffer Curve for many years in the Wharton School of Finance. It’s a very important thing that you’ve done, Art. Very important.
Dr. Laffer helped inspire, guide, and implement extraordinary economic reforms that recognize the power of human freedom and ingenuity to grow our economy and lift families out of poverty and into a really bright future.
Today, our nation is stronger, our people more prosperous, and the world a much better place because of the brilliance and boldness of Dr. Arthur Laffer.
And it’s now my profound honor to ask the military aide to come forward as I present Dr. Laffer with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It’s my great honor. Thank you.
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