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"Tear Down This Wall" How Top Advisers Opposed Reagan's Challenge to Gorbachev—But Lost
The National Archives ^ | Summer 2007 | Peter Robinson

Posted on 07/08/2007 11:27:01 AM PDT by EveningStar

In April 1987, when I was assigned to write the speech, the celebrations for the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin were already under way. Queen Elizabeth had already visited the city. Mikhail Gorbachev was due in a matter of days...

I was told only that the President would be speaking at the Berlin Wall, that he was likely to draw an audience of about 10,000, and that, given the setting, he probably ought to talk about foreign policy...

(Excerpt) Read more at archives.gov ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: berlinwall; gorbachev; reagan; teardownthiswall

1 posted on 07/08/2007 11:27:02 AM PDT by EveningStar
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To: EveningStar

Yep. If FReepers were around then, they’d have been calling Reagan senile.


2 posted on 07/08/2007 11:28:53 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Life is an episode of Green Acres. THEN you die.)
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To: EveningStar

I heard Peter Robinson in a radio interview a couple of weeks ago (I forget - - the Dennis Prager Show, I believe) and he was outstanding. He worked for Reagan a real long time. Even back then, the socialist appeasers at State were.... the socialist appeasers at State. Fortunately, Reagan had no problem telling them to go play in the street.


3 posted on 07/08/2007 11:33:21 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: the invisib1e hand

Most Freepers would have agreed with him.


4 posted on 07/08/2007 11:34:55 AM PDT by apocalypto
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To: Lancey Howard
Colin Powell was one of those sycophants who advised The Great Man not to tear down the wall.

What a cowardly bunch of stooges!

5 posted on 07/08/2007 11:36:24 AM PDT by Weeedley
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To: EveningStar
Peter Robinson certainly is versatile.
6 posted on 07/08/2007 11:37:05 AM PDT by Disambiguator
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To: apocalypto
Most Freepers would have agreed with him.

...on one day, villified him the next.

7 posted on 07/08/2007 11:41:59 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Life is an episode of Green Acres. THEN you die.)
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To: EveningStar

It’s interesting to learn the identity of the actual author of that phrase. And it’s unsurprising that even 20 years ago we had a bunch of gutless cowards populating the Dept of State.


8 posted on 07/08/2007 11:49:14 AM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: Weeedley

Yeah, Powell was an early Bush mistake, quickly rectified.
Same with that cowardly scumbag Armitage, who let Libby twist in the wind for two years.


9 posted on 07/08/2007 11:49:43 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: the invisib1e hand

What are you talkng about?


10 posted on 07/08/2007 11:50:29 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Weeedley

I think he was just opposed to that part of the speech.


11 posted on 07/08/2007 12:02:18 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: All
The speech
12 posted on 07/08/2007 12:04:00 PM PDT by EveningStar
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To: EveningStar

He opposed the memorable history soaked line.


13 posted on 07/08/2007 12:06:07 PM PDT by Weeedley
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To: the invisib1e hand

I was around then and I watched the speech on the tube, just the right amount of balls I would expect from an American Pres.


14 posted on 07/08/2007 1:10:05 PM PDT by Little Bill (Welcome to the Newly Socialist State of New Hampshire)
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To: EveningStar

Damn, do I miss Reagan.


15 posted on 07/08/2007 1:43:13 PM PDT by jwh_Denver (In the Rise and Fall of United States I hope the Fall part is more than one chapter.)
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To: the invisib1e hand
"Yep If FReepers were around then, they'd have been calling Reagan senile."

You seem to have a dim view of FReepers. I, on the other hand, believe most FReepers admired and supported Reagan then, and yearn for another like him, now.

The only possible reason I can conceive for your remark is you are a Bushbot, who views FReepers not supporting Bush at all times as tantamount to treason.

Bush is not in Reagan's league as a leader; if you fail to lead well, you soon run out of those who will be led.

16 posted on 07/08/2007 2:29:06 PM PDT by diogenes ghost
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