[rottndog]

Hard to believe it's been 25 years. I watch videos of Reagan, and when I look at today's batch of people who want to run the country, I just have to shake my head and think "What the hell happened?"


Long version of speech (27 minutes)

Short version of speech (5 minutes)

[rfreedom4u]

I wish we had another Reagan.

[KarlInOhio]

I forget who wrote the story about the speech, but it was amazing how many White House staffers were trying to remove the "tear down this wall" section as overly provocative. Reagan kept on putting it back in.

Consider that you really start remembering things and connecting them together around ten years old (I clearly remember Carter's term in office, not so much with Ford or Nixon). That means anyone thirty-five or under only knows about this speech as history instead of as part of their lives. Excuse me while I go shake my cane at some whippersnappers who are on my lawn.

[Perdogg]

The speech that Colon Bowell did not want him to give.

[reagan_fanatic]

I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever see another President of Reagan’s caliber in my lifetime. All we seem to get stuck with anymore are Bushes and Romneys :(

[married21]

I remember hearing about the speech. At the time, I thought “That Reagan is so naive and simplistic. As if you could just ask for the wall to be torn down.”

Over the years, I have learned that there is a dearth of plain speaking about right and wrong in our world and when it happens, it is a blast of fresh air.

[RetroSexual]

I don’t get it - where’s the teleprompter??

[Fast Moving Angel]

Damn, I miss him.

[VeniVidiVici]

His speech was about 4 months before I was stationed there.

Here's a pic taken just before the start of East Germany's last parade which commemorated the DDR's 40th anniversary. The parade was in East Berlin. A small group of us went over to "observe" the proceedings. Gorbachev was there and pretty sure Gaddafi and Arafat were too. Of course just a short month later the DDR was no more. "Tear down this wall" indeed!!

This East German officer was none too happy that a couple of US Army types were photographing his equipment. You can see my buddy in the background getting upclose and personal :-)

[GilesB]

Thank you for posting this, and making me aware that today is the anniversary See my thoughts: http://www.truthhasachance.com/2012/06/12/mr-gorbachov-tear-down-this-wall/

[DannyTN]

Now THAT was a leader!