Posted on 10/21/2014 1:17:23 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
October 27, 1964. Fifty years ago. It was a Tuesday night, one week from election day. As the Johnson-Goldwater campaign wound to its end, with Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society liberalism he was championing poised to win in a landslide over GOP nominee Senator Barry Goldwater, Americans turned on their television sets to see one last political commercial. They quickly discovered a very familiar face in a very unfamiliar setting.
Actor Ronald Reagan, longtime movie and TV star, newly the host and occasional star of Death Valley Days, a weekly TV series based on the old West, was introduced by an off-screen voice for a “thoughtful address” sponsored by the Goldwater campaign. Suddenly, there was actor Reagan (here) standing behind a bunting-draped podium in front of a live audience. Within seconds, Reagan was on his way to changing American history. He began as follows:
Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you and good evening. The sponsor has been identified, but unlike most television programs, the performer hasn't been provided with a script. As a matter of fact, I have been permitted to choose my own words and discuss my own ideas regarding the choice that we face in the next few weeks.
I have spent most of my life as a Democrat. I recently have seen fit to follow another course…
[SNIP]
Why did Ronald Reagan win those landslides? Why did George W. Bush have such a difficult time winning and keeping the White House? Why did Mitt Romney and John McCain lose? Why is the Tea Party so powerful?
All one has to do to understand is re-visit that "Time for Choosing" speech from fifty years ago this month. It’s all right there — if one cares to look.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Cheers.
Best speech ever.
Off topic of the ‘A Time for Choosing’ content - Not knowing America 50 years ago. I came to the States during the first year of Reagan’s second term.
I remember the two party bickering (but not, or less, touch on the personal), media and academia were just as entrenched commie sympathizers but much less powerful because of Reagan’s sway on general public.
More importantly, (1) celebrities have actual talents; (2) “Obama’s people” actually wanted to improve their lot, not the current ‘pay me to not work’ culture.
Thanks for posting a link.
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