Ronald Reagan "Tear Down This Wall" Speech - June 12, 1987, Complete

LionHeart FilmWorks
12 Jun 202327:17

Summary

TLDRIn his 1987 Berlin Wall speech, President Reagan challenges Soviet leader Gorbachev to dismantle the wall, symbolizing the division of freedom and oppression. Reagan celebrates Berlin's resilience and prosperity, urging openness and cooperation for a safer, freer world. He emphasizes the importance of liberty, economic growth, and the transformative power of freedom, while proposing initiatives to strengthen ties between East and West Berlin.

Takeaways

  • πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ President Reagan's speech was delivered on June 12, 1987, in West Berlin, with the intention of challenging Mikhail Gorbachev to take steps towards ending the Cold War.
  • 🌟 Reagan emphasized the historical significance of Berlin and the courage and determination of its people, drawing a parallel to American values and history.
  • 🀝 He extended a warm greeting and the goodwill of the American people to those in Eastern Europe and East Berlin, acknowledging the shared humanity across the divide.
  • 🏰 The Berlin Wall was a central theme of the speech, symbolizing the division of Europe and the restriction of freedom, with Reagan calling for its removal as a step towards peace and freedom for all mankind.
  • πŸ•ŠοΈ Reagan highlighted the success of the Marshall Plan in rebuilding Europe after World War II, demonstrating the power of freedom and economic cooperation in fostering prosperity.
  • 🌱 He contrasted the prosperity and technological advancements of the free world with the failures and backwardness of the Communist world, asserting that freedom leads to progress and peace.
  • πŸ”“ Reagan acknowledged signs of reform in the Soviet Union but challenged Gorbachev to make significant and genuine changes towards openness and freedom.
  • πŸ—£οΈ The speech called for the tearing down of the Berlin Wall as a tangible and dramatic gesture of commitment to peace and freedom, directed specifically at Gorbachev.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Reagan pledged the United States' commitment to maintaining peace through strength, including the Strategic Defense Initiative and arms reduction talks with the Soviet Union.
  • 🌍 He proposed further integration and cooperation between East and West Berlin, suggesting initiatives such as youth exchanges, cultural events, and the potential for Berlin to host international conferences and sporting events.
  • ❀️ The speech concluded with a reflection on the enduring spirit of the people of Berlin, attributing their resilience and commitment to building a great city to love and a deep belief in freedom.

Q & A

  • When and where did President Reagan deliver his famous Berlin Wall speech?

    -President Reagan delivered his speech on June 12, 1987, in West Berlin, at the Brandenburg Gate.

  • Who was the leader of the Soviet Union at the time of Reagan's speech?

    -Mikhail Gorbachev was the leader of the Soviet Union during Reagan's speech.

  • What significant historical event is mentioned in the speech that occurred 24 years prior to Reagan's visit?

    -The significant historical event mentioned is President John F. Kennedy's visit to Berlin.

  • What was the purpose of the Marshall Plan mentioned in the speech?

    -The Marshall Plan was created to help rebuild European economies after World War II, focusing on eliminating hunger, poverty, desperation, and chaos.

  • How does Reagan describe the impact of the Berlin Wall on the city and its people?

    -Reagan describes the Berlin Wall as a brutal division that cuts across the city, separating people and representing a system of barriers that divide the entire continent of Europe.

  • What message does Reagan convey to those listening in East Berlin?

    -Reagan extends his warmest greetings and the good will of the American people to those in East Berlin, expressing his belief in the unalterable unity of Berliners.

  • What was the economic state of the Soviet Union compared to the free world, according to Reagan?

    -Reagan contrasts the prosperity and well-being of the free world with the technological backwardness, declining standards of health, and even basic want in the Soviet Union.

  • What challenge does Reagan issue to Mikhail Gorbachev in the speech?

    -Reagan challenges Gorbachev to seek peace and prosperity by opening the Brandenburg Gate and tearing down the Berlin Wall.

  • What is the significance of the Brandenburg Gate in the context of the speech?

    -The Brandenburg Gate symbolizes the division of Berlin and Europe, and Reagan calls for its opening as a step toward ending the Cold War and promoting freedom.

  • What proposals does Reagan make to improve relations and cooperation between East and West?

    -Reagan proposes increasing air access to Berlin, hosting international meetings, sponsoring youth exchanges and cultural events, and the possibility of holding Olympic Games in a unified Berlin.

  • How does Reagan describe the spirit of the people of Berlin in the face of adversity?

    -Reagan describes the people of Berlin as having profound and abiding love for their city, choosing to build a proud city in contrast to the totalitarian presence surrounding them.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Reagan's Berlin Wall Challenge

In this paragraph, President Reagan addresses the crowd at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, challenging Mikhail Gorbachev to dismantle the Berlin Wall as a significant step towards ending the Cold War. He acknowledges the historical significance of Berlin and the courage of its people. The speech is broadcasted to both Western and Eastern Europe, with a special message to East Berliners, emphasizing the shared belief in freedom and the division symbolized by the wall.

05:03

🌱 The Triumph of Freedom and Prosperity

This paragraph discusses the transformation of Berlin and Europe post-World War II, highlighting the Marshall Plan's role in rebuilding the continent. Reagan praises the economic and political rebirth of Western Europe, the rise of Japan, and the establishment of the European Community. He contrasts this prosperity with the failures of the Communist world, emphasizing that freedom leads to progress and peace, and calls for the recognition of freedom's victory over oppression.

10:03

πŸ› The Call for Soviet Reform and Openness

Reagan acknowledges the potential for change in the Soviet Union, referencing recent reforms and openness indicated by the release of political prisoners and less state control over economic enterprises. He urges Gorbachev to take tangible steps towards peace and freedom by opening the Brandenburg Gate and tearing down the Berlin Wall. The paragraph also touches on the arms race, with the West's commitment to maintaining defenses while seeking peace through arms reduction and the Strategic Defense Initiative.

15:06

🀝 Promoting Peace and Cooperation

The focus shifts to the pursuit of peace and cooperation between East and West. Reagan outlines proposals for arms reduction, the banning of chemical weapons, and the Strategic Defense Initiative's aim to protect rather than threaten populations. He stresses the importance of maintaining military strength while fostering openness and reducing mistrust, suggesting that the Soviet Union must change fundamentally to avoid becoming obsolete in the face of global progress.

20:07

πŸŒ† A Vision for a United Berlin

Reagan presents a vision for a united and prosperous Berlin, suggesting initiatives to strengthen ties between East and West, improve air access, and promote Berlin as a hub for international meetings and cultural exchanges. He proposes that Berlin could host the Olympic Games as a symbol of unity and openness, emphasizing the city's resilience and the love that fuels its continued development despite the challenges posed by the Berlin Wall.

25:10

πŸ•Š The Power of Love and Freedom

In the concluding paragraph, Reagan reflects on the enduring spirit of Berliners, attributing their perseverance to a profound love for their city and freedom. He contrasts the oppressive nature of totalitarianism with the creative and aspirational drive of free societies. The paragraph concludes with a message of hope, suggesting that the Berlin Wall, like all symbols of oppression, will eventually fall due to the indomitable power of faith, truth, and freedom.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Cold War

The Cold War refers to the period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc, after World War II. It was characterized by a lack of direct large-scale fighting between the two superpowers, but it involved a series of proxy wars, an arms race, and ideological conflict. In the script, President Reagan's speech in West Berlin is a significant event during the Cold War, where he challenges Mikhail Gorbachev to dismantle the Berlin Wall, symbolizing the division between the free world and the communist bloc.

πŸ’‘Mikhail Gorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. He is known for his policies of 'glasnost' (openness) and 'perestroika' (restructuring), which aimed to reform the Soviet system and led to significant political and economic changes. In the script, Reagan addresses Gorbachev directly, urging him to take steps towards ending the Cold War by opening the Brandenburg Gate and tearing down the Berlin Wall.

πŸ’‘Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989, constructed by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to prevent its citizens from fleeing to West Berlin. It became a symbol of the division between the communist Eastern Bloc and the democratic Western Bloc. In the video, the wall is a central theme, representing the division of Europe and the restriction of freedom, with Reagan calling for its demolition as a step towards freedom and unity.

πŸ’‘Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin, known for being a symbol of European unity and peace. It was inaccessible to the public from 1961 to 1989 due to its location near the Berlin Wall. In the script, Reagan's call to open this gate symbolizes the desire to break down the barriers between East and West and to reunite the divided city of Berlin.

πŸ’‘Marshall Plan

The Marshall Plan, officially known as the European Recovery Program, was an American initiative to aid Western Europe, in which the United States gave over $12 billion (approximately $100 billion in current dollar value) in economic support to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II. In the script, Reagan mentions the Marshall Plan as an example of the prosperity that can come from economic freedom and as a historical reference to the rebuilding of Berlin and Europe.

πŸ’‘Freedom

Freedom is a core theme of the video, representing the ability of individuals to act, speak, and think without constraint. It is contrasted with the totalitarian control of the Eastern Bloc. Reagan emphasizes the link between freedom and prosperity, stating that freedom leads to economic growth and peace. The script repeatedly returns to the idea that freedom is the ultimate goal and the key to overcoming the divisions of the Cold War.

πŸ’‘Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a political system where the state holds total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life. It is often associated with oppressive regimes that restrict civil liberties and dissent. In the script, totalitarianism is depicted as a force that stifles human potential and contrasts with the freedom enjoyed in the West, particularly in the context of the Soviet Union's control over Eastern Europe.

πŸ’‘Reagan Doctrine

The Reagan Doctrine was a strategy to support anti-communist resistance movements around the world during the 1980s. It aimed to roll back Soviet influence and contributed to the end of the Cold War. While not explicitly mentioned in the script, the overarching theme of Reagan's speech aligns with the principles of the Reagan Doctrine, particularly in his calls for the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and the promotion of freedom and democracy.

πŸ’‘Strategic Defense Initiative

The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as 'Star Wars', was a proposed missile defense system announced by President Reagan in 1983. The goal was to protect the United States from attack by the Soviet Union's nuclear missiles using ground-based and space-based systems. In the script, Reagan mentions the SDI as part of the efforts to ensure peace and security through defense rather than offense.

πŸ’‘Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event taking place every four years and are one of the foremost sports events in the world. In the script, Reagan suggests that Berlin, both East and West, could host the Olympic Games in the future as a symbol of unity and international cooperation, showcasing the city's openness to the world.

πŸ’‘Youth Exchanges

Youth exchanges are programs that allow young people from different countries or regions to visit and experience each other's cultures. In the script, Reagan proposes sponsoring summer youth exchanges and cultural events for young people from East Berlin, emphasizing the importance of fostering understanding and goodwill among the younger generation as a means to build a more peaceful and cooperative future.

Highlights

President Reagan's challenge to Mikhail Gorbachev for dramatic steps towards ending the Cold War.

Reagan's speech delivered to a crowd at the Brandenburg Gate, audible to both sides of the Berlin Wall.

Reagan's acknowledgment of the historical significance of Berlin and the courage of its people.

The symbolic message of the Berlin Wall as a representation of the division of Europe.

Reagan's reference to the Marshall Plan and its role in rebuilding Europe post-World War II.

The economic prosperity and political rebirth of Western Europe contrasted with the failures of the Communist world.

The call for Gorbachev to open the Brandenburg Gate and tear down the Berlin Wall as a sign of peace and freedom.

Reagan's commitment to maintaining peace through strength and arms reduction negotiations.

The Strategic Defense Initiative as a means to base deterrence on defense rather than offensive retaliation.

The transformative power of freedom leading to prosperity and peace.

Reagan's recognition of the importance of liberty and its role in the technological and economic growth of the West.

The proposal for international cooperation in Berlin, including the possibility of hosting the Olympic Games.

The emphasis on the spirit of Berliners and their love for the city as a driving force for resilience and rebuilding.

The symbolic significance of the Berlin Television Tower and its unintended cross shape when the sun strikes it.

Reagan's closing remarks on the inevitability of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the triumph of freedom.

The acknowledgment of demonstrations against Reagan's visit and a reflection on the importance of freedom of expression.

Transcripts

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foreign

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[Music]

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with the Soviet Union then being led by

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reformer Mikhail Gorbachev President

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Reagan traveled to West Berlin on June

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12 1987 and challenged Gorbachev to take

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a dramatic step toward ending the Cold

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War the president's remarks were

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delivered to a crowd on the west side of

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the Brandenburg gate and the Berlin wall

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but could be heard by people gathered on

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the other side too

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thank you very much

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Chancellor Cole

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governing mayor deepkin ladies and

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gentlemen

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24 years ago President John F Kennedy

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visited Berlin

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and speaking to the people of this city

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and the world at the city hall

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since then two other presidents have

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come each in his turn to Berlin

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today I myself make my second visit to

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your city

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we come to Berlin we American Presidents

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because it's our duty to speak in this

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place of freedom

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but I must confess

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we're drawn here by other things as well

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by the feeling of history in this city

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more than 500 years older than our own

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Nation

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by the beauty of the Grunwald and The

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Tear Garden

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most of all by your courage and

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determination

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[Applause]

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perhaps the composer Paul linke

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understood something about American

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presidents

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you see like so many presidents before

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me

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I come here today because wherever I go

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whatever I do

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is

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in Berlin

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our gathering today is being broadcast

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throughout Western Europe and North

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America

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I understand that it is being seen and

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heard as well in the east

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to those listening throughout Eastern

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Europe

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I extend my warmest greetings and the

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Good Will of the American people

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to those listening in East Berlin a

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special word

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although I cannot be with you

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I address my remarks to you just as

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surely as to those standing here before

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me

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for I join you as I join your fellow

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countrymen in the West in this firm this

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unalterable belief

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Berlin

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behind me stands a wall that encircles

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the free sectors of this city

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part of a vast system of barriers

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that divides the entire continent of

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Europe

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from the Baltic South

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those barriers cut across Germany in a

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gash of barbed wire concrete dog runs

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and guard towers

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farther south there may be no visible no

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obvious wall but the remain armed guards

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and checkpoints all the same

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still a restriction on the right to

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travel

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still an instrument to impose upon

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ordinary men and women the will of a

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totalitarian state

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yet it is here in Berlin where the wall

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emerges most clearly

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here cutting across your city

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where the news photo and the television

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screen have imprinted this brutal

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division of a continent upon the mind of

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the world

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standing before the Brandenburg gate

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every man is a German separated from his

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fellow men

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[Applause]

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every man is a Berliner forced to look

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upon a scar

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president

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has said the German question is open as

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long as the Brandenburg gate is closed

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foreign

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[Applause]

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today I say as long as this gate is

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closed as long as this scar of a wall is

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permitted to stand

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it is not the German question alone that

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remains open but the question of Freedom

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For All Mankind

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[Applause]

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yep

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I do not come here to Lament

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for I find in Berlin a message of Hope

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even in the shadow of this wall a

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message of Triumph

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in this season of spring in 1945 the

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people of Berlin emerged from their air

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raid shelters to find devastation

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thousands of miles away the people of

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the United States reached out to help

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and in 1947 Secretary of State as you've

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been told George Marshall announced the

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creation of what would become known as

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the Marshall Plan

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speaking precisely 40 years ago this

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month

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he said our policy is directed not

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against any country or doctrine but

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against hunger poverty desperation and

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chaos

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[Applause]

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thank you

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in the reichstag a few moments ago

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I saw a display commemorating this 40th

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anniversary of the Marshall Plan

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I was struck by Assad a sign on a burnt

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out gutted structure that was being

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rebuilt

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I understand that berliners of my own

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generation

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can remember seeing signs like it dotted

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throughout the Western sectors of the

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city

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the sign read simply the Marshall Plan

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is helping here to strengthen the Free

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World

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a strong free world in the West

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that dream became real

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Japan Rose from ruin to become an

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economic Giant

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Italy France Belgium virtually every

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nation in Western Europe saw political

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and economic rebirth

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the European Community was founded

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in West Germany and here in Berlin there

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took place in economic miracle

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add in our

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Earhart writer and other leaders

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understood the Practical importance of

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Liberty

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that just as truth can flourish only

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when the journalist has given freedom of

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speech

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so Prosperity can come about only when

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the farmer and businessman enjoy

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economic freedom

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the German leaders

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the German leaders reduced tariffs

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expanded free trade lowered taxes from

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1950 to 1960 alone the standard of

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living in West Germany and Berlin

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doubled

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where four decades ago there was Rubble

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today in West Berlin there is the

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greatest industrial output of any city

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in Germany

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busy office blocks fine homes and

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apartments proud Avenues and the

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spreading Lawns of Parkland

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where a city's culture seemed to have

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been destroyed today there are two great

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universities

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orchestras and an opera countless

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theaters and museums

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where there was want

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today there's abundance

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food clothing automobiles

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the wonderful Goods of the kudam

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from devastation

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from utter ruin

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you berliners have in Freedom rebuild a

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city that once again ranks as one of the

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greatest on Earth

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and the Soviets may have had other plans

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but my friends there were a few things

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the Soviets didn't count on

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foreign

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ER Harris

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on the Berliner schnauzer

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in the 1950s

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in the 1950s

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Khrushchev predicted We will bury you

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but in the west today we see a free

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world that has achieved a level of

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prosperity and well-being unprecedented

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in all human history

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in the Communist world we see failure

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technological backwardness declining

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standards of Health

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even want of the most basic kind too

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little food even today the Soviet Union

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still cannot feed itself

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after these four decades then there

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stands before the entire world one great

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and inescapable conclusion

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Freedom leads to prosperity

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Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds

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among nations with committee and peace

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Freedom Is the Victor

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[Applause]

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and now

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now the Soviets themselves May in a

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limited way be coming to understand the

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importance of freedom

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we hear much from Moscow about a new

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policy of Reform and openness

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some political prisoners have been

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released

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certain foreign news broadcasts are no

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longer being jammed

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some economic Enterprises have been

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permitted to operate with greater

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freedom from State Control

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are these the beginnings of profound

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changes in the Soviet state

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or are they tooken gestures intended to

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raise false hopes in the west or to

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strengthen the Soviet system without

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changing it

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we welcome change and openness

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for we believe that freedom and security

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go together

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that the advance of human Liberty

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the advance of human Liberty can only

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strengthen the cause of World Peace

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there is one sign the Soviets can make

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that would be unmistakable

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that would Advance drama dramatically

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the cause of freedom and peace

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General Secretary Gorbachev if you seek

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peace if you seek prosperity for the

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Soviet Union in Eastern Europe

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if you seek liberalization

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come here to this gate

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Mr Gorbachev opened this gate

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[Applause]

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Mr Gorbachev

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Mr Gorbachev

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teared down this wall

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[Applause]

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I understand the fear of War and the

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pain of division that afflict this

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continent and I pledge to you my

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country's efforts to help overcome these

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burdens to be sure we in the west must

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resist Soviet expansion

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so we must maintain defenses of

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unassailable strength

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yet we seek peace so we must strive to

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reduce arms on both sides

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beginning 10 years ago the Soviets

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challenged the Western Alliance with a

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grave new threat

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hundreds of new and more deadly ss-20

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nuclear missiles capable of striking

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every capital in Europe

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the Western Alliance responded by

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committing itself to a counter

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deployment

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unless the Soviets agreed to negotiate a

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better solution namely the elimination

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of such weapons on both sides

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for many months

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the Soviets refused to bargain in

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earnestness

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as the alliance in turn prepared to go

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forward with its counter deployment

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there were difficult days

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of protests like those during my 1982

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visit to this city

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and the Soviets later walked away from

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the table

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but through it all the alliance held

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firm

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and I invite those who protested then

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I invite those who protest today

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to mark this fact because we remain

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strong the Soviets came back to the

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table

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[Applause]

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because we remain strong today we have

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within reached the possibility not

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merely of limiting the growth of arms

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but of eliminating for the first time an

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entire class of nuclear weapons from the

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face of the Earth

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as I speak NATO ministers are meeting in

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Iceland to review the progress of our

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proposals for eliminating these weapons

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at the talks in Geneva

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we have also proposed deep Cuts in

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strategic offensive weapons

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and the Western allies have likewise

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made far-reaching proposals to reduce

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the danger of conventional war and to

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place a total ban on chemical weapons

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while we pursue These Arms reductions

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I pledge to you that we will maintain

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the capacity to deter Soviet aggression

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at any level at which it might occur

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[Applause]

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and in cooperation with many of our

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allies the United States is pursuing the

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Strategic Defense Initiative

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research to base deterrence not on the

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threat of offensive retaliation

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but on defenses that truly defend on

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systems in short that will not Target

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populations but Shield them

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by these means we seek to increase the

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safety of Europe and all the world

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but we must remember a crucial fact

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east and west

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do not mistrust each other because we're

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armed

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we're armed because we mistrust each

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other

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foreign

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and our differences are not about

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weapons

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but about Liberty

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when President Kennedy spoke at the city

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hall those 24 years ago Freedom was

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encircled Berlin was under siege and

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today despite all the pressures upon

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this city Berlin stands secure in its

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Liberty and freedom itself is

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transforming the globe

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in the Philippines in South and Central

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America

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democracy has been given a rebirth

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throughout the Pacific free markets are

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working Miracle after Miracle of

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economic growth

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in the industrialized nations a

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technological Revolution is taking place

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a revolution marked by rapid dramatic

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advances in computers and

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Telecommunications

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in Europe only one nation and those it

play17:44

controls refuse to join the community of

play17:47

freedom

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yet in this age of redoubled economic

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growth of information and Innovation the

play17:55

Soviet Union faces a choice

play17:57

it must make fundamental changes or it

play18:01

will become obsolete

play18:05

[Applause]

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that presents a moment of Hope

play18:14

we in the west stand ready to cooperate

play18:17

with the East to promote true openness

play18:20

to break down barriers that separate

play18:22

people

play18:23

to create a safer Freer world

play18:27

and surely there is no better place than

play18:29

Berlin the meeting place of east and

play18:32

west to make a start

play18:43

Free People of Berlin today as in the

play18:46

past the United States stands for the

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strict observance and full

play18:50

implementation of all parts of the

play18:52

four-powered agreement of 1971.

play18:56

let us use this occasion the 750th

play19:00

anniversary of this city to usher in a

play19:03

new era

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to seek a still Fuller richer life for

play19:07

the Berlin of the future

play19:09

together let us maintain and develop the

play19:12

ties between the Federal Republic and

play19:15

the Western sectors of Berlin which is

play19:17

permitted by the 1971 agreement

play19:21

and I invite Mr Gorbachev

play19:24

let us work to bring the eastern and

play19:26

western parts of the city closer

play19:28

together

play19:29

so that all the inhabitants of all

play19:33

Berlin

play19:34

can enjoy the benefits that come with

play19:37

life in one of the great cities of the

play19:39

world

play19:51

to open Berlin still further to all

play19:53

Europe east and west

play19:55

let us expand the vital air access to

play19:58

this city finding ways of making

play20:01

commercial air service to Berlin more

play20:03

convenient more comfortable and more

play20:05

economical

play20:07

we look to the day when West Berlin can

play20:10

become one of the chief Aviation hubs in

play20:13

all Central Europe

play20:16

with

play20:18

with our French

play20:20

with our French and British partners

play20:22

the United States is prepared to help

play20:25

bring International meetings to Berlin

play20:28

it would be only fitting for Berlin to

play20:31

serve as the site of United Nations

play20:33

meetings or World conferences on human

play20:36

rights and arms control

play20:38

or other issues that call for

play20:40

international cooperation

play20:49

there is no better way to establish hope

play20:52

for the future than to Enlighten young

play20:54

minds and we would be honored to sponsor

play20:57

summer youth exchanges cultural events

play21:00

and other programs for young berliners

play21:03

from the East

play21:04

our French and British friends I'm

play21:06

certain will do the same

play21:08

and as my hope

play21:10

that an authority can be found in East

play21:12

Berlin to sponsor visits from young

play21:15

people of the western sectors

play21:24

one final proposal one close to my heart

play21:29

sport represents a source of enjoyment

play21:32

and innovative

play21:34

and you may have noted that the Republic

play21:35

of Korea South Korea has offered to

play21:39

permit certain events of the 1988

play21:41

Olympics to take place in the North

play21:45

International Sports competitions of all

play21:48

kinds could take place in both parts of

play21:50

this city

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and what better way to demonstrate to

play21:53

the world the openness of this city than

play21:56

to offer in some future year to hold the

play22:00

Olympic Games here in Berlin east and

play22:03

west

play22:03

[Applause]

play22:16

in these four decades as I have said

play22:20

you berliners have built a great City

play22:23

you've done so in spite of threats the

play22:26

Soviet attempts to impose the East Mark

play22:29

the blockade

play22:31

today the city thrives in spite of the

play22:33

challenges implicit in the very presence

play22:35

of this wall

play22:37

what keeps you here

play22:40

certainly there's a great deal to be

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said for your fortitude

play22:43

for your defiant courage

play22:45

but I believe there's something deeper

play22:48

something that involves Berlin's whole

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look and feel and way of life

play22:53

Not Mere sediment no one could live long

play22:57

and Berlin without being completely

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disabused of illusions

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something instead that has seen the

play23:03

difficulties of life in Berlin but chose

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to accept them

play23:07

that continues to build this good and

play23:09

proud City in contrast to a surrounding

play23:13

totalitarian presence that refuses to

play23:16

release human energies or aspirations

play23:19

something that speaks with a powerful

play23:22

voice of affirmation

play23:24

that says yes to this city yes to the

play23:27

Future yes to Freedom

play23:30

in a word

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I would submit that what keeps you in

play23:34

Berlin

play23:36

is love

play23:46

love both profound and abiding

play23:50

perhaps this gets to the root of the

play23:52

matter to the most fundamental

play23:54

distinction of all between east and west

play23:57

the totalitarian World produces

play24:00

backwardness because it does such

play24:02

violence to the spirit

play24:04

thwarting the human impulse to create to

play24:07

enjoy to worship

play24:10

the totalitarian World finds even

play24:12

symbols of love and of worship and

play24:14

affront

play24:16

years ago before the East Germans began

play24:19

rebuilding their churches they erected a

play24:22

secular structure

play24:23

the television Tower at Alexander Platz

play24:27

virtually ever since the authorities

play24:30

have been working to correct what they

play24:32

view as the towers one major flaw

play24:36

treating the glass sphere at the top

play24:39

with paints and chemicals of every kind

play24:42

yet even today

play24:44

when the sun strikes that sphere that's

play24:47

fear that Towers over all Berlin

play24:50

the light

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makes the sign of the cross

play24:54

[Applause]

play24:58

thank you

play25:03

foreign

play25:05

there in Berlin like the city itself

play25:09

symbols of love

play25:11

symbols of worship

play25:13

cannot be suppressed

play25:16

as I looked out a moment ago from the

play25:18

reichstag that embodiment of German

play25:20

Unity I noticed words crudely spray

play25:23

painted upon the wall perhaps by a young

play25:26

Berliner

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quote this wall will fall beliefs become

play25:32

reality

play25:40

foreign

play25:46

Europe this wall will fall for it cannot

play25:50

withstand faith it cannot withstand

play25:53

truth

play25:54

the wall cannot withstand freedom

play25:57

and I would like for I close to say one

play26:00

word

play26:01

I have read and I have been questioned

play26:03

since I've been here about certain

play26:06

demonstrations against my coming

play26:09

and I would like to say just one thing

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and to those who demonstrate so

play26:15

I wonder if they have ever asked

play26:18

themselves

play26:19

that if they should have the kind of

play26:21

government they apparently seek

play26:24

no one would ever be able to do what

play26:27

they're doing again

play26:29

[Applause]

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[Applause]

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thank you

play26:49

thank you and God bless you all

play27:00

thanks for watching if you'd like to

play27:02

help us produce more compelling

play27:04

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comment below and share this video with

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play27:13

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Related Tags
Cold WarBerlin WallReagan SpeechFreedom CallSoviet UnionGorbachevPeace EffortsHistorical SpeechEuropean Divide1987 Address