Reagan's "Tear down this wall!" Speech

This episode explores the history and impact of Ronald Reagan's iconic "Tear down this wall!" speech delivered at the Berlin Wall.

1. Ronald Reagan's speech was a bold challenge to the Soviet Union, emphasizing freedom and reform.
2. The speech was crafted amidst significant opposition from U.S. bureaucrats who feared its provocative nature.
3. Peter Robinson, Reagan's speechwriter, played a pivotal role, drawing inspiration from interactions with Berlin residents.
4. The speech is credited with galvanizing public and political momentum that eventually led to the wall's fall.
5. It highlighted the power of political rhetoric in influencing both public opinion and international policy.

1: The Setting

This chapter outlines the intense environment of Berlin, divided by the Iron Curtain and the backdrop for Reagan's speech. Lindsey Graham: "Germany has been divided between the western Allies and the Soviet Union."

2: Crafting the Speech

Focuses on Peter Robinson's efforts in drafting the speech, his interactions with Berliners, and his struggle against U.S. administrative resistance. Peter Robinson: "I wondered how I could celebrate a city like Berlin, a city torn in two."

3: The Speech

Describes the day of the speech, Reagan's delivery, and its immediate impact on the audience and broader geopolitical scene. Ronald Reagan: "Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

1. Engage with History: Understand the context of historical speeches to appreciate their impact.
2. Recognize the Power of Words: Use speech to inspire and invoke change.
3. Learn from Opposition: Use criticism constructively to refine and strengthen your ideas.
4. Value Grassroots Insights: Ground-level interactions can provide powerful perspectives that influence larger narratives.
5. Stay Firm in Convictions: Persistence in the face of opposition can lead to significant breakthroughs.

June 12, 1987. President Ronald Reagan delivers his famous "Tear down this wall!" speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, challenging Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to dismantle the Berlin Wall. This episode originally aired in 2023.

People

Ronald Reagan, Peter Robinson, Mikhail Gorbachev

Content Warnings:

None

Speaker A
There are more ways than ever to listen to history daily ad free. Listen with wondery in the Wondry app as a member of R@r.com. or in Apple podcasts. Or you can get all of history daily, plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohistory.com. Dot it's November 9, 1989, in soviet controlled East Berlin.

Lindsey Graham
Karsten Bommel and his father sit together on their couch. They watch their television closely as an east German official speaks to a crowded press room about the possible reunification of Germany. Since the end of World War Two, Germany has been divided between the western Allies and the Soviet Union. Even Berlin itself has been torn in two by the so called Iron Curtain. 15ft high and lined with barbed wire and machine gun towers, the Berlin Wall cuts a 28 miles path across the city.

It's an unrelenting symbol of oppression. Life on the communist eastern side of Berlin, behind the Iron curtain, is difficult, and people want out. A massive protest in East Berlin has sparked this emergency meeting that the bombels watch now on tv. Karsten's father expects them to announce another crackdown on the demonstrators. And bored with the coverage, he he goes to the kitchen.

But Karsten is still transfixed by the television when the on screen official makes a shocking announcement, people can now freely and permanently pass through the Berlin wall. When asked by a reporter when that change in policy would take effect, the man replies immediately. Without delay, Carsten runs into the kitchen and relays the news to his father, who throws a skeptical glance and tells Carsten that he must have misunderstood. To the elder Bommel, the reunification of Germany is just a hopeless dream. But Karsten is drawn to the freedom of the other side, and so he cant wait to see if the news is true.

Karsten sneaks out the door and grabs his bike, heading out on streets filled with cars and pedestrians, more traffic than Karsten has ever seen, all rushing toward the Berlin wall. Everywhere Karsten looks, people are crying and hugging. And as he rides through the crowd toward the walls Brandenburg gate, Karsten keeps his eyes fixed on the looming guard towers. But the soldiers do nothing to stop Carsten and his fellow citizens from passing through to West Berlin and to freedom. The fall of the Berlin wall will mark an end to almost three decades of division.

Soon, citizens on both sides will begin to chip away at the barrier with hammer and chisels, tearing apart their physical divide. And over the next year, with the wall dismantled, Germany will be reunified. Among the many gratified by its fall will be US President Ronald Reagan, who just two years prior stood at the Brandenburg gate and called for the wall to be torn down in one of the most impassioned speeches of his presidency on June 12, 1987.

Speaker A
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Lindsey Graham
From noiser and airship. I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is history daily.

History is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is June 12, 1987. Reagan's tear down this wall speech.

It's April, 1987, at an airport in west Berlin, two and a half years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, 30 year old Peter Robinson nervously grabs his suitcase from the baggage conveyor belt. He walks past the watchful eyes of US Secret Service agents and climbs into a black sedan along with other press officials and political experts. As the Secret Service closes the door behind him, Peter can't help but feel he's in way over his head. Five years ago, Peter was hired as the chief speechwriter for US Vice president George HW Bush. Getting this prestigious position as a 25 year old fresh out of Oxford University felt like a stroke of dumb luck to Peter.

But an even bigger flu came a year later when he was promoted to assistant speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan. Now on assignment in West Berlin, Peter has just two days to research and write a speech for the president to deliver at the 750th celebration, the founding of Berlin. But he has no idea where to begin. As he rides with the rest of the president's team to the american embassy, Peter stares out the window. Lost in his thoughts.

He wonders how he can celebrate a city like Berlin. A city which has now been torn in two. Following the defeat of Hitler in 1945, the allied powers of France, Britain, the US and the Soviet Union split control of Germany and its capital, Berlin. But when it came time to relinquish governance of the country back to the german people, the Soviets refused, seeking retribution and fearing their former enemy might one day rebuild and pose a new threat. The Soviet Union continued its occupation of eastern Germany and since that time they have ruled with an iron fist.

Situated deep inside the soviet controlled territory, the western part of Berlin that Peter Robinson now drives through has survived as an island of democracy but walled off and surrounded by communism. From what Peter sees the city around him is thriving, barely betraying the tragedy of its isolation. But the scars of Germanys division still runs deep as Peter soon discovers. Once he arrives at the embassy its immediately clear that hes not entirely welcome. The german diplomat who greets him is cold and when Peter asks about Berlins upcoming celebration, attempting to gather ideas for his speech, the man begins to list all the things that Reagan's speech should avoid.

Do not insult the Soviets. Stay clear of antagonizing remarks about the wall. He tells Peter that the people of West Berlin have long accepted the situation and would not like an american president stirring the pot. Undeterred, Peter leaves the embassy and boards a us army helicopter where he is given a flying tour of the city. Below him, Peter sees vibrancy, color and life.

But the higher they fly, the clearer the picture becomes outside of that patch of color is nothing but grey. East Berlin looks like a time capsule. Many of the buildings still bear the scars of war, and Peter sees very little signs of life. The sight is shocking, and Peter finds it difficult to contain his emotions. It is clear to him that the Soviets did not build the wall to keep westerners out, but to keep those in East Berlin in.

Determined to find out the real mood of the masses, Peter reaches out to local Berliners Dieter and Ingeborg Elz. The couple are friends of a friend and more than willing to help Peter better understand the city. In the evening, the Eltzes host a dinner party, allowing the writer to mingle with locals from all different walks of life. Against the warnings of the diplomat from the embassy, Peter presses the guests about the Berlin wall. He asks them if they have indeed grown used to it.

Almost immediately, the temperature in the room chills. Their eyes look to the floor, and Peter wonders if hes made a huge mistake. Then one man speaks up. He tells Peter that though his sister lives only 20 miles away in East Berlin, hes not seen her in over 20 years, and thats something he can never get used to. Several others nod their heads in agreement.

Peter then asks about the possibility of change. He knows that the new soviet premier, Mikhail Gorbachev, has framed himself as a reformer. Gorbachev has already begun to thaw us soviet relations and ease nuclear tensions, as well as give speeches on potential economic and governmental reforms. But at the mention of Gorbachev, Peters host cuts in Ingeborg Eltz can no longer contain her anger. She shouts that if Gorbachev is serious about reform, he can prove it.

He can get rid of this wall. With Ingeborgs exclamation, Peter will find the message he was looking for. Finally, he will know what Reagan must say to the people of Berlin. But he will soon hit a wall of his own when Washington bureaucrats almost block one of Reagan's most important speeches.

Speaker C
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Lindsey Graham
It's April 1987 at the old executive office building just across the street from the White House in Washington DC, two months before President Ronald Reagans visit to Berlin. Speechwriter Peter Robinson marches straight into the office of his boss. Peters just returned from Berlin and is anxious to share his idea for the presidents upcoming speech with chief speechwriter Tony Dolan. Peter tells Tony all about his trip, but especially about the dinner conversation at the Eltz household. He conveys to Tony the words and passion of Ingeborg Eltz.

Peters convinced her outburst contains the exact message the president must send that the Berlin Wall must fall. Its a bold statement for a city celebration, but Tony agrees its the right one. The two speechwriters immediately march across the street to the West Wing to pitch the speech to communications director Tom Grissom. Again, Peter passionately tells his story, but Toms reaction is different. He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, quietly absorbing the pitch.

Peter expects the worst. But then Tom breaks the silence, telling the speechwriters that if the german people are as unhappy as they say, this crazy idea of theirs might be worth a shot. With a green light from Tom and Tony, Peter gets to writing. Though he knows exactly what he wants to say, he does not know how he should say it. He gets stuck on simple word choices like should he say tear down the wall or bring down the wall?

Or perhaps take down the wall? Peter even tries to write the wall line in German to better connect with the german people. Anxiously, Peter shows his boss Tony, an early draft and the senior speechwriter insists that the presidents big line should always be delivered in English. Peter goes back to his desk, crosses out the german and settles on the words Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall. But as Peter continues with further drafts, he grows dismayed.

None fully satisfy his superiors and hes running out of time. After weeks of slogging away and getting his work sent right back to him. Peter finally produces a draft that he and Tony both think is right. Peter breathes a sigh of relief, but his nerves return as he awaits another important stamp of approval. On May 18, the writing team journeys to the Oval Office for a meeting with the president.

They watch Reagans every expression as he reads the speech to himself. Peters heart pounds. If the president doesnt like it, hes back to square one. But soon a smile breaks across Reagans face and he gives the writers his approval, stating his particular appreciation for the line about tearing down the wall. He tells Peter that he agrees completely.

The wall must come down, and hes happy to be the one to say so. This is just the response Peter was hoping for. But while the president and his writing. Team are happy, the rest of the executive branch is not. The State Department is the first to call and voice their dismay about its provocative tone.

Then the National Security Council sends a memo laying out all the reasons why the speech is a bad idea. Even the ranking american diplomat in West Berlin sends a message saying that the speech is dangerous, that it gives false hope to the german people and recklessly risks tipping Germanys delicate balance. In all, seven different departments send back alternate versions of the speech. Each of them has removed the line about tearing down the wall. But Peter does not back down from his original vision.

The entire week before the president leaves for his european trip, Peters schedule is filled with meetings with various officials pushing the writer to change the speech. But Peter goes toe to toe with a national security advisor and again with the secretary of state. He keeps fighting for his speech, refusing to bodge. But the opposition to the speech will not end. In Washington, attempts to stop the president from calling for an end to the wall will continue even once air Force one has touched down in Europe, with cabinet members imploring Reagan to reconsider its rallying cry.

But like Peter, the president will remain firm in his conviction, too.

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Lindsey Graham
It's June 12, 1987, in West Berlin. President Ronald Reagan rides in his limousine to the Berlin Walls Brandenburg gate, where he is expected to give his speech to over 10,000 West Berliners. On the way, the president's chief of staff takes one last moment to express the cabinet's misgivings about the intensity of the words he's set to deliver. But Reagan's mind is made up. He knows how important today's message is.

His speech will be broadcast not just to the people of West Berlin, but to the people of East Germany, too. He wants to give a clear voice to those silenced on the other side and make their frustrations acknowledged and heard. When Reagan arrives at the Brandenburg gate, he steps out and begins his speech exactly as Peter wrote it. We come to Berlin, we american presidents, because it's our duty to speak in this place of freedom. But I must confess we're drawn here by other things as well, by the feeling of history in this city more than 500 years older than our own nation, by the beauty of the Grunewald and the Tiergarten, most of all, by your courage and determination.

As Reagan calls for freedom in Germany, he looks upon the sea of people before him. But he also feels all those hidden beyond the wall behind him. He takes in the gravity of the moment before delivering the speech's passionate cry for action. General Secretary Gorbachev if you seek peace if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and eastern Europe. If you seek liberalization, come here to this gate.

Speaker F
Mister Gorbachev. Open this gate.

Mister Gorbachev.

Mister Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

Lindsey Graham
Reagan's call for freedom will reverberate throughout Germany. He had done what many considered unthinkable. He had challenged the Soviet Union on their doorstep, inspiring others to fight for for their own freedom. And by the winter of 1989, it will not be Mikhail Gorbachev, but the very people Reagan addressed that day who will finally begin to tear down the Berlin Wall and reunite the german people, fulfilling the vision Reagan put forth on June 12, 1987.

Next on History Daily June 13, 1966 the United States Supreme Court rules that police must inform suspects in custody of their Fifth Amendment rights before questioning them, thus establishing what's known as Miranda rights.

From noiser and airship, this is history daily. Hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham. Audio editing by Mohammad Shazib Sound Design by Katrina Zemrak music by Lindsey Graham this episode is written and researched by Eric Archila. Produced by Alexandra Curry Buckner. Executive producers are Stephen Walters for airship and Pascal Hughes for R.

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Lindsey Graham
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