Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! | The Heritage Foundation

President Ronald Reagan at Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, Germany, June 12, 1987.

[stevenlarrabee]

Reagan wrote into his speech, "Tear down this wall!". His speech writers crossed it out as being "Too confrontational". Reagan penciled it back in. His speech writers crossed it out. Reagan penciled it in as he was approaching the podium.

[westsideken]

35 years later, still gives me chills.

[tianciai]

after 30 years of the fall of the Berlin wall, we still gather there to remind how long we've spent before we achieved freedom.

[shannonly]

RIP Mr. Gorbachev. You did what you could and you will be remembered with respect.

[noirjacques]

My two all-time favourite political quotes, in the same speech:
“Mr Gorbachev, OPEN this gate”.
“Mr Gorbachev, tear down THIS wall”.

[cathynewyork]

I visited Ronald Reagan's gravesite at the Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. There is a section of the actual Berlin Wall just a few feet away from his gravesite. Very emotional.

[fineartbymattphilleo]

I remember when the wall came down. What a moment of history!

[grimpoteuthisopisthoteuthi]

Two decades ago: Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Now: Mr Xi, tear down this firewall!

[dppatters]

On this day, 02/28/25, on a day where I could not be feeling less patriotic... I needed to see this. Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative... This was a damn fine moment in presidential politics.

[terryshrives]

I remember being a kid watching this on tv, it was a great time in history!

[rjwhite]

Brings tears. He was such a good public speaker

[JasonSmith-gbci]

I remember it vividly. Boy do I love Reagan

[fritzt]

A memorable moment - I was 12 years old, and our family had relatives in east germany. I remember vividly about 1985 when my dad an I picked up an "aunt" from Rostock at Frankfurt main train station. It was something special - she had to file a lot of documents just to visit her relatives for a week or so. Prior to that, my Grandma and I regulary send packages with coffee, choclate, fruits etc. on special occasions like Christmas or Easter. It was really a weird time back then.

[SkyGlitchGalaxy]

Regan was 76 when he gave this speech.
Respect to hin and respect to the United States of America

[cliffordcasnermillar]

Watching this while sitting on a bench in front of the Brandenburg Gate. My how we could use that kind of leadership now.

[mi-roka-sai]

Reagan: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

Trump: "He (Kim) wrote me beautiful letters. And they're great letters. We fell in love."

[energygirl]

A beautiful friendship was built. Very moving.

[rescuepetsrule]

As a female Marine, I was proud to stand in formation for almost 3 hours while this man spoke. Now- 15Jun22- I would probably go AWOL instead. Great post- thank you. (P.S.- Kenneth Busler, below is right- I still think such a monumental slice of History makes for Goosebumps- :) )

[alanmolox]

That's my president! When I was finally able to vote, he was the first president I ever voted for. These were the best of times in my life. Ronald, and all the Regans who follow Ronald's creed of freedom, I support you.

[tubecraft]

And then Mikhail Gorbachev suddenly appears behind the gate, and the huge entrance falls in a second, followed by the crowd taking over the square