That is true. The media claims MAGA is about going back to pre-civil rights era America. It was always about getting back to an 80’s style of American exceptionalism. A time when we believed why we “could” do something rather than all the reasons we can’t, or shouldn’t even try. We are now in an era of blaming others and becoming a victim of obstacles rather than overcoming them.
That what it always has and still does mean. Unfortunately like everything else it got twisted by msm and politicians and "educators". The irony being that's exactly what is keeping us from being great again.
@@thebluecollarbibleguy5114 MAGA as I see it is not about getting back to the 1950's as far as racial discrimination or lack of opportunities for women but it was about bringing the United States back to the 1950's America that was the world leader in manufacturing where someone who wasn't college material could graduate high school and get a job in a factory, learn a skill and earn enough money to support a family on a single income. It was about was about a 1950's as far as optimism, opportunities, family values and prosperity with a 1980's and 90's America being the sole superpower in the world and a Martin Luther King vision of an America with equal rights and opportunities for everyone. MAGA is about a free, prosperous, secure and truly colorblind America leading the free world but always putting America first.
Van, President Reagan was a democrat early in his career and switched to Republican. He famously stated “I didn’t leave the democrat party, the democrat party left me!” You have GOT to react to his speech from the 1960’s, “If fascism comes to America it will be in the name of liberalism.”
He wasn't just a democrat, he was the boss of the most corrupt leftwing Union that existed and still exists on the planet. The Screen Actors Guild. He saw the beast from within and was disgusted and left. Much like Trump...though Trump has more in common with Nixon and Clinton politically than Reagan but yeah.
“If fascism comes to America it will be in the name of liberalism.” and he was 100% correct. Look at Antifa if you disagree with them then they attack you to try to beat you into silence.
With Trump being a democrat early in his life as well, it would seem our greatest presidents have been Democrat's turned Republican. Our best advocates have been Democrat's turned Republican. Look at Candace Owens and Brandon straka as examples.
Reagan's speechwriters kept taking out the phrase "Tear Down This Wall", which Reagan wanted in the speech. The Speechwriters thought it would be too controversial. During the speech, Reagan went ahead and said, "Mr. Gorbichav, Tear Down This Wall". He went with his gut. A Great Leader.
It was the State Department. His main speechwriter wanted it in the speech. As Reagan was pulling up to the event, he essentially told his writer “Let’s leave it in.”
The writer's, The State Department, and all manner of other government employees didn't trust the people. Reagan did trust us, and the people all over the world if only the totalitarians would get out off our backs!
@@todddober - The State Department is focused almost exclusively on what it can do to make the governments of other countries happy. It is incumbent upon every American president and every American to challenge the State Department and push back against its biases against serving the American people with strength and courage.
Reagan was an entertainer, almost like Trump, but the swagger of Reagan, and his comedic presence at the right time, as well as his way of keeping the american people calm during tough times. He was overwhelming majority between both Republicans and Democrats. One of the best unifiers in history.
@@misstlc7136 But Trump was not a great unifier, he was a divisive figure. He also wasnt smart the way he handles trade deficits, which is practically lets make trade wars with every single trading partners we have. Lets brand them as trade cheaters (eventhough some of them arent trade cheaters). Reagan was smart with the way he handles trade deficits with Japan. He urge the whole of the western hemisphere to work together to put pressure on Japan to open up its economy and stop currency manipulations. There was zero trade wars occuring. Few American farmers were affected. Trump should have brought together Europe + Japan to put pressure on China. But instead he went on prolong trade wars for years. Punishing American farmers for no reasons. Trump is nothing compared to Ronald Reagan.
"Last night, I tell you, to watch that thing on television as I did," Reagan, then the governor of California, can be heard saying to Nixon during a phone call following China's recognition by the U.N, “To see those - those monkeys from those African countries - damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes.”
I was choked up listening to this speech again. Ronald Reagan was my Commander-in-Chief for 8 years when I was in the Navy. I consider him the greatest president in my lifetime.
I was eight when he was elected, and he is still the president I measure presidents against. Every one since him has come up short. Thank you and bless you for your service.
Much thanks and appreciation for your service, and yes. To date, I have to say the same. I was born the year Reagan was elected, and he still holds the title of being the most charismatic, most authentic and most effective president in my lifetime.
I was raised in a Democrat household. I voted Democrat until 1980, when I voted for Ronald Reagan. My mother was horrified. We talked politics over the next several years, and in 1984, my mother, a lifelong Roosevelt/Kennedy Democrat, voted Republican for the first time in her life and helped re-elect Reagan. Regardless of what his detractors said then, and say now, he was a man of conviction and thought. Yes, he had speechwriters, but the core of those speeches came straight from Reagan’s principles. He delivered his speeches so well not because he’d been an actor, but rather because he knew and believed in every word he spoke.
My very first vote was for Reagan. He's always been my favorite president. Then, along came Trump, who whipped this country into shape. Best president ever. ❤️
He was my 1st vote as well. I've been a political junkie my entire life. I sadly admit I got Trump wrong. I was 100% sure he was going to get elected and go crazy. But he did most everything he said he would do and did everything possible to do the stuff Congress wouldn't let him do. I just hope I get another chance to vote for him.
There was a story that when he arrived in Berlin, he was in a hotel with a room facing the Wall. He was on the balcony with some German officials and they asked him to come inside because his words could be intercepted with listening devices by government forces in East Germany. It is reported that he replied something like: "Any SOB responsible for that atrocity deserves to hear what I think of them."
I remember being glued to the television as kid with my dad waiting to hear that he'll be ok after that moron shot him with a .22,, between that and the challenger explosion if you weren't choked up your not a human !
I was stationed in West Berlin with the Berlin Brigade and was there to see his speech in person. One of the most amazing days ever... You had to be there to really understand the waves this speech made. Reagan was a REAL one. Took no BS from anyone.
People today don't understand the Berlin Wall or the iron curtain. I lived in Germany as a child from 1962 to 1965. My father was an ordinance expert and inspector in the United States Army. He also traveled across Europe to inspect weapons of all kinds for NATO not just for the US Army. Consequently he knew a lot that the Communists would have loved to know. What was in each depot what kind of nukes were in each one the whole enchilada. Because of that we couldn't go within I think it was 50 MI of the iron curtain and we could not go to Berlin. Dad had to have a military escort if he went within those limits. They were afraid the KGB or g r u, or some other Eastern block intelligence apparatus would try to kidnap him. People today don't understand that kind of BS. They never had to live it.
Can a senile ,crooked,doofus like Biden ever give an inspirational speech? Why are we pretending our current president is competent?Reagan is a treasure.
My father loved him and his, politics & policies, he name me Ronald after him… I’m a staunch Conservative Republicans but I do watch for the fake ones, like The RINO’s!!!
He turned around the malaise that had taken hold of the United States in the 1970's. Every human on Earth owes him a debt of gratitude. Without his leadership at such a critical time things could have turned out far differently. Without him we may be living in bombed out irradiated ruin.
I echo your thoughts. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch and listen live to three of his speeches when I lived in Miami, I've also been to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on four different occasions, and attended the viewing of his casket at the rotunda on Capitol Hill. He reminded us of that shining city on the hill.
"Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!" Chills to this day! His speech writers didn't want him to say it. They were cut from the same cloth of the "diplomatic community", people with no balls to call out evil. But Reagan stuck to his guns. And only a few years later, he wall did come down after Ronald Reagan did the vast majority of the work to weaken the Soviet Union, both economically, and morally.
A CIA agent later told the story of how they taught the jihadis to make car bombs, and how they adapted that idea to make a 'camel bomb' Needless to say that this was just the beginning of their creative use of terrorism
I was 15 years old on the day President Reagan gave this speech. He was a strong man and president. I see Trump in the same light as Reagan. Trump may speak a little more harsh than Reagan did, but Trump's patriotic spirit, and love for his fellow Americans are just as strong. I hold them both in high regard and I'll be proud to vote for Trump again.
Please don't insult Reagan by putting Trump on his level. Reagan was a principled leader with strong core beliefs and a healthy knowledge of economics and foreign policy. He also served two terms as governor of California. Trump is a witless buffoon and grifter who failed at everything he ever did. His businesses were shell games built on debt. He was utterly unfit for office. Reagan would never have supported a goon like Trump.
Trump's nowhere near the Orator Reagan was. While Trump did some very great things for this country, He also has some serious issues. He's really no different to Democrats in many respects. His bumpstock ban was flagrantly unconstitutional and countermanded an executive order that commanded the ATF to stop making laws without legislation. He also threatened Tom Massie for trying to make Congress do its job by the constitutional law when it got in the way of bills he wanted to just shove through.
President Regan was iconic! I'm a widow and my deceased husband was there walking that wall as an Army soldier. He was also there when the wall came down.
That was one of those nights that every single channel was covering this event. I still have a piece of the Berlin Wall today. I've kept it since 1990, when practically every store had tables of them.
I was just becoming a teenager when the Wall came down. I remember watching it on tv. While I didnt really understand what I was seeing, because I hadnt yet learned about WWII or the Cold War or anything, I STILL could tell something historic was going on. Seeing all of those people absolutely jubilant smashing at that wall with sledge hammers, cheering. People streaming thru to each side, hugging. Im glad I got to live thru such a time.
Reagan was the last president we had that won by an overwhelming amount. In 1980, he won all but seven states, and in his reelection in 1984, he won all but one.
When elections were sound. Now the powers that be place puppets in there like Biden. Everytime I see Joe on the screen it always feels artificial, like a used car salesman scamming the masses. Corrupt and evil. Listen to these words, praises for America's greatness. Nothing like it now. Only Trump, right wingers, Trans and racists. Outright Wickedness
I have a friend who escaped East Germany - Reagan is her hero. When she got her citizenship, I mailed her a copy of his famous speeches, including this one. She was so conditioned to paranoia of the government, she thought she was being watched, forgetting I had asked for her mailing address. Poor thing was freaked OUT.
Anyone who would like to see what the reality of life in communist East Germany really looked like, I can't recommend the excellent, excellent film "The Lives Of Others" strongly enough.
Great reaction!! A speech made by Regan in 1964 on what Democrats would due to America is a must watch. He warned us of Democratic Socialism and what would happen if some Democrats stayed on that goal. We are now living it today.
I was present at this speech. I was serving in the 6th Battalion 502nd Inf US Army Berlin Brigade at the time. It was an honor to see the President in person and be a part of history being present at such a monumental and motivating speech. "Ich bin ein Berliner"
As a student of history for almost 3 decades, this speech gives me chills every. single. time. Knowing even a fraction of what led to this moment makes it all the more impactful. 1st term Regan was amazing.
Still get chills. That was such a huge moment in world history. People thought that speech would lead to Nuclear war. Such a great moment when our country did not bend over backwards to appease our enemies. Peace through strength.
I remember when this speech was given, I believe I was a senior in high school, and just about to enter the Navy. Many say, that this was one of the greatest speeches ever given by a president. This speech, changed the world as we knew it. It was one of those times, that I realized, that words can make a difference.
Van, I highly recommend President Reagan’s “Evil Empire” speech. He was addressing Americans on television, and I will always cherish that speech for life. I was born in the 50’s and the shadow of nuclear war during the Cold War was a fear that most people of my generation shared. Having air-raid drills in my 3rd grade class during the Cuban Missile Crisis, not really understanding what was going on but sensing that all the adults were scared sh_ _ less made life very frightening. I was a young mother when the President came into my living room via TV and told us calmly and with clear assurances that we, Americans, would bring the the Evil Empire down. I finally felt safe and President Reagan accomplished exactly what no one else had the balls to do. It seems incredible to me that anyone would ever want to go the Marxist route again.
You should check out his speech at the 1964 Republican national convention. It's called "A Time for Choosing." And it's arguably one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century. And it's poignant and still relevant today.
My favorite part of the speech was at the end when he politely let the protesters know that if they had the kind of government that opposes liberty loving governments, they would not have had the right to protest. Gotta love it.
Me too..it’s sad to me because them words ring true today..if the left get what they think they want they’ll be shut up/down, unless they’re helping the false narrative/propaganda and then and only then are they allowed to do what they’re doing and saying.
He could have been crass and said, "Try that on the other side of this wall and see what happens." But he didn't have to. He was standing, what, a thousand yards from tyranny?
“Knute Rockne, All American” 1940. Reagan was popularly nicknamed ‘the Gipper’ because of the role he played in this film. He was known as a ‘B’ actor. All that meant was that he didn’t usually star in blockbuster movies, but he was a successful character actor as well as an occasional leading man. Most of his appearances were in westerns, but he also did a few comedies, and a couple of dramas. He wasn’t a great actor, but he was a great leader. Again, not perfect, but he was certainly driven by the principles that made the USA a world superpower in less than 200 years. Those being individual liberty and a voice for all: The right to defend oneself against tyranny: The ability of the people to affect their own governance: Economic freedom as a catalyst for innovation…and more. He was a lifelong democrat who had an awakening to the duplicity of the democrat leadership in his adulthood, then became an advocate for freedom and constitutional principles. After that, he was so concerned about the decay of the American dream that he ran for Governor of California shortly thereafter, and ended as a two term Republican President who achieved great things.
For the record, he didn’t just run for governor of California. He actually won and served two terms. California was a much better place to live in then than it is now. 🤔
I visited West Germany in the summer of 1988…what fascinated me was that the city of Berlin, which was divided into east and west sectors by the infamous Berlin Wall, actually sat ENTIRELY within the borders of what was then East Germany. I had always assumed growing up that it was a border city. I saw the wall across Brandenberg Gate with my own eyes. The crosses on the fence by the river with the names of people who had been murdered trying to escape into West Berlin. Only about a year later, to see people standing atop the wall, slamming it with sledgehammers, celebrating the end of the separation…that still gives me chills.
I was stationed in Berlin in 1976. First as a tank platoon leader than as a recon platoon leader. Surrounded by 750,000 Soviet troops, 200 miles East of the Iron Curtain.
Wow! We went from having a president who can actually put a sentence together, like President Reagan. To what we have in office now! And will have to endure for the next 3 years! If we make it that long!!!! Thank you Van for coming around!
Probably the most impressive speech that I've ever heard. Btw, when Ronald Reagan won reelection in 1984, it was by a margin of 49 states to 1, the only state he lost was Walter Mondale's home state of Minnesota, 50.1% of the vote for Mondale, and 49.9% for Reagan. He came that close to a 50 state sweep.
It's no wonder the left cries and moans about the electoral college. If some have their way - no conservative/"offensive" voices will have a platform to speak on the issues important to the average American, our government will assume the role of silencing any dissenting voice overlooked by media/tech moguls & "correcting" any "disinformation" spread by Russian sponsored alt-right nationalists (your average freedom loving, God fearing, proud American) and the DNC will decide who should lead the country since we obviously can't be trusted to make an informed choice on our own. Sounds crazy? Give it a few months .... midterms are right around the corner and would you believe 7 or 8 years ago we'd be living to see the protests, riots, manufactured/meticulously edited news, crime, scandals, moral decay, pandemic fever, global bullying, and-on-and-on events we've seen the last several years? Our world needs a good, proverbial "butt warming" and a come-to-Jesus season before we let things get so bad there's no turning it around. A people that cannot exercise restraint on their own selfish desires and whims will never be governed by any form of gov't. I hope the American voters have been awakened enough by recent events to vote their conscience in future elections and stop drinking the koolaide being served by anyone looking to blurr the lines and redefine America's needs and priorities. Both sides need someone to step up and say enough is enough.
This might have been his most important speech but the one he gave at the RNC for Goldwater in '64 was one of the most magnificent speeches I've ever listened to.
A great President. We could sure use him today. My HS band played for a speech he made in Charlotte NC back in 85'. I remember feeling like he was addressing me directly. He had that effect on a crowd, a great speaker with a good sense of humor.
I remember Ronald and Nancy as a young boy. This may be my youthful remembrance but I recall the world feeling so happy, excitement of possibilities, and partying like no tomorrow. I wish Reagan was still with us, we would ALL be better off. That man was a class act up til the end.
This is one key moment in time. I didn’t really like Reagan but this speech made me an instant fan. This speech is what made me re-think my personal political views. It took a few years but it happened. Now looking back, I wish I had paid a lot more attention to politics. This past year I have been deep in the rabbit hole, deeper than ever before. I love being a sponge! Keep up the good work Van, we all appreciate you!
Hey man, newest fan here. I voted for RR just after I turned 18 a few months before I enlisted. I was in Germany from 85 to 88, just prior to this beautiful speech. All of us were Strategically supposed to last 3 weeks until reinforcements could arrive from the states. This was the end of a very scary, very real era.
You must be too young to remember. The left HATED REAGAN! They reported that he was stupid, senile, and dishonest. Funny how now that we have a President who really IS stupid, senile, and dishonest, the MSM is nowhere to be found.
He was not respected by all. Just like the Trump haters of nowadays, the Left despised Reagan. Because he advocated for safety through strength, they never stopped smearing him about being a racist, and a war monger. Sounds familiar? The Democrat party has not changed much. Everyone who disagreed with them was immediately smeared as a racist.
@@oldstrawhat4193 That is true, though probably every president will be hated by a large group at the time. However, history tends to show a better light on historical figures and I believe he is well respected whether or not you agreed with all his policies. His legacy is certainly less complicated than say Bill Clinton or George Bush.
I remember in the 3rd grade, we had to do a report on Presidents and read it in front of the class. This was in the year 2000. I was assigned to do a report on Ronald Reagan. I didn't know it at the time, but lucky me! Lol Possibly my favorite President.
I was a teenager when Reagan made this speech and I watched the ripples it caused that turned into the eventual collapse of the iron curtain. It was an amazing series of events to watch.
*For context if it helps anyone - here's the short version:* After Germany lost World War 2, The allies decided to share responsibility to help Germany rebuild, and so the US, France, the UK, and the USSR all took a fourth of Germany as well as splitting the capital Berlin into fourths to help with reconstruction. There was a strong disagreement about the best way to help Germany rebuild, with the US, France, and the UK agreeing with a democracy/capitalism agenda (the "Marshall Plan" Reagan mentions), while the USSR favored a communist agenda, and cut off East Germany and East Berlin from the rest. The Berlin Wall was put up in 1961 and thanks heavily to this speech and Reagan's diplomacy in general - the wall came down in 1989, West and East Germany reunited in 1990, and the USSR disbanded in 1991.
Ugh dude stop, I’ve been thinking about the Holocaust the entire past 3 days and camer here to get away! Really thinking about it hardly and with consideration gets you to a spiral of philosophy in truth dating back to the Old Testament. I’m weird like that. I just couldn’t sleep.
First President I ever voted for and no one has come close ever since. I agree with the another commenter to listen to his speech on if fascism comes to America…. It will blow your mind. Thank you Van! Your openness and Chill are inspiring. ✌️💜
Once I turned 18 the very first election I voted in was Reagan's reelection. I'm proud to say I've voted in every election since that day including every primary. In fact, I'm going to vote today after I finish this video. Those strategic defensive weapons you heard him mention... every time Israel shoots down incoming missiles you're watching the technology he was talking about.
He mentions it is his second visit to West Berlin. I was there for his first, early in his first term in 1982 IIRC (I was in 9th grade). I got right in the front row at his plane arrival and got to shake his hand. My father was USAF, so I attended the American HS there in West Berlin behind the Iron Curtain for all my HS years from .81-85. Reagan was a very good orator. By the time of this speech I was back in the U.S. attending college.
I´m 44 years old and from europe. I remember this whole period of history so clearly! The Reagan, Thatcher, Gorbatchov era. The Berlin wall, and when it went down, the soviet union and the iron curtain. The smell of freedom, and change in the air and this absolute certain, that i maintain to this day, that no matter how imperfect (and it is imperfect) the western civilization is as close to perfect as any civilization came.I feel privileged for being through some of it and remember. It means I KNOW and no revisionist historian or biased media can deceive me on a lot of issues. I look back and is just staggering to see how the land of the free and of some of the world greastest leaders came to be this place of censorship, ingorance, lack of tolerance for diveristy of though. There´s this saying that strong men create prosperity, prosperity creates weak men, weak men create hardship, which in turn creates strong men, and then prosperity, etc. The US, and the west in general, have enjoyed a time of prosperity created by strong men and is now creating a generation of weak men (that i have no doubt in about 50 years will bring a lot of hardship). Eastern europe is in the opposite end of the cycle. They´re coming out of a long period of hardship that have created very strong men. That´s why the ukrainians, men women, and even children fight, the way they fight.
So did you know that there are nazies in Ukraine right now...the Azov batallion is incorporated in their covernment...do your research. Look up Stephan Bandera, you know nothing about Ukraine the media is lying to you.
@@jolandafrijlink6103 Yes i know from Azov batallion, and not just from now, that it has become a popular name. They had far right connections (which i can even understand from coming from a country that was ruled with an iron fist by the far left for so long). I also know Putin´s hate for them has nothing to do with neo-nazi (hell, Putin is a nazi himself, mimicking almost step by step Hitler´s path). I would say you´re the one that´s being lyed to, but you want to believe the Kremlin narrative, tovarich, and there is nothing i can do. As form me, who have ukranian friends for over 20 years, who have travelled extensively to Poland and Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, as well as St. Petersburg, and Moscow, hell even my GP is a russian dra (a good doctor and a good person, btw) i can say with confident nobody is lying to me. I know very well what i´m talking about and where i stand. I also know very where you stand.
My girlfriend's parents immigrated from Germany to Canada less than 3 months before the wall went up. Her Mom passed away 2 years ago at the age of 93. She was so happy to see that come down, even though she had never went back. Reagan was pretty amazing.....probably the actor in him, but I can't hold that against a politician 😂
I think most people applaud when a speaker mentions something that rings true and impactful. I liken it to saying Amen in a church. When a minister says something that you strongly agree with, it happens naturally. It is a way for the audience members to say "I concur".
One other historical and iconic speeches for your consideration: Red Skeleton, The Pledge of Allegiance It gives a new perspective to it. Also another VERY good video to watch: The Great Boatlift 9/11
I have a friend who escaped East Berlin with her family. They have horror stories about life there and what a shock it was to see West Berlin for the first time. It makes her so upset to see kids in this country saying that socialism is a good idea.
Peace through strength. It was a mantra then and then again under President Trump. I remember this speech. Those were scary times and this was one of the most hopeful speeches during this time. Reagan had his faults, as most human beings do, but he was one of the greatest US Presidents. This really was the America Trump wanted again. You should find the concert that shows the wall coming down. The world celebrated that night!
I'm so glad I found your channel‼️ I've subscribed & am addicted to the responses. Your topics are AWESOME. Thank YOU for educating so many people, including myself 💯🎯‼️
I'm Wrecked!! I haven't seen that speech in decades and still I cry. I had Uncles in WW2 both Pacific and Europe. Until that wall fell the victory felt incomplete. Berlin was surrounded by East Germany. Check it on a map and see how isolated it was. In Kennedy's time the Soviets tried to physically pressure West Berlin into submitting to them. His speech, Ich Bin Ein Berliner (I am a Berliner) was a show of American strength and solidarity with the people who really lived in fear that at any time the tanks would roll into town, etc. That's why Reagan used German in his speech, a callback to Kennedy. Reagan was ridiculed by the Left because he started out Democrat and in the face of the McCarthy hearings he realized that Communism was a real threat. He didn't rat anyone out or take a stand, this was a personal philosophical choice he made for himself. His own Republican party despised him for being a populist - he cared what the every day voter thought, not the Military Industrial Complex (today we call them Globalists). But these are distinctions that could go beyond what you want to know. I have been fascinated with politics since I was twelve.
@@theBear89451 but he was doing it to end the USSR. They tried but couldn't keep up with our defense spending. Why is Brandon doing it. Also this was when there wasn't any debt. Brandon did it with over 20 trillion already in the whole.
I was married the same year Ronald Reagan was elected president, 1980. One of my favorite Ronald Reagan movie is "Kings Row". Mikhail Gorbachev was Russian President from 1985 to 1991, this speech was in 1987. In my opinion, President Ronald Reagan was the greatest modern day American President,... and I'm in good company saying that!
I arrived to serve with the US Army’s Berlin Brigade a year after this speech, but was luckily enough to be there when the Wall did come down. President Reagan was the most inspirational leader I’ve know, and his mark on America still shines amongst many of us. We could really use his spirit in these present times of division and aimlessness.
Reagan was the best of the best!! I lived through the Reagan years . The country was in such great shape!! I was in great shape!! The USA 🇺🇸 was literally the best country in the world! We were so proud of this nation! Thank you RR! An American hero!
Wow, this brought back memories. I was 6 yrs old living on Rhein Mein AFB in Germany at the time. The Berlin Wall was being torn down when my family moved back to the U.S. , and my pops drove us to the wall, gave my brother and I hammers and told us to help break it down. Truly one of my favorite memories. Keep up the great work, Van. Just as you're learning from watching these videos, I am as well. Peace.
I was actually there that day. At the time I was like 6. My Dad was in the US Air Force and stationed at 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force. We went up to Berlin for the speech, I still remember it to this day even though I was so young. I can remember watching the wall come down a few years later and being overwhelmed by it. To get from the south side to the north side of Berlin you actually had to momentarily cross from West to East Germany so for a few moments you got to see what communist Germany under the Soviet Union was really like. Reagan was a fantastic orator and I highly highly recommend watching his speech to The House of Commons in Great Britain, it's an amazing speech.
It feels just yesterday. It was 17 months later that the wall did indeed come down. President Reagan was a statesman -- not just another politician. I own and enjoy the book by Peggy Noonan --"When Character Was King : A Story of Ronald Reagan."
I love the amazing speech he gave on national television after the Challenger space shuttle exploded during take-off. They skipped doing the State of the Union address to give the speech. I also like the compilation of him telling jokes.
President Reagan said the Soviet Union didn’t take into account the Berliner heart, the Berliner humor and the Berliner attitude. In essence, the Soviet Union forget the free and determined people are always strong than a tyrannical government. He was a good football player, a good sports announcer, a good actor, a good president of the Screen Actor’s Guild, a good Governor of California, a Great (not perfect) President, with a great (and perfect) love for his country, it’s people and for freedom. My favorite movie is the Knute Rockne story.
Reagan gave the best speeches of any president. The country could do to go listen to some of his older speeches about limited government right about now. RIP Ronald Reagan
I stood at the Berlin wall both before and after it came down which was the year I graduated hs. I've been behind the iron curtain and black marketed dollars to help people escape. I remember people getting killed trying to escape. I grew up in Italy because my mother worked for the government. I remember being a young child when Reagan was elected. It was after Jimmy Carter. I remember that Carter said that we would not light the lights on the national Christmas tree until our hostages were released. That didn't make sense to me then. Reagan said if he elected he'd have the 6th fleet off of Iran and we would get our American citizens back. So, he got elected, moved the 6th fleet off of Iran's coast and our hostages were released. He later developed Alzheimer's. I have a feeling, my friend, that perhaps you have been red pilled. Nice.
At 11:22, Reagan said "Berliner Schnauze" which is a Berlin dialect. The "Berliner Schnauze" includes rough humor and means brutal honesty, which is often spoken without being asked.
President Reagan was my Commander-in-Chief during my entire 6 years of Naval Service!! I'm Proud to claim that and we all Loved him and he, us. His Mantra of "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH "Was our Marching orders of the day! This ideal for foreign policy, WON the COLD WAR! It is now evident to all, due to current events, such as our hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the present WAR in UKRAINE, that weak foreign policy does nothing for Liberty, at home and around the world!! I hope and Pray our Leadership in the World strengthens as we are on the precipice of a new Cold War, due to Russian Tyranny against its neighbors! I do Pray that it doesn't turn HOT!!! My Thanks to you Van, for this reaction!!
You know when to clap when the speaker makes a good point. Reagan was a master at giving speeches. This speech was the beginning of the end of the cold war.
I remember watching the speech, live. I STILL get goose bumps when I hear him say, "Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL"! Such a powerful speech, I still think Reagan was the best president we've had in a very long time.
There's a lot of Reagan to react to. Some great videos on youtube: The Best of Ronald Reagan, Don Rickle's Roasts Ronald Reagan, "A Time For Choosing" by Ronald Reagan. One of the craziest things is he was the oldest president before Trump and Biden..... I learned a crazy fact that puts Biden's age in context. There is less time between the Civil War and Biden's birth than there is between Biden's birth and his inauguration.
just moved to Florida from End Term Station of 101st Airborne division /Screaming Eagles! this speech encouraged me to rejoin the Army in which i did in 1987 FLORIDA Nat Guard.. . in which i retired with a pension at 35 in 1999.....behold Master Sergeant David Morgan.....thx Ronnie!!!!!,,,,🇺🇸🙏☝️🌅
There's definitely some big controversy when it comes to Reagan (many to name.. worst was the ignorance of AIDS without a doubt), but you can't deny his accomplishment of ending the cold war. You should check out the Berlin Wall coming down... there's a clip out there showing how it happened (which was totally by accident) but nonetheless. I he was the reason Trump was elected. Their demeanor is not much different if you watch old clips of Reagan when he switched parties (yes Reagan was a Democrat for a good while).
This old lie? It is a lie, whether you know it or not. One of his closest friends was Roc Hudson. He knew the issue. He personally donated large sums to research. What he didn't do was push the issue, as he felt the private sector should come up with solutions. As far as governmental grants, he felt that aids should be given no greater benefits over any other sickness. Particularly when cancer was a far greater threat to everyone. Aids was a sickness of drug addicts and gay men, and still is. It was the likes of liars(or morons) like Faucci, that created panic with dangerously false statements about aids. Like it could be airborne or you could get it from a scratch off a cereal box.
@@theprowrestlingnova I don't think that putting money into the war on drugs is what made it worse. What made it worse is not actually addressing the sources of the drugs and not dealing properly with organized crime.
I Love it My Brother From Another Mother, you doing your research and learning the facts about the United States History. God Bless you and your Family
I remember this well - I loved it. I was stationed in Germany with the US Army in January of 91 - the German people were still so happy to be re-unified - it was palpable. It was an amazing time.
LFR.... with risk of sounding supercilious.... im proud of you... and ecstatic that you're embarking on this arduous hermeneutical journey of knowledge , history and enlightenment. Enjoy, stay strong, remain vigilant and withstand the arrows! God bless
Here's the best part, several times the State dept asked Regan to take out the "tear down this wall" part of the speech, they said it was to provokitive. Regan wound up putting that line back in his speech weather they liked it or not & now its known as his most famous speech.
In 1976 I went through the Berlin Wall at Check Point Charlie from West Berlin into East Berlin. The West was a rebuilt, vibrant city and the East was still a broken bombed-out city as the Russians were still making East Germans pay for the atrocities they had committed in World War II. Reagan’s “tear down this wall” speech was a great moment in time, and worth a listen.
Reagan is the reason I became a conservative. This is what I consider MAGA to be about. A time of prosperity when we were respected on a global stage.
Exactly. The 80’s were rough but laid the foundation for the go go 90’s.
No MAGA person thinks 50’s unless we’re talking about CARS!!😀😀
That is true. The media claims MAGA is about going back to pre-civil rights era America. It was always about getting back to an 80’s style of American exceptionalism. A time when we believed why we “could” do something rather than all the reasons we can’t, or shouldn’t even try. We are now in an era of blaming others and becoming a victim of obstacles rather than overcoming them.
That what it always has and still does mean. Unfortunately like everything else it got twisted by msm and politicians and "educators". The irony being that's exactly what is keeping us from being great again.
Amen.
@@thebluecollarbibleguy5114 MAGA as I see it is not about getting back to the 1950's as far as racial discrimination or lack of opportunities for women but it was about bringing the United States back to the 1950's America that was the world leader in manufacturing where someone who wasn't college material could graduate high school and get a job in a factory, learn a skill and earn enough money to support a family on a single income. It was about was about a 1950's as far as optimism, opportunities, family values and prosperity with a 1980's and 90's America being the sole superpower in the world and a Martin Luther King vision of an America with equal rights and opportunities for everyone. MAGA is about a free, prosperous, secure and truly colorblind America leading the free world but always putting America first.
Van, President Reagan was a democrat early in his career and switched to Republican. He famously stated “I didn’t leave the democrat party, the democrat party left me!” You have GOT to react to his speech from the 1960’s, “If fascism comes to America it will be in the name of liberalism.”
He wasn't just a democrat, he was the boss of the most corrupt leftwing Union that existed and still exists on the planet. The Screen Actors Guild.
He saw the beast from within and was disgusted and left. Much like Trump...though Trump has more in common with Nixon and Clinton politically than Reagan but yeah.
Fantastic speech…
“If fascism comes to America it will be in the name of liberalism.” and he was 100% correct. Look at Antifa if you disagree with them then they attack you to try to beat you into silence.
Yet in this very speech, he asks Gorbachev is he actually believes in liberalization. (Reagan understands the term) So your point seems a bit moot.
With Trump being a democrat early in his life as well, it would seem our greatest presidents have been Democrat's turned Republican. Our best advocates have been Democrat's turned Republican. Look at Candace Owens and Brandon straka as examples.
Reagan's speechwriters kept taking out the phrase "Tear Down This Wall", which Reagan wanted in the speech. The Speechwriters thought it would be too controversial. During the speech, Reagan went ahead and said, "Mr. Gorbichav, Tear Down This Wall". He went with his gut. A Great Leader.
He was a wonderful man
It was the State Department. His main speechwriter wanted it in the speech. As Reagan was pulling up to the event, he essentially told his writer “Let’s leave it in.”
The writer's, The State Department, and all manner of other government employees didn't trust the people. Reagan did trust us, and the people all over the world if only the totalitarians would get out off our backs!
Can you imagine what they would think about Trump. 😂
@@todddober - The State Department is focused almost exclusively on what it can do to make the governments of other countries happy. It is incumbent upon every American president and every American to challenge the State Department and push back against its biases against serving the American people with strength and courage.
Reagan was an entertainer, almost like Trump, but the swagger of Reagan, and his comedic presence at the right time, as well as his way of keeping the american people calm during tough times. He was overwhelming majority between both Republicans and Democrats. One of the best unifiers in history.
President Trump also has that amazing sense of humor. My favorite Line by this president was when a car backfired near by he quickly said "Missed me"!
@@misstlc7136 But Trump was not a great unifier, he was a divisive figure. He also wasnt smart the way he handles trade deficits, which is practically lets make trade wars with every single trading partners we have. Lets brand them as trade cheaters (eventhough some of them arent trade cheaters). Reagan was smart with the way he handles trade deficits with Japan. He urge the whole of the western hemisphere to work together to put pressure on Japan to open up its economy and stop currency manipulations. There was zero trade wars occuring. Few American farmers were affected. Trump should have brought together Europe + Japan to put pressure on China. But instead he went on prolong trade wars for years. Punishing American farmers for no reasons. Trump is nothing compared to Ronald Reagan.
"Last night, I tell you, to watch that thing on television as I did," Reagan, then the governor of California, can be heard saying to Nixon during a phone call following China's recognition by the U.N, “To see those - those monkeys from those African countries - damn them, they’re still uncomfortable wearing shoes.”
Agreed! 100%
@@misstlc7136 It was a balloon and it was a couple months after he was shot.
th-cam.com/video/5UowNDaxRqU/w-d-xo.html
I was choked up listening to this speech again. Ronald Reagan was my Commander-in-Chief for 8 years when I was in the Navy. I consider him the greatest president in my lifetime.
Thank you for your service, sir! SALUTE
I was eight when he was elected, and he is still the president I measure presidents against. Every one since him has come up short. Thank you and bless you for your service.
Thank you for your service!
God bless you for your service. I also consider him one of the greatest presidents of all times and the greatest in my lifetime.
Much thanks and appreciation for your service, and yes. To date, I have to say the same. I was born the year Reagan was elected, and he still holds the title of being the most charismatic, most authentic and most effective president in my lifetime.
I was raised in a Democrat household. I voted Democrat until 1980, when I voted for Ronald Reagan. My mother was horrified. We talked politics over the next several years, and in 1984, my mother, a lifelong Roosevelt/Kennedy Democrat, voted Republican for the first time in her life and helped re-elect Reagan. Regardless of what his detractors said then, and say now, he was a man of conviction and thought. Yes, he had speechwriters, but the core of those speeches came straight from Reagan’s principles. He delivered his speeches so well not because he’d been an actor, but rather because he knew and believed in every word he spoke.
That was one of the demoRats smears then “well u know he was an actor” they are still at it only more than ever!!!
You don't speak like Ronald Reagan without speaking from the heart. He was not that good an actor.
@@joeday4293 Exactly right, his movies were always considered as "B" movies at best. His other acting roles were in training movies for the military.
My very first vote was for Reagan. He's always been my favorite president. Then, along came Trump, who whipped this country into shape. Best president ever. ❤️
I sadly was too young, and had to choose between Bush or Clinton. Ug
I would have but couldn't vote until '89
My first vote was also for Reagan's first term. I will always be proud of that.
He was my 1st vote as well. I've been a political junkie my entire life. I sadly admit I got Trump wrong. I was 100% sure he was going to get elected and go crazy. But he did most everything he said he would do and did everything possible to do the stuff Congress wouldn't let him do. I just hope I get another chance to vote for him.
I also made the age cut to vote that year and voted for Reagan. I was so proud to pull the lever in the private booth. I felt so adult that day.
There was a story that when he arrived in Berlin, he was in a hotel with a room facing the Wall. He was on the balcony with some German officials and they asked him to come inside because his words could be intercepted with listening devices by government forces in East Germany. It is reported that he replied something like: "Any SOB responsible for that atrocity deserves to hear what I think of them."
You listen to this great President and the one we have now and MY GOD it makes you want to cry your eyes out for our country.
Amen.
There's not been a better one since him. And the bad ones have gotten worse.
No comparison. Scares me how Biden is a president.
I remember being glued to the television as kid with my dad waiting to hear that he'll be ok after that moron shot him with a .22,, between that and the challenger explosion if you weren't choked up your not a human !
biden is an installed potato. elder abuse.
I was stationed in West Berlin with the Berlin Brigade and was there to see his speech in person. One of the most amazing days ever... You had to be there to really understand the waves this speech made.
Reagan was a REAL one. Took no BS from anyone.
People today don't understand the Berlin Wall or the iron curtain. I lived in Germany as a child from 1962 to 1965. My father was an ordinance expert and inspector in the United States Army. He also traveled across Europe to inspect weapons of all kinds for NATO not just for the US Army. Consequently he knew a lot that the Communists would have loved to know. What was in each depot what kind of nukes were in each one the whole enchilada. Because of that we couldn't go within I think it was 50 MI of the iron curtain and we could not go to Berlin. Dad had to have a military escort if he went within those limits. They were afraid the KGB or g r u, or some other Eastern block intelligence apparatus would try to kidnap him. People today don't understand that kind of BS. They never had to live it.
@@JohnRodriguesPhotographer Some of us do. I wish more did. So many people ignore the past instead of learning from it.
Can a senile ,crooked,doofus like Biden ever give an inspirational speech? Why are we pretending our current president is competent?Reagan is a treasure.
I always loved Ronald.. such a good president. He ACTUALLY cared about us.
My father loved him and his, politics & policies, he name me Ronald after him… I’m a staunch Conservative Republicans but I do watch for the fake ones, like The RINO’s!!!
He turned around the malaise that had taken hold of the United States in the 1970's. Every human on Earth owes him a debt of gratitude. Without his leadership at such a critical time things could have turned out far differently. Without him we may be living in bombed out irradiated ruin.
Agree and he was "The Great Communicator", he knew how to relate to the average person.
So does Trump.
I echo your thoughts. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch and listen live to three of his speeches when I lived in Miami, I've also been to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on four different occasions, and attended the viewing of his casket at the rotunda on Capitol Hill.
He reminded us of that shining city on the hill.
"Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!" Chills to this day! His speech writers didn't want him to say it. They were cut from the same cloth of the "diplomatic community", people with no balls to call out evil. But Reagan stuck to his guns. And only a few years later, he wall did come down after Ronald Reagan did the vast majority of the work to weaken the Soviet Union, both economically, and morally.
Yeah, by funding the islamic jihad in afghanistan, including bin laden
Turned out great
A CIA agent later told the story of how they taught the jihadis to make car bombs, and how they adapted that idea to make a 'camel bomb'
Needless to say that this was just the beginning of their creative use of terrorism
@@celsus7979 Some apples are green....cia taught them how to be red. Another random fact.
I was 15 years old on the day President Reagan gave this speech. He was a strong man and president. I see Trump in the same light as Reagan. Trump may speak a little more harsh than Reagan did, but Trump's patriotic spirit, and love for his fellow Americans are just as strong. I hold them both in high regard and I'll be proud to vote for Trump again.
Please don't insult Reagan by putting Trump on his level. Reagan was a principled leader with strong core beliefs and a healthy knowledge of economics and foreign policy. He also served two terms as governor of California. Trump is a witless buffoon and grifter who failed at everything he ever did. His businesses were shell games built on debt. He was utterly unfit for office. Reagan would never have supported a goon like Trump.
Amen
Trump's nowhere near the Orator Reagan was. While Trump did some very great things for this country, He also has some serious issues. He's really no different to Democrats in many respects. His bumpstock ban was flagrantly unconstitutional and countermanded an executive order that commanded the ATF to stop making laws without legislation. He also threatened Tom Massie for trying to make Congress do its job by the constitutional law when it got in the way of bills he wanted to just shove through.
President Regan was iconic! I'm a widow and my deceased husband was there walking that wall as an Army soldier. He was also there when the wall came down.
Thank for your service as a wife to an Army Soldier!!!! Salute to you, ma’am 🇺🇸
I'm active duty now, and I offer my respect to both you and he.
I remember watching on TV as the Berlin Wall was torn down by the people. It is still to this day one of the most wonderful things Ive seen.
That was one of those nights that every single channel was covering this event. I still have a piece of the Berlin Wall today. I've kept it since 1990, when practically every store had tables of them.
@@RemyJackson lol yea and about as many of those are real as the millions of christian relics floating around lol
I was just becoming a teenager when the Wall came down. I remember watching it on tv. While I didnt really understand what I was seeing, because I hadnt yet learned about WWII or the Cold War or anything, I STILL could tell something historic was going on. Seeing all of those people absolutely jubilant smashing at that wall with sledge hammers, cheering. People streaming thru to each side, hugging. Im glad I got to live thru such a time.
An historic event that we all took part in.
Reagan was the last president we had that won by an overwhelming amount. In 1980, he won all but seven states, and in his reelection in 1984, he won all but one.
Yeah Minnesota.
With the trash the left has been pushing. I can see '24 going red. Let's paint this country Red like Reagan.
Yea the 1984 presidential election was tidal wave. Mondale got embarrassed badly.
@@morrnmanderson7376 embarrassed but not badly, he won his home state 🤣
When elections were sound. Now the powers that be place puppets in there like Biden. Everytime I see Joe on the screen it always feels artificial, like a used car salesman scamming the masses. Corrupt and evil. Listen to these words, praises for America's greatness. Nothing like it now. Only Trump, right wingers, Trans and racists. Outright Wickedness
I have a friend who escaped East Germany - Reagan is her hero. When she got her citizenship, I mailed her a copy of his famous speeches, including this one. She was so conditioned to paranoia of the government, she thought she was being watched, forgetting I had asked for her mailing address. Poor thing was freaked OUT.
Anyone who would like to see what the reality of life in communist East Germany really looked like, I can't recommend the excellent, excellent film "The Lives Of Others" strongly enough.
@@joeday4293 good movie
Thank you for showing this one. I forget sometimes why Reagan was called “the great communicator.” He was a true statesman.
He had an unprecedented way to communicate directly to each person as if they were the only one there. Amazing orator.
Great reaction!! A speech made by Regan in 1964 on what Democrats would due to America is a must watch. He warned us of Democratic Socialism and what would happen if some Democrats stayed on that goal. We are now living it today.
Yes, that’s a must watch.
A Time for Choosing. Fantastic speech given to support Goldwater.
I was present at this speech. I was serving in the 6th Battalion 502nd Inf US Army Berlin Brigade at the time. It was an honor to see the President in person and be a part of history being present at such a monumental and motivating speech. "Ich bin ein Berliner"
As a student of history for almost 3 decades, this speech gives me chills every. single. time. Knowing even a fraction of what led to this moment makes it all the more impactful. 1st term Regan was amazing.
Still get chills. That was such a huge moment in world history. People thought that speech would lead to Nuclear war. Such a great moment when our country did not bend over backwards to appease our enemies. Peace through strength.
The nations all bow down to the golden metal image eventually
Now you see how Ronald Reagan was so loved, he was genuine and could relate to common man. He had flaws, we all do, but……he was inspiring!
I remember when this speech was given, I believe I was a senior in high school, and just about to enter the Navy. Many say, that this was one of the greatest speeches ever given by a president. This speech, changed the world as we knew it. It was one of those times, that I realized, that words can make a difference.
We could do with another Reagan right now. Thanks for doing this. This took me back to my childhood when things were easy.
And yet, he would still be ridiculed
I agree with the sentiment. The chance of finding a man or woman with such qualities isn't likely. The well has been poisoned.
Van, I highly recommend President Reagan’s “Evil Empire” speech. He was addressing Americans on television, and I will always cherish that speech for life. I was born in the 50’s and the shadow of nuclear war during the Cold War was a fear that most people of my generation shared. Having air-raid drills in my 3rd grade class during the Cuban Missile Crisis, not really understanding what was going on but sensing that all the adults were scared sh_ _ less made life very frightening. I was a young mother when the President came into my living room via TV and told us calmly and with clear assurances that we, Americans, would bring the the Evil Empire down. I finally felt safe and President Reagan accomplished exactly what no one else had the balls to do. It seems incredible to me that anyone would ever want to go the Marxist route again.
You should check out his speech at the 1964 Republican national convention. It's called "A Time for Choosing." And it's arguably one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century.
And it's poignant and still relevant today.
When you say "the 20th century", I hear of all time outside of a fee Bible passages. . .
Awesome
My favorite part of the speech was at the end when he politely let the protesters know that if they had the kind of government that opposes liberty loving governments, they would not have had the right to protest.
Gotta love it.
Me too..it’s sad to me because them words ring true today..if the left get what they think they want they’ll be shut up/down, unless they’re helping the false narrative/propaganda and then and only then are they allowed to do what they’re doing and saying.
@@RedHeart1 yes, but once their usefulness is over, they will probably be the first to go.
He could have been crass and said, "Try that on the other side of this wall and see what happens." But he didn't have to. He was standing, what, a thousand yards from tyranny?
“Knute Rockne, All American” 1940. Reagan was popularly nicknamed ‘the Gipper’ because of the role he played in this film. He was known as a ‘B’ actor. All that meant was that he didn’t usually star in blockbuster movies, but he was a successful character actor as well as an occasional leading man. Most of his appearances were in westerns, but he also did a few comedies, and a couple of dramas. He wasn’t a great actor, but he was a great leader. Again, not perfect, but he was certainly driven by the principles that made the USA a world superpower in less than 200 years. Those being individual liberty and a voice for all: The right to defend oneself against tyranny: The ability of the people to affect their own governance: Economic freedom as a catalyst for innovation…and more.
He was a lifelong democrat who had an awakening to the duplicity of the democrat leadership in his adulthood, then became an advocate for freedom and constitutional principles. After that, he was so concerned about the decay of the American dream that he ran for Governor of California shortly thereafter, and ended as a two term Republican President who achieved great things.
“Knute Rockne, All American” is one of my all time favorite movies!!!
Yep this is the one to watch
For the record, he didn’t just run for governor of California. He actually won and served two terms. California was a much better place to live in then than it is now. 🤔
The term " win one for the gipper" came from the Regan movie "KANUTE ROCKNE"
Lol check his debate line with Walter Mondale who says something about his age.
I visited West Germany in the summer of 1988…what fascinated me was that the city of Berlin, which was divided into east and west sectors by the infamous Berlin Wall, actually sat ENTIRELY within the borders of what was then East Germany. I had always assumed growing up that it was a border city. I saw the wall across Brandenberg Gate with my own eyes. The crosses on the fence by the river with the names of people who had been murdered trying to escape into West Berlin. Only about a year later, to see people standing atop the wall, slamming it with sledgehammers, celebrating the end of the separation…that still gives me chills.
I was stationed in Berlin in 1976. First as a tank platoon leader than as a recon platoon leader. Surrounded by 750,000 Soviet troops, 200 miles East of the Iron Curtain.
Wow! We went from having a president who can actually put a sentence together, like President Reagan. To what we have in office now! And will have to endure for the next 3 years! If we make it that long!!!! Thank you Van for coming around!
Probably the most impressive speech that I've ever heard.
Btw, when Ronald Reagan won reelection in 1984, it was by a margin of 49 states to 1, the only state he lost was Walter Mondale's home state of Minnesota, 50.1% of the vote for Mondale, and 49.9% for Reagan. He came that close to a 50 state sweep.
It's no wonder the left cries and moans about the electoral college. If some have their way - no conservative/"offensive" voices will have a platform to speak on the issues important to the average American, our government will assume the role of silencing any dissenting voice overlooked by media/tech moguls & "correcting" any "disinformation" spread by Russian sponsored alt-right nationalists (your average freedom loving, God fearing, proud American) and the DNC will decide who should lead the country since we obviously can't be trusted to make an informed choice on our own. Sounds crazy? Give it a few months .... midterms are right around the corner and would you believe 7 or 8 years ago we'd be living to see the protests, riots, manufactured/meticulously edited news, crime, scandals, moral decay, pandemic fever, global bullying, and-on-and-on events we've seen the last several years?
Our world needs a good, proverbial "butt warming" and a come-to-Jesus season before we let things get so bad there's no turning it around. A people that cannot exercise restraint on their own selfish desires and whims will never be governed by any form of gov't.
I hope the American voters have been awakened enough by recent events to vote their conscience in future elections and stop drinking the koolaide being served by anyone looking to blurr the lines and redefine America's needs and priorities. Both sides need someone to step up and say enough is enough.
This might have been his most important speech but the one he gave at the RNC for Goldwater in '64 was one of the most magnificent speeches I've ever listened to.
Mondale who? I thought he was running on a solo ticket 🤣🤣🤣
Mondale's mother voted for Reagan. (I joke, I don't know that, but I've always said that about the 84 election)
@@drewcifers8thcircleofheck307
Good one.🤣
A great President. We could sure use him today. My HS band played for a speech he made in Charlotte NC back in 85'. I remember feeling like he was addressing me directly. He had that effect on a crowd, a great speaker with a good sense of humor.
I was a teenager when Reagan was president and I'm ashamed to say I didn't appreciate him like I do now.
He was like America's grandpa. Always knew the thing you needed to hear him say. His speech to the nation after the Challenger disaster was beautiful.
I remember Ronald and Nancy as a young boy. This may be my youthful remembrance but I recall the world feeling so happy, excitement of possibilities, and partying like no tomorrow. I wish Reagan was still with us, we would ALL be better off. That man was a class act up til the end.
This is one key moment in time. I didn’t really like Reagan but this speech made me an instant fan. This speech is what made me re-think my personal political views. It took a few years but it happened. Now looking back, I wish I had paid a lot more attention to politics. This past year I have been deep in the rabbit hole, deeper than ever before. I love being a sponge! Keep up the good work Van, we all appreciate you!
I'm a US history teacher and we are studying this speech this week! Love LFR Van!
Hey man, newest fan here. I voted for RR just after I turned 18 a few months before I enlisted. I was in Germany from 85 to 88, just prior to this beautiful speech. All of us were Strategically supposed to last 3 weeks until reinforcements could arrive from the states. This was the end of a very scary, very real era.
We need another Ronald Reagan! A person well respected by all.
You must be too young to remember. The left HATED REAGAN! They reported that he was stupid, senile, and dishonest. Funny how now that we have a President who really IS stupid, senile, and dishonest, the MSM is nowhere to be found.
He wasn't well respected by all at the time. The press hated him and the liberals hated him. He was shot in an assassination attempt.
Not exactly, he's actually hated by quite a few...
But then again people also thought Jesus was a dick so...
He was not respected by all. Just like the Trump haters of nowadays, the Left despised Reagan. Because he advocated for safety through strength, they never stopped smearing him about being a racist, and a war monger. Sounds familiar? The Democrat party has not changed much. Everyone who disagreed with them was immediately smeared as a racist.
@@oldstrawhat4193 That is true, though probably every president will be hated by a large group at the time. However, history tends to show a better light on historical figures and I believe he is well respected whether or not you agreed with all his policies. His legacy is certainly less complicated than say Bill Clinton or George Bush.
I remember in the 3rd grade, we had to do a report on Presidents and read it in front of the class. This was in the year 2000. I was assigned to do a report on Ronald Reagan. I didn't know it at the time, but lucky me! Lol Possibly my favorite President.
Reagan was elected president when *I* was in third grade. There's still never been a better president since.
This speech always brings me to tears. thanks man.
I was a teenager when Reagan made this speech and I watched the ripples it caused that turned into the eventual collapse of the iron curtain. It was an amazing series of events to watch.
And remember without a shot being fired
*For context if it helps anyone - here's the short version:* After Germany lost World War 2, The allies decided to share responsibility to help Germany rebuild, and so the US, France, the UK, and the USSR all took a fourth of Germany as well as splitting the capital Berlin into fourths to help with reconstruction. There was a strong disagreement about the best way to help Germany rebuild, with the US, France, and the UK agreeing with a democracy/capitalism agenda (the "Marshall Plan" Reagan mentions), while the USSR favored a communist agenda, and cut off East Germany and East Berlin from the rest. The Berlin Wall was put up in 1961 and thanks heavily to this speech and Reagan's diplomacy in general - the wall came down in 1989, West and East Germany reunited in 1990, and the USSR disbanded in 1991.
Ugh dude stop, I’ve been thinking about the Holocaust the entire past 3 days and camer here to get away!
Really thinking about it hardly and with consideration gets you to a spiral of philosophy in truth dating back to the Old Testament.
I’m weird like that. I just couldn’t sleep.
First President I ever voted for and no one has come close ever since. I agree with the another commenter to listen to his speech on if fascism comes to America…. It will blow your mind. Thank you Van! Your openness and Chill are inspiring. ✌️💜
Once I turned 18 the very first election I voted in was Reagan's reelection. I'm proud to say I've voted in every election since that day including every primary. In fact, I'm going to vote today after I finish this video.
Those strategic defensive weapons you heard him mention... every time Israel shoots down incoming missiles you're watching the technology he was talking about.
I grew up during this time and remember this. Still gives me chills. As a child of the Cold War era this was emotional for us.
He mentions it is his second visit to West Berlin. I was there for his first, early in his first term in 1982 IIRC (I was in 9th grade). I got right in the front row at his plane arrival and got to shake his hand. My father was USAF, so I attended the American HS there in West Berlin behind the Iron Curtain for all my HS years from .81-85. Reagan was a very good orator. By the time of this speech I was back in the U.S. attending college.
I´m 44 years old and from europe. I remember this whole period of history so clearly! The Reagan, Thatcher, Gorbatchov era. The Berlin wall, and when it went down, the soviet union and the iron curtain. The smell of freedom, and change in the air and this absolute certain, that i maintain to this day, that no matter how imperfect (and it is imperfect) the western civilization is as close to perfect as any civilization came.I feel privileged for being through some of it and remember. It means I KNOW and no revisionist historian or biased media can deceive me on a lot of issues. I look back and is just staggering to see how the land of the free and of some of the world greastest leaders came to be this place of censorship, ingorance, lack of tolerance for diveristy of though. There´s this saying that strong men create prosperity, prosperity creates weak men, weak men create hardship, which in turn creates strong men, and then prosperity, etc. The US, and the west in general, have enjoyed a time of prosperity created by strong men and is now creating a generation of weak men (that i have no doubt in about 50 years will bring a lot of hardship). Eastern europe is in the opposite end of the cycle. They´re coming out of a long period of hardship that have created very strong men. That´s why the ukrainians, men women, and even children fight, the way they fight.
So did you know that there are nazies in Ukraine right now...the Azov batallion is incorporated in their covernment...do your research. Look up Stephan Bandera, you know nothing about Ukraine the media is lying to you.
@@jolandafrijlink6103 Yes i know from Azov batallion, and not just from now, that it has become a popular name. They had far right connections (which i can even understand from coming from a country that was ruled with an iron fist by the far left for so long). I also know Putin´s hate for them has nothing to do with neo-nazi (hell, Putin is a nazi himself, mimicking almost step by step Hitler´s path). I would say you´re the one that´s being lyed to, but you want to believe the Kremlin narrative, tovarich, and there is nothing i can do. As form me, who have ukranian friends for over 20 years, who have travelled extensively to Poland and Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, as well as St. Petersburg, and Moscow, hell even my GP is a russian dra (a good doctor and a good person, btw) i can say with confident nobody is lying to me. I know very well what i´m talking about and where i stand. I also know very where you stand.
My girlfriend's parents immigrated from Germany to Canada less than 3 months before the wall went up. Her Mom passed away 2 years ago at the age of 93. She was so happy to see that come down, even though she had never went back. Reagan was pretty amazing.....probably the actor in him, but I can't hold that against a politician 😂
I think most people applaud when a speaker mentions something that rings true and impactful. I liken it to saying Amen in a church. When a minister says something that you strongly agree with, it happens naturally. It is a way for the audience members to say "I concur".
One other historical and iconic speeches for your consideration:
Red Skeleton, The Pledge of Allegiance
It gives a new perspective to it.
Also another VERY good video to watch:
The Great Boatlift 9/11
This is the confidence that President Trump brought back.
I have a friend who escaped East Berlin with her family. They have horror stories about life there and what a shock it was to see West Berlin for the first time. It makes her so upset to see kids in this country saying that socialism is a good idea.
Peace through strength. It was a mantra then and then again under President Trump. I remember this speech. Those were scary times and this was one of the most hopeful speeches during this time. Reagan had his faults, as most human beings do, but he was one of the greatest US Presidents. This really was the America Trump wanted again. You should find the concert that shows the wall coming down. The world celebrated that night!
I'm so glad I found your channel‼️ I've subscribed & am addicted to the responses. Your topics are AWESOME. Thank YOU for educating so many people, including myself 💯🎯‼️
Hi Kristi! Thank You so much for your words. We are ALL Learning Together.
How are you guys so LATE to the game? That's a real question. I know the answer...YOU need to ask yourself the question.
@@markupton1417 idk, his channel just showed up on my TH-cam options
I'm Wrecked!! I haven't seen that speech in decades and still I cry. I had Uncles in WW2 both Pacific and Europe. Until that wall fell the victory felt incomplete.
Berlin was surrounded by East Germany. Check it on a map and see how isolated it was. In Kennedy's time the Soviets tried to physically pressure West Berlin into submitting to them. His speech, Ich Bin Ein Berliner (I am a Berliner) was a show of American strength and solidarity with the people who really lived in fear that at any time the tanks would roll into town, etc. That's why Reagan used German in his speech, a callback to Kennedy.
Reagan was ridiculed by the Left because he started out Democrat and in the face of the McCarthy hearings he realized that Communism was a real threat. He didn't rat anyone out or take a stand, this was a personal philosophical choice he made for himself. His own Republican party despised him for being a populist - he cared what the every day voter thought, not the Military Industrial Complex (today we call them Globalists). But these are distinctions that could go beyond what you want to know. I have been fascinated with politics since I was twelve.
What was Ironic was Eisenhower warned us about the military industrial complex in his farewell speech in 1961.
greatest president ever. was amazing in almost every way. loved this speech.
Couldn't agree more. Coming from an Irishman in his early 20s, he's definitely the political figure I look up to the most throughout history
Except for the money printing machine he kicked off that Brandon ran with.
@@theBear89451 but he was doing it to end the USSR. They tried but couldn't keep up with our defense spending. Why is Brandon doing it. Also this was when there wasn't any debt. Brandon did it with over 20 trillion already in the whole.
I love that you don't stop and commentate every 10 seconds, you truely listen. Thank you! Good job young man!
I was married the same year Ronald Reagan was elected president, 1980. One of my favorite Ronald Reagan movie is "Kings Row". Mikhail Gorbachev was Russian President from 1985 to 1991, this speech was in 1987. In my opinion, President Ronald Reagan was the greatest modern day American President,... and I'm in good company saying that!
Soviet russia had a Premier, not a President, during soviet times, that was a position for life.
I arrived to serve with the US Army’s Berlin Brigade a year after this speech, but was luckily enough to be there when the Wall did come down. President Reagan was the most inspirational leader I’ve know, and his mark on America still shines amongst many of us. We could really use his spirit in these present times of division and aimlessness.
Reagan was the best of the best!! I lived through the Reagan years . The country was in such great shape!! I was in great shape!! The USA 🇺🇸 was literally the best country in the world! We were so proud of this nation! Thank you RR! An American hero!
Wow, this brought back memories. I was 6 yrs old living on Rhein Mein AFB in Germany at the time. The Berlin Wall was being torn down when my family moved back to the U.S. , and my pops drove us to the wall, gave my brother and I hammers and told us to help break it down. Truly one of my favorite memories. Keep up the great work, Van. Just as you're learning from watching these videos, I am as well. Peace.
The Scorpions' Wind of Change video makes me tear up every single time.
Tear down this wall…..still sends chills through me I was about 18 when I watched this…Mr Reagan was a huge reason I am a conservative…
I was actually there that day. At the time I was like 6. My Dad was in the US Air Force and stationed at 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force. We went up to Berlin for the speech, I still remember it to this day even though I was so young. I can remember watching the wall come down a few years later and being overwhelmed by it. To get from the south side to the north side of Berlin you actually had to momentarily cross from West to East Germany so for a few moments you got to see what communist Germany under the Soviet Union was really like. Reagan was a fantastic orator and I highly highly recommend watching his speech to The House of Commons in Great Britain, it's an amazing speech.
You need to do “A Time for Choosing.” It’s Reagan’s best speech. He gave it in 1964 but it’s ideas are as prudent today as they were then.
It feels just yesterday. It was 17 months later that the wall did indeed come down.
President Reagan was a statesman -- not just another politician.
I own and enjoy the book by Peggy Noonan --"When Character Was King : A Story of Ronald Reagan."
Hey Van, this is what “Again” means to us! ❤️
A great time of pride and recovery/prosperity for our country!
I love the amazing speech he gave on national television after the Challenger space shuttle exploded during take-off.
They skipped doing the State of the Union address to give the speech.
I also like the compilation of him telling jokes.
That Challenger speech was beautiful and perfect. It was exactly what you needed to hear the president say about something so awful.
He said more in those 5 minutes then many do in half an hour.
President Reagan said the Soviet Union didn’t take into account the Berliner heart, the Berliner humor and the Berliner attitude.
In essence, the Soviet Union forget the free and determined people are always strong than a tyrannical government.
He was a good football player, a good sports announcer, a good actor, a good president of the Screen Actor’s Guild, a good Governor of California, a Great (not perfect) President, with a great (and perfect) love for his country, it’s people and for freedom.
My favorite movie is the Knute Rockne story.
I'll never forget the time I saw Ronald Reagan speak during his 84 campaign. It was in the Philadelphia.
Reagan gave the best speeches of any president. The country could do to go listen to some of his older speeches about limited government right about now. RIP Ronald Reagan
I stood at the Berlin wall both before and after it came down which was the year I graduated hs. I've been behind the iron curtain and black marketed dollars to help people escape. I remember people getting killed trying to escape.
I grew up in Italy because my mother worked for the government.
I remember being a young child when Reagan was elected. It was after Jimmy Carter. I remember that Carter said that we would not light the lights on the national Christmas tree until our hostages were released. That didn't make sense to me then. Reagan said if he elected he'd have the 6th fleet off of Iran and we would get our American citizens back.
So, he got elected, moved the 6th fleet off of Iran's coast and our hostages were released.
He later developed Alzheimer's.
I have a feeling, my friend, that perhaps you have been red pilled. Nice.
Salute from a Navy veteran from Iowa. I'm glad you're going down this rabbit hole Van. 🇺🇸☺👍♥️
Thank you for this. I tear up a little every time I watch this. The USA used to have moral high ground to speak to foreign leaders this way
When hearing former President Reagan's speeches... It always gives me goosebumps. His passion for America was true! ♥️
At 11:22, Reagan said "Berliner Schnauze" which is a Berlin dialect. The "Berliner Schnauze" includes rough humor and means brutal honesty, which is often spoken without being asked.
Thanks, and the first characteristic he pointed out was their "herzen", Hearts
This speech gets me every time I was an 80's teen I remember this so well. Everyone knew "tear down this wall" every one in that time period
Ronald has so many patriotic speeches. This wasnt even the best one. Some of them will get you downright emotional.
President Reagan was my Commander-in-Chief during my entire 6 years of Naval Service!! I'm Proud to claim that and we all Loved him and he, us. His Mantra of "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH "Was our Marching orders of the day! This ideal for foreign policy, WON the COLD WAR! It is now evident to all, due to current events, such as our hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the present WAR in UKRAINE, that weak foreign policy does nothing for Liberty, at home and around the world!! I hope and Pray our Leadership in the World strengthens as we are on the precipice of a new Cold War, due to Russian Tyranny against its neighbors! I do Pray that it doesn't turn HOT!!! My Thanks to you Van, for this reaction!!
You know when to clap when the speaker makes a good point. Reagan was a master at giving speeches. This speech was the beginning of the end of the cold war.
I remember watching the speech, live. I STILL get goose bumps when I hear him say, "Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL"! Such a powerful speech, I still think Reagan was the best president we've had in a very long time.
There's a lot of Reagan to react to. Some great videos on youtube: The Best of Ronald Reagan, Don Rickle's Roasts Ronald Reagan, "A Time For Choosing" by Ronald Reagan. One of the craziest things is he was the oldest president before Trump and Biden..... I learned a crazy fact that puts Biden's age in context. There is less time between the Civil War and Biden's birth than there is between Biden's birth and his inauguration.
Wonderful speech! Makes me emotional!
If we could get Ron back to be president forever, I would not object to that.
Lewis Black used to say that we should have Zombie Reagan permanently as president.
Reagan was a great and courageous man. He is my favorite president in my life time. Thank you for watching this.
One of our best Presidents!
@mr oko said one of the best not the best, can u name me 5 better not including founding fathers or Lincoln?
@mr oko I’m not the one who said good but best not even close. As I thought u were just talking out ur a$$.
just moved to Florida from End Term Station of 101st Airborne division /Screaming Eagles! this speech encouraged me to rejoin the Army in which i did in 1987 FLORIDA Nat Guard.. . in which i retired with a pension at 35 in 1999.....behold Master Sergeant David Morgan.....thx Ronnie!!!!!,,,,🇺🇸🙏☝️🌅
There's definitely some big controversy when it comes to Reagan (many to name.. worst was the ignorance of AIDS without a doubt), but you can't deny his accomplishment of ending the cold war.
You should check out the Berlin Wall coming down... there's a clip out there showing how it happened (which was totally by accident) but nonetheless. I he was the reason Trump was elected. Their demeanor is not much different if you watch old clips of Reagan when he switched parties (yes Reagan was a Democrat for a good while).
He also dumped countless tax dollars into the war on drugs which only caused the problem to become worse
This old lie?
It is a lie, whether you know it or not.
One of his closest friends was Roc Hudson. He knew the issue.
He personally donated large sums to research.
What he didn't do was push the issue, as he felt the private sector should come up with solutions.
As far as governmental grants, he felt that aids should be given no greater benefits over any other sickness. Particularly when cancer was a far greater threat to everyone.
Aids was a sickness of drug addicts and gay men, and still is.
It was the likes of liars(or morons) like Faucci, that created panic with dangerously false statements about aids.
Like it could be airborne or you could get it from a scratch off a cereal box.
@@theprowrestlingnova I don't think that putting money into the war on drugs is what made it worse. What made it worse is not actually addressing the sources of the drugs and not dealing properly with organized crime.
Listen to Reagan’s classic speech, “A Time For Choosing.” That speech is amazing.
I Love it My Brother From Another Mother, you doing your research and learning the facts about the United States History.
God Bless you and your Family
I remember this well - I loved it. I was stationed in Germany with the US Army in January of 91 - the German people were still so happy to be re-unified - it was palpable. It was an amazing time.
LFR.... with risk of sounding supercilious.... im proud of you... and ecstatic that you're embarking on this arduous hermeneutical journey of knowledge , history and enlightenment. Enjoy, stay strong, remain vigilant and withstand the arrows! God bless
I grew up during these times and can tell you that this was a change unimaginable.
Here's the best part, several times the State dept asked Regan to take out the "tear down this wall" part of the speech, they said it was to provokitive. Regan wound up putting that line back in his speech weather they liked it or not & now its known as his most famous speech.
In 1976 I went through the Berlin Wall at Check Point Charlie from West Berlin into East Berlin. The West was a rebuilt, vibrant city and the East was still a broken bombed-out city as the Russians were still making East Germans pay for the atrocities they had committed in World War II. Reagan’s “tear down this wall” speech was a great moment in time, and worth a listen.
I get tears every time I hear this speech. What a great AMERICAN.
You don't have to be a great historian to understand Freedom! Thank you it's been years since I heard that speech.
That was cool. I never listened to the entire speech until now. Thanks!
LFR Thank you for sharing your research. It's so needed! I loved the Reagan speeches! Thanks for sharing the truth about our messed up government!