The 1987 Speech by Ronald Reagan in Berlin
On June 12, 1987, at the Brandenburg Gate, United States president Ronald Reagan delivered a speech commonly known by a key line from the middle part: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Reagan called for Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to open the Berlin Wall, which had encircled West Berlin since 1961.
The following day, The New York Times carried Reagan’s picture on the front page, below the title “Reagan Calls on Gorbachev to Tear Down the Berlin Wall”. Its impact on the Kremlin became widely known after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. In the post-Cold War era, it was often seen as one of the most memorable performances of an American president in Berlin after John F. Kennedy’s 1963 speech “Ich bin ein Berliner”.[4] Reagan’s speech was written by Peter Robinson.
Step 1: Watch the Video Below
Please watch the video on the right to answer the questions in the document below. Clicking on the picture on the right will open another window directing you to YouTube.
Subtitles are available by pressing the CC button on the video. For advanced learners, it’s recommended that you try listening to the video without subtitles the first time. Additionally, make sure you do not use “English Auto-Generated” subtitles, as they will be incorrect. Use “English (United States)”.
