Presidential Trips Abroad

After researching Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and President Barack Obama's speeches, I found that several reactions that the speeches had in common, as well as differences among them. The following is information found thus far. 

When Ronald Reagan presented his speech at the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, people were afraid of what he might say. He was known to say what he wanted, as opposed to what his advisers thought he should. On the way through Berlin, he overruled his advisers about what he was going to say and decided that what he wanted to say was “the right thing to do.” The advisers, as well as others, thought it was too provocative and thought it may cause more negative reactions, rather than good. Peter Robinson was on his team of advisers and he is the one credited for adding, “tear down this wall,” into Reagan’s speech, against the other’s advice.  

 

This was the ending to the Cold War.

 

The following is the line he spoke at the Brandenburg Gate aimed at the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev that his advisers were especially against:

 

"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

 

As a result of Reagan’s speech, changes began in Berlin. Gorbachev visited West Germany in May 1989 and said Moscow would no longer try to stop democracy from converting in the outlying states. The end of the Cold War began on June 13, 1990, just 3 years after Reagan’s speech. However, his speech is known for beginning the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 An article on the BBC Website states that Nixon’s speech in China was a “diplomatic triumph as relations between the two countries thawed.” Nixon was also quoted as saying “As we look at this wall – we do not want any walls of any kind between peoples.” This situation was very similar to that of Reagan’s at the Berlin Wall.

Obama's speech at Cairo University had both positive and negative reactions but not the same impact that Reagan's had as far as spreading peace and diplomacy. Reagan's speech helped start the falling of the Berlin Wall, as well as end the Cold War. 

According to the NPR Website, Iran’s supreme leader reacted to Obama’s speech at Cairo, saying that his words could not erase the “hatred” of the U.S. Some of the Muslims that attended the speech said it was misleading and not realistic.

Opinion column statement:

“What the Brandenburg Gate was for Ronald Reagan in 1987, Cairo University could have been for Obama. Reagan seized the moment, spoke the truth, and helped liberate half a continent. All Obama did was give a speech.” – Patriot Post

  

 

Sources:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964707,00.html

 

http://sistertoldjah.com/archives/2007/06/11/tear-down-this-wall-almost-didnt-make-it-into-famous-reagan-speech/

 

http://www.patriotpost.us/opinion/jeff-jacoby/2009/06/08/obamas-missed-opportunity-in-cairo.html

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/25/obama-speech-to-congress_n_169726.html

 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104967625

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1821104.stm