Last Friday I had the privilege of attending an event at the Ronald Reagan Library commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library and The Heritage Foundation hosted the remarkable event in the gorgeous Air Force One wing of the museum. During the course of the day, attendees listened to fascinating panel discussions featuring those personally involved in ending the Cold War. The event kicked off with the reading of a letter from Mikhail Gorbachev sending his greetings to attendees. The first morning panel, "Insider Perspectives on Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Wall," included Reagan Administration Attorney General Ed Meese, National Security Advisor Richard Allen, Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, and White House Speechwriter Peter Robinson, who wrote the historic Brandenburg Gate speech.
The insider perspectives and stories panelists shared were simply remarkable. Meese commented that if a leader doesn’t have a vision for the country, the nation will drift. Reagan had a specific, well-thought-out vision for American and the innate ability to communicate it—and he had political courage to make tough decisions. When asked about how Reagan would deal with the current threat of terrorism, Robinson responded that Reagan would deal with terrorism same way he dealt with communism: peace through strength. Robinson also compared Reagan to the current administration by observing that Reagan focused intensely on reviving the economy before he tackled foreign matters. Reagan understood that nation’s economic health was crucial to our international standing and our ability to arm ourselves. At the end of his remarks, Robinson encouraged attendees to carry on the Reagan legacy by campaigning for Carly Fiorina to defeat Barbara Boxer.
One important observation all the panelists shared was that when Reagan took office, he already had a fully-formed plan on how to engage the Soviet Union (no more détente!) and he immediately implemented that plan, even when government bureaucrats threw up road blocks. Robinson shared his story of how the State Department fiercely protested the now-immortal “Tear down this wall!” line. During his final meeting with advisors regarding the speech, Reagan stuck with his principles and vision and delivered the speech with the direct challenge to Gorbachev.
Nancy Reagan honored attendees with her presence at the luncheon featuring Secretary of State George Shultz. Under the shadow of the Air Force One that had carried many of the event’s speakers during the years of the Reagan Administration, Schultz shared his unique insight on the actions preceding the Berlin Wall’s destruction. He reiterated that Reagan and his administration had three principles they followed in dealing with the Soviets: face reality, be strong, use diplomacy.
The afternoon panel, "The Unfinished Legacy of the Fall of the Wall," featured an unparalleled assembly of world leaders and journalists: President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus, the former Prime Minister of Estonia Mart Laar, Margaret Thatcher’s Foreign Advisor, Lord Charles Powell, renowned economist Leszek Balcerowicz, the Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili, Steve Forbes and the Economist’s Edward Lucas. While Americans have our own perspective on the end of the Cold War, these panelists offered their views on the significance of Reagan’s policies and his historic speech.
Of all the amazing stories and insights shared throughout the day (and there was an abundance), the essential message delivered by the speakers was that monumental changes can occur under great leadership. As Richard Allen stated, Reagan had constancy of purpose. He was unwavering in his convictions and stuck to his vision for ending the Cold War. Robinson expounded on this point when he commented that he could never have written a Brandenburg Gate speech for other presidents because they didn’t have the political courage to stand up the State Department or other forces within the government. But Reagan’s beliefs about the evil empire and his plan to bring about its demise could not be deterred.
In facing all of our current problems, we need similar focus and dedication from our leaders. As Ed Meese observed, there is a longing amongst Americans for the wisdom of Reagan and his principles. That wisdom and those principles didn’t end with Reagan’s passing. The people assembled at the Reagan Library prove that Reagan’s greatest legacy is the millions of people he inspired with his passion for freedom and the principles of limited government.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:00 am
President Reagan certainly did buck members of his own administration and the nuclear freeze groups through all of the 80’s. He knew what he was going to do and followed through. However, he had other leaders who were instrumental in making the fall of communism a reality. I’m sure that Reagan would give them credit as well. They were Pope John Paul II and Margaret Thatcher.