Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan and the End of and the End of the Cold Warthe Cold War

HUAC: Witnesses Ronald HUAC: Witnesses Ronald Reagan Blames Hollywood Reagan Blames Hollywood

Labor Conflicts on Labor Conflicts on Communist Infiltration Communist Infiltration

(1947) (1947) Ronald Reagan was long-time Ronald Reagan was long-time opponent of Communism opponent of Communism

As President of the Screen As President of the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG), he Actor’s Guild (SAG), he cooperated with the House cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Un-American Activities Committee’s inquiry into the Committee’s inquiry into the potential infiltration of potential infiltration of Communism into the Motion Communism into the Motion Picture industry. Picture industry.

In testimony before HUAC, he In testimony before HUAC, he claimed members of the claimed members of the Communists played a role in Communists played a role in a series of Hollywood union a series of Hollywood union strikes .strikes .

““A Time for Choosing” A Time for Choosing” Speech (1964) Speech (1964)

Reagan campaigned for Barry Reagan campaigned for Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Goldwater in the 1964 presidential race.presidential race.

His televised "A Time for His televised "A Time for Choosing" speech propelled the Choosing" speech propelled the actor from corporate spokesman actor from corporate spokesman to conservative championto conservative champion

It became known as "The It became known as "The Speech.”Speech.”

He implied that liberalism He implied that liberalism represents a shift toward represents a shift toward socialism.socialism.

He outlined the goals of the He outlined the goals of the modern conservative movement: modern conservative movement: smaller government, smaller government, lower taxes, personal lower taxes, personal

autonomy, and more autonomy, and more aggressive policy toward aggressive policy toward

Communist states. Communist states.

Address to the British Address to the British Parliament (1982)Parliament (1982)

As President, Reagan revived the Cold War rhetoric, which had As President, Reagan revived the Cold War rhetoric, which had not been the focus of the Nixon and Carter administrations. not been the focus of the Nixon and Carter administrations.

In a speech to the British Parliament, Reagan outlined "a plan In a speech to the British Parliament, Reagan outlined "a plan and a hope for the long term—the march of freedom and and a hope for the long term—the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash-heap of democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash-heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people."muzzle the self-expression of the people."

The Strategic Defense The Strategic Defense InitiativeInitiative

In 1983, President Reagan In 1983, President Reagan proposed his Strategic Defense proposed his Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) as an additional Initiative (SDI) as an additional check on Soviet nuclear check on Soviet nuclear capability. capability.

He envisioned space-based He envisioned space-based missile defense technology missile defense technology capable of striking down nuclear capable of striking down nuclear weapons before they reached the weapons before they reached the U.S. U.S.

The Soviets feared SDI would The Soviets feared SDI would increase the risk of the U.S. increase the risk of the U.S. launching an attack because it launching an attack because it would not fear retaliation. would not fear retaliation.

The press derisively dubbed the The press derisively dubbed the plan "Star Wars.”plan "Star Wars.”

Many believed it was infeasible Many believed it was infeasible due to the enormous expense due to the enormous expense and technical innovation it would and technical innovation it would require to become operational.require to become operational.

The “Evil Empire” (1983) The “Evil Empire” (1983)

In this speech at the Annual Convention of the National In this speech at the Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals, President Reagan made his case Association of Evangelicals, President Reagan made his case against a Nuclear Freeze by appealing to the audience’s belief in against a Nuclear Freeze by appealing to the audience’s belief in God. God.

He labeled the U.S.S.R. an “evil empire” and insisted that their He labeled the U.S.S.R. an “evil empire” and insisted that their secular beliefs were a threat to America. secular beliefs were a threat to America.

He also predicts the end of Communism.He also predicts the end of Communism.

““Tear Down This Wall” Tear Down This Wall” Speech (1987)Speech (1987)

The Berlin Wall was built by Communists in August 1961 to keep The Berlin Wall was built by Communists in August 1961 to keep Germans from escaping Communist-dominated East Berlin into Germans from escaping Communist-dominated East Berlin into Democratic West Berlin. Democratic West Berlin.

The 12-ft concrete wall extended for 100 miles and included The 12-ft concrete wall extended for 100 miles and included electrified fences and guard posts. electrified fences and guard posts.

The wall was a symbol of the Cold War, in which the politically The wall was a symbol of the Cold War, in which the politically opposed superpowers continually wrestled for dominance, opposed superpowers continually wrestled for dominance, stopping just short of actual warfare.stopping just short of actual warfare.

““Tear Down This Wall” Tear Down This Wall” Speech (1987)Speech (1987)

… as long as this scar of a wall is permitted to stand, it is not the German question alone that remains open, but the question of freedom for all mankind. …

…the Soviets themselves may, in a limited way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. …

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! …

Citations Slide 2: http://www.authentichistory.com/1950s/speeches/images/19471023_Reagan_HUAC.jpg Slide 3: http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/3c/0/AAAAAqSZLrEAAAAAADwFtg.jpgSlide 4: http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c8466-23.jpgSlide 5: http://img.timeinc.net/time/magazine/archive/covers/1983/1101830404_400.jpgSlide 6: http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/photographs/large/c13322-21a.jpgSlide 7: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htm Slide 8: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/reagan-tear-down.htmSlide 9: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/web16/images/img_intro.jpg