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Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” Speech Explained | Primary Source Close Reads Explained

Why did President Reagan see the Berlin Wall as a symbol of oppression during the Cold War? In this episode of Close Reads Explained, BRI Senior Fellow Tony Williams helps analyze Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech in Berlin calling for the removal of the Berlin Wall. What are President Reagan’s main criticisms of communism? What was his overall objective in the Cold War with the Soviets and how did his speech embody this?

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Reagan & the Cold War with Stephen Knott | BRI Scholar Talks: Cold War & the Presidency Series #5

17 Min

While there were a variety of factors that led to the end of the Cold War, no one can deny that Ronald Regan played a pivotal role. For the final episode of our Cold War & the Presidency Series, BRI Staff Tony Williams is joined by Stephen F. Knott, professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval War College, as they discuss Reagan's moral vision of the Soviet Union and how it shaped his practical approach to confronting the Soviets. Why did he alter the policies of past presidents like détente and the containment doctrine? What impact did Reagan’s approach to the Cold War have on the American presidency and the end of the Cold War?