WORDS TO LIVE BY: Berlin in 1982

We’ll start this essay with a quiz…can you guess when and where the President delivered this line?

“And, you know, if I had a chance I'd like to ask the Soviet leaders one question -- in fact, I may stuff the question in a bottle and throw it over the wall when I go there today. I really want to hear their explanation. Why is that wall there? Why are they so afraid of freedom on this side of the wall? Well, the truth is they're scared to death of it because they know that freedom is catching, and they don't dare leave their people have a taste of it.”

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Answer? The place is…Berlin and the date is June 1982, FIVE years before he delivered his historic speech at the Brandenburg gate, demanding that the wall be torn down. This was during the Brezhnev years, long before Gorbachev and Glasnost were in the picture. It’s easy to forget how clearly President Reagan expressed his disgust with the Soviets and the Berlin Wall, many years before the so-called climax at the Brandenburg Gate in 1987.

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The excerpt you just read was from the President’s remarks upon his arrival in Berlin in 1982 at the airport. This was the last stop on his arduous European trip during which he met with the Pope at the Vatican and also delivered his historic Westminster address to British Parliament. But…he saved Berlin for the last stop and challenged the Soviet Union to move beyond ''the dashed hopes of the 1970's'' to ''a safer and freer Europe'' in the years ahead.?

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Then later in the day, to a crowd of 20,000 waving American flags in a windswept park at Charlottenburg Palace, President Reagan drew enthusiastic applause with a pledge that American military forces would remain in Berlin ''as long as necessary to preserve the peace and protect the freedom of the people of Berlin.''

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The President made it clear…

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“For us the American presence in Berlin, as long as it is needed, is not a burden; it is a sacred trust.

“Ours is a defensive mission. We pose no threat to those who live on the other side of the wall. But we do extend a challenge, a new Berlin initiative to the leaders of the Soviet bloc. It is a challenge for peace. We challenge the men in the Kremlin to join with us in the quest for peace, security, and a lowering of the tensions and weaponry that could lead to future conflict.

“We challenge the Soviet Union, as we proposed last year, to eliminate their SS - 20, SS - 4, and SS - 5 missiles. If Chairman Brezhnev agrees to this, we stand ready to forgo all of our ground-launched cruise missiles and Pershing II missiles.

“We challenge the Soviet Union, as NATO proposed yesterday, to slash the conventional ground forces of the Warsaw Pact and NATO in Central Europe to 700,000 men each and the total ground and air forces of the two alliances to 900,000 men each. And we challenge the Soviet Union to live up to its signature its leader placed on the Helsinki treaty, so that the basic human rights of Soviet and Eastern Europe people will be respected.

“A positive response to these sincere and reasonable points from the Soviets, these calls for conciliation instead of confrontation, could open the door for a conference on disarmament in Europe.”

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He repeated his message that American plans for a military buildup are combined with an eagerness to negotiate with the Russians to reduce both conventional and nuclear arms. And he marked his visit to Berlin by defining all of his recent proposals for arms negotiations with the Soviet Union as ''a new Berlin initiative'' to test Soviet sincerity.

In fact, he went a step further, calling on Moscow to accept a new set of ''concrete and practical steps'' demonstrating a commitment to arms control. Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. said the steps could transform Soviet-American relations ''into a confidence building bilateral relationship'' dispelling ''uncertainties in time of crisis.''

Still, he put the Soviets on notice regarding their military buildup. Remember, it’s June 1982.

“The American commitment to Berlin is much deeper than our military presence here. In the 37 years since World War II, a succession of American Presidents has made it clear that our role in Berlin is emblematic of our larger search for peace throughout Europe and the world. Ten years ago this month, that search brought into force the Quadripartite Agreement on Berlin. A decade later, West Berliners live more securely, can travel more freely and, most significantly, have more contact with friends and relatives in East Berlin and East Germany than was possible 10 years ago.

“These achievements reflect the realistic approach of Allied negotiators, who recognized that practical progress can be made even while basic differences remain between East and West. As a result, both sides have managed to handle their differences in Berlin without the clash of arms, to the benefit of all mankind.

“The United States remains committed to the Berlin agreement. We will continue to expect strict observance and full implementation in all aspects of this accord, including those which apply to the eastern sector of Berlin. But if we are heartened by the partial progress achieved in Berlin, other developments make us aware of the growing military power and expansionism of the Soviet Union.

“Instead of working with the West to reduce tensions and erase the danger of war, the Soviet Union is engaged in the greatest military buildup in the history of the world. It has used its new-found might to ruthlessly pursue it goals around the world. As the sad case of Afghanistan proves, the Soviet Union has not always respected the precious right of national sovereignty it is committed to uphold as a signatory of the United Nations Charter. And only one day's auto ride from here, in the great city of Warsaw, a courageous people suffer, because they dare to strive for the very fundamental human rights which that Helsinki Final Act proclaimed.

“The citizens of free Berlin appreciate better than anyone the importance of allied unity in the face of such challenges. Ten years after the Berlin agreement, the hope it engendered for lasting peace remains a hope rather than a certainty. But the hopes of free people -- be they German or American -- are stubborn things. We will not be lulled or bullied into fatalism, into resignation. We believe that progress for just and lasting peace can be made, that substantial areas of agreement can be reached with potential adversaries when the forces of freedom act with firmness, unity, and a sincere willingness to negotiate.

“To succeed at the negotiating table, we allies have learned that a healthy military balance is a necessity. Yesterday, the other NATO heads of government and I agreed that it is essential to preserve and strengthen such a military balance. And let there be no doubt: The United States will continue to honor its commitment to Berlin.”

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Let’s start at the top of the speech…let’s read how our 40th President works to connect to his audience.

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“Mr. Governing Mayor, Mr. Chancellor, Excellencies, you ladies and gentlemen:

“It was one of Germany's greatest sons, Goethe, who said that ``there is strong shadow where there is much light.'' In our times, Berlin, more than any other place in the world, is such a meeting place of light and shadow, tyranny and freedom. To be here is truly to stand on freedom's edge and in the shadow of a wall that has come to symbolize all that is darkest in the world today, to sense how shining and priceless and how much in need of constant vigilance and protection our legacy of liberty is.

“This day marks a happy return for us. We paid our first visit to this great city more than 3 years ago, as private citizens. As with every other citizen to Berlin or visitor to Berlin, I came away with a vivid impression of a city that is more than a place on the map -- a city that is a testament to what is both most inspiring and most troubling about the time we live in.

“Thomas Mann once wrote that ``A man lives not only his personal life as an individual, but also consciously or unconsciously the life of his epoch.'' Nowhere is this more true than in Berlin, where each moment of everyday life is spent against the backdrop of contending global systems and ideas. To be a Berliner is to live the great historic struggle of this age, the latest chapter in man's timeless quest for freedom.

“As Americans, we understand this. Our commitment to Berlin is a lasting one. Thousands of our citizens have served here since the first small contingent of American troops arrived on July 4th, 1945, the anniversary of our independence as a nation. Americans have served here ever since -- not as conquerors, but as guardians of the freedom of West Berlin and its brave, proud, people.

“Today I want to pay tribute to my fellow countrymen, military and civilian, who serve their country and the people of Berlin and, in so doing, stand as sentinels of freedom everywhere. I also wish to pay my personal respects to the people of this great city. My visit here today is proof that this American commitment has been worthwhile. Our freedom is indivisible.”

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Earlier in the day, when the President arrived at the airport, many of our armed forces stationed in Germany, attended the speech. Here’s what he had to say to them.

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“The huge number of Soviet tanks that rumble through the countryside, the Soviet missiles that peer over the border, they aren't there for defense. They're there to threaten the West and divide the Alliance. Well, our forces and those of NATO have a different idea. Our forces have a different assignment. We don't seek to make Europe captive. We seek to keep Europe free.

“The people of West Germany, through their government, have time and again asked that we stand together in defense of freedom -- both theirs and ours. And President Carstens' recent visit to the U.S. Second Armored Division was symbolic of our unity. Just as the Europeans support your presence here, I, too, as President want to support you by giving you what you need to do your job. I'm determined that you will have fair pay, new equipment, top-notch training, and the best leadership.

“America is honored by your service. Your job may sometimes be routine, but, believe me, it isn't. It's part of a noble cause, the defense of freedom and dignity. And you, you in uniform, you are the peacemakers. Because you are doing what you're doing, we have a chance to preserve peace, and I promise you that is going to be the goal as long as this administration is in Washington.

“You know, there've been four wars in my lifetime. I don't want to see another. I'm going to tell you a story about one of those wars, only because it tells the difference between two societies, ours and that society the other side of the wall.

“It goes back to a war when a B - 17 bomber was flying back across the channel badly shot up by anti-aircraft fire. The ball turret that hung beneath the belly of the plane had taken a hit, was jammed. They couldn't get the ball turret gunner out while they were flying, and he was wounded. And out over the channel the plane started to lose altitude. The skipper ordered bail-out, and as the men started to leave the plane, the boy in the ball turret knew he was being left to go down with the plane. The last man to leave the plane saw the captain sit down on the floor and take his hand, and he said, ``Never mind son, we'll ride it down together.''

“The Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously awarded. That citation that I read when I was serving in that same war stuck with me for many years and came back to me just a few years ago when the Soviet Union gave its highest honor, a gold medal, to a man, a Spaniard living in Moscow. But they don't give citations. They don't tell you why; they just give the medal. So, I did some digging to find out why he was their highest honoree. Well, he had spent 8 years in Cuba before going to Moscow. And before that he had spent 23 years in Mexico in prison. He was the man who buried a pickaxe in the head of -- Leon Trotsky's head. They gave their highest honor for murder. We gave our highest honor to a man who had sacrificed his life to comfort a boy who had to die.

“I don't know of anything that explains the difference between the society we're trying to preserve and the society we're defending the world against than that particular story.

“God bless you all for what you're doing.”

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Following his remarks at the airport, here’s how he closed his speech to 20,000 Berliners, listening intently to his speech:

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“My final message is for the people of Berlin. Even before my first visit to your city, I felt a part of you, as all free men and women around the world do. We lived through the blockade and airlift with you. We witnessed the heroic reconstruction of a devastated city, and we watched the creation of your strong democratic institutions.

“When I came here in 1978, I was deeply moved and proud of your success. What finer proof of what freedom can accomplish than the vibrant, prosperous island you've created in the midst of a hostile sea. Today, my reverence for your courage and accomplishment has grown even deeper.

“You are a constant inspiration for us all -- for our hopes and ideals, and for the human qualities of courage, endurance, and faith that are the one secret weapon of the West no totalitarian regime can ever match. As long as Berlin exists, there can be no doubt about the hope for democracy.

“Yes, the hated wall still stands. But taller and stronger than that bleak barrier dividing East from West, free from oppressed, stands the character of the Berliners themselves. You have endured in your splendid city on the Spree, and my return visit has convinced me, in the words of the beloved old song that ``Berlin bleibt doch Berlin'' -- Berlin is still Berlin.

“We all remember John Kennedy's stirring words when he visited Berlin. I can only add that we in America and in the West are still Berliners, too, and always will be. And I am proud to say today that it is good to be home again.

“God bless you. Danke schon.”

For more information on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, including information on how to become a member, information on upcoming exhibits at the Reagan Library, and more information on the legacy of President Reagan, please visit ReaganFoundation-dot-org.?

#RonaldReagan #History #ColdWar #Berlin

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