Reagan's 'tear down this wall' speech still teaches how to confront Russia

Reagan's 'tear down this wall' speech is turns 35 today but it has new relevance. Our leaders should learn from his lessons how to deal with powerful enemies.

Christopher Burkett, Ph.D., is associate professor of Political Science and director of the Ashbrook Scholar program at the Ashbrook Center, an independent center at Ashland University that seeks to eliminate bias in education through the study of primary-source documents. 

Reagan’s success in promoting American strength and taking advantage of Soviet weakness arose from his thorough grasp of both world and American history. He understood well how Russian history influenced Soviet goals and ambitions. He studied the policies of his predecessors in office, from Truman to Nixon, to gauge which past policies had worked well and not so well. Reagan saw that America’s responses toward Soviet aggression, whether hardline or more conciliatory, only worked when the United States projected a position of strength and a firm commitment to freedom and democracy.