"Tin the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human
history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the
most basic kind--too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands
before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient
hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.
And now 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. Some political prisoners have been released. Certain foreign news
broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater freedom from
state control
Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures, intended to raise false hopes in
the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome change 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!
- excerpts from Ronald Reagan's speech in West Berlin, June 12, 1987
How was Reagan's speech emblematic of United States foreign policy at the time?
It opposed communism but did not threaten military intervention
It supported communist government as long as they gave people more
freedom
It was meant to make citizens of communist countries tearful so that they
would incite violence
it was supposed to show communist leaders the similarities between the
countries and the United States