The tense discussions behind Ronald Reagan’s ‘Tear Down This Wall’ speech
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan was preparing to give a speech in West Berlin. To determine the speech's content, Peter Robinson, a speechwriter, visited the German capital. He consulted with an American diplomat who advised against making controversial statements about the Berlin Wall.
The diplomat claimed that West Berliners had grown accustomed to the wall, which had divided the city since 1961. However, when Robinson shared this claim with city residents, they disagreed. They shared personal stories of how the wall had affected their lives, including separation from family members.
Further details about the discussions behind Reagan's speech are available from the source, providing insight into the events leading up to the speech.
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