On this day in 1989 the Berlin Wall came down, signifying the reunification of Germany and striking a blow to communism in Europe. This event and the subsequent dissolving of the USSR in 1991 was the culmination of leadership of President Ronald Reagan with the support of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, and Pope John Paul II.

 

President Reagan came to office with the belief that the United States and other free nations should use all aspects of political, military, economic, diplomatic and cultural power to defeat Communism. Once in office he put those ideas into practice by encouraging and influencing other free nations to join in his endeavor. Most notably was his speech in Berlin where he declared to General Secretary Gorbachev that if he wanted peace and prosperity for the Soviet Union he must, “Tear Down this Wall.”

 

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