Cold Open

It’s November 9th, 1989, in Soviet-controlled East Berlin.

Karsten Bommel and his father sit together on their couch. They watch their television closely as an East German official speaks to a crowded press room about the possible reunification of Germany.

Since the end of World War II, Germany has been divided between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. Even Berlin itself has been torn in two by the so-called Iron Curtain. Fifteen feet high and lined with barbed wire and machine gun towers, the Berlin Wall cuts a 28-mile path across the city.

It’s an unrelenting symbol of oppression. Life on the communist, eastern side of Berlin – behind the Iron Curtain – is difficult. And people want out. A massive protest in East Berlin has sparked this emergency meeting that the Bommels watch now on TV.

Karsten’s father expects them to announce another crackdown on the demonstrators and bored with the coverage, he goes to the kitchen. But Karsten is still transfixed by the television when the on-screen official makes a shocking announcement: people can now freely and permanently pass through the Berlin Wall.

When asked by the reporter when that change in policy will take effect, the man replies “Immediately, without delay.”

Karsten runs into the kitchen and relays the news to his father who throws a skeptical glance, and tells Karsten that he must have misunderstood. To the elder Bommel, the reunification of Germany is just a hopeless dream. But Karsten is drawn to the freedom of the other side, and so he can’t wait to see if the news is true.

Karsten sneaks out the door and grabs his bike, heading out on streets filled with cars and pedestrians, more traffic than Karsten has ever seen, all rushing toward the Berlin Wall.

Everywhere Karsten looks, people are crying and hugging. And as he rides through the crowd toward the wall’s Brandenburg Gate, Karsten keeps his eyes fixed on the looming guard towers. But the soldiers do nothing to stop Karsten and his fellow citizens from passing through to West Berlin, and to freedom.

The fall of the Berlin Wall will mark an end to almost three decades of division. Soon, citizens on both sides will begin to chip away at the barrier with hammers and chisels, tearing apart their physical divide. And over the next year, with the wall dismantled, Germany will be reunified. Among the many gratified by its fall will be US President Ronald Reagan, who just two years prior, stood at the Brandenburg Gate and called for the wall to be torn down in one of the most impassioned speeches of his presidency on June 12th, 1987.

Introduction

From Noiser and Airship, I’m Lindsay Graham and this is History Daily.

History is made every day. On this podcast—every day—we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world.

Today is June 12th, 1987: Reagan’s “Tear down this wall!” Speech.

Act One: Perspective

It’s April 1987, at an airport in West Berlin; two and a half years before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

30-year-old Peter Robinson nervously grabs his suitcase from the baggage conveyor belt. He walks past the watchful eyes of US Secret Service agents and climbs into a black sedan, along with other press officials and political experts. As the Secret Service closes the door behind him, Peter can’t help but feel he is in way over his head.

Five years ago, Peter was hired as the chief speechwriter for US Vice President George H.W. Bush. Getting this prestigious position as a 25-year-old fresh out of Oxford University felt like a stroke of dumb luck to Peter. But an even bigger fluke came a year later when he was promoted to assistant speech writer for President Ronald Reagan.

Now on assignment in West Berlin, Peter has just two days to research and write a speech for the President to deliver at the 750th celebration of the founding of Berlin. But he has no idea where to begin.

As he rides with the rest of the President’s team to the American embassy, Peter stares out the window, lost in his thoughts. He wonders how he can celebrate a city like Berlin, a city which is now been torn in two.

Following the defeat of Hitler in 1945, the Allied powers of France, Britain, the US, and the Soviet Union split control of Germany and its capital Berlin. But when it came time to relinquish governance of the country back to the German people, the Soviets refused. Seeking retribution, and fearing their former enemy might one day rebuild and pose a new threat, the Soviet Union continued its occupation of Eastern Germany. And since that time they have ruled with an iron fist.

Situated deep inside the Soviet-controlled territory, the Western part of Berlin that Peter Robinson now drives through has survived as an island of democracy but walled off and surrounded by communism. From what Peter sees, the city around him is thriving, barely betraying the tragedy of its isolation. But the scars of Germany’s division still run deep, as Peter soon discovers.

Once he arrives at the embassy, it's immediately clear that he’s not entirely welcome. The German diplomat who greets him is cold. And when Peter asks about Berlin’s upcoming celebration, attempting to gather ideas for his speech, the man begins to list all the things that Reagan’s speech should avoid. Do not insult the Soviets, stay clear of antagonizing remarks about the Wall. He tells Peter that the people of West Berlin have long accepted the situation, and would not like an American President stirring the pot.

Undeterred, Peter leaves the embassy and boards a US Army Helicopter, where he is given a flying tour of the city. Below him, Peter sees vibrancy, color, and life. But the higher they fly, the clearer the picture becomes. Outside of that patch of color is nothing but grey. East Berlin looks like a time capsule. Many of the buildings still bear the scars of war, and Peter sees very little signs of life. The sight is shocking, and Peter finds it difficult to contain his emotions. It’s clear to him the Soviets did not build the wall to keep Westerners out but to keep those in East Berlin in.

Determined to find out the real mood of the masses, Peter reaches out to local Berliners, Dieter and Ingeborg Elz. The couple are friends of a friend and more than willing to help Peter better understand the city. In the evening, the Elzs host a dinner party, allowing the writer to mingle with locals from all different walks of life.

Against the warnings of the diplomat from the embassy, Peter presses the guests about the Berlin Wall. He asks them if they have indeed grown used to it. Almost immediately the temperature in the room chills. Their eyes look to the floor. And Peter wonders if he has made a huge mistake. Then, one man speaks up. He tells Peter that though his sister lives only 20 miles away in East Berlin, he's not seen her in over 20 years, and that's something he can never get used to. Several others nod their heads in agreement.

Peter then asks about the possibility of change. He knows that the new Soviet premier Mikail Gorbachev has framed himself as a reformer. Gorbachev is already begun to thaw US-Soviet relations and ease nuclear tensions, as well as gives speeches on potential economic and governmental reforms. But at the mention of Gorbachev, Peter’s host cuts in. Ingeborg Elz can no longer contain her anger. She shouts that “If Gorbachev is serious about reform, he can prove it! He can get rid of this wall!”

With Ingeborg’s exclamation, Peter will find the message he was looking for. Finally, he will know what Reagan must say to the people of Berlin. But he will soon hit a wall of his own when Washington bureaucrats almost block one of Reagan’s most important speeches.

Act Two: Finding the Words

It’s April 1987 at the Old Executive Office Building, just across the street from the White House in Washington DC; two months before President Ronald Reagan’s visit to Berlin.

Speechwriter Peter Robinson marches straight into the office of his boss. Peter has just returned from Berlin and is anxious to share his idea for the President’s upcoming Speech with chief speechwriter Tony Dolan.

Peter tells Tony all about his trip, but especially about the dinner conversation at the Elz household. He conveys to Tony the words and passion of Ingeborg Elz. Peter’s convinced her outburst contains the exact message the President must send, that the Berlin Wall must fall.

It’s a bold statement for a city’s celebration, but Tony agrees it’s the right one. The two speech writers immediately march across the street to the West Wing, to pitch the speech to Communications Director Tom Griscom. Again Peter passionately tells his story, but Tom’s reaction is different. He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, quietly absorbing the pitch. Peter expects the worst. Then Tom breaks his silence, telling the speech writers that if the German people are as unhappy as they say, this crazy of theirs might be worth a shot. 

With a green light from Tom and Tony, Peter gets to writing. Though he knows exactly what he wants to say, he does not know how he should say it. He gets stuck on simple word choices like - should he say “tear down the wall” or “bring down the wall”? Or perhaps “Take down the wall?” Peter even tries to write the wall line in German to better connect with the German people. Anxiously Peter shows his boss Tony an early draft, and the senior speech writer insists that the President’s big line should always be delivered in English. Peter goes back to his desk crosses out the German and settles on the words - “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

But as Peter continues with further drafts, he grows dismayed. None fully satisfy his superiors, and he’s running out of time. After weeks of slogging away, getting his work sent right back to him, Peter finally produces a draft that he and Tony both think is right. Peter breathes a sigh of relief. But his nerves return as he awaits another important stamp of approval.

On May 18th, the writing team journeys to the Oval Office for a meeting with the President. They watch Reagan’s every expression as he reads the speech to himself. Peter’s heart pounds. If the President doesn’t like it, he is back to square one. But soon a smile breaks across Reagan’s face and he gives the writers his approval, stating his particular appreciation for the line about tearing down the wall. He tells Peter that he agrees completely; the wall must come down. And he’s happy to be the one to say so.

This is just the response Peter was hoping for. But while the President and his writing team are happy, the rest of the Executive Branch is not. The State Department is the first to call and voice their dismay about its provocative tone. Then the National Security Council sends a memo laying out all the reasons why the speech is a bad idea. Even the ranking American Diplomat in West Berlin sends a message saying that the speech is dangerous - that it gives false hope to the German people and recklessly risks tipping Germany’s delicate balance.

In all, seven different departments send back alternate versions of the speech. Each of them has removed the line about tearing down the wall. But Peter does not back down from his original vision.

The entire week before the President leaves for his European trip, Peter’s schedule is filled with meetings with various officials pushing the writer to change the speech. But Peter goes toe to toe with the National Security Advisor, and again with the Secretary of State, he keeps fighting for his speech, refusing to budge.

But the opposition to the speech will not end in Washington. Attempts to stop the president from calling for an end to the wall will continue even once Air Force One has touched down in Europe, with cabinet members imploring Reagan to reconsider its rallying cry. But like Peter, the president will remain firm in his conviction too.

Act Three: War of Words

It’s June 12th, 1987 in West Berlin.

President Ronald Reagan rides in his limousine to the Berlin Wall’s Brandenburg Gate where he is expected to give his speech to over 10,000 West Berliners. On the way, the president’s chief of staff takes one last moment to express the cabinet’s misgivings about the intensity of the words he’s set to deliver. But Reagan’s mind is made up. He knows how important today’s message is. His speech will be broadcast, not just to the people of West Berlin, but to the people of East Germany too. He wants to give a clear voice to those silenced on the other side and make their frustrations acknowledged and heard.

When Reagan arrives at Brandenburg Gate, he steps out and begins his speech, exactly as Peter wrote it:

"President Reagan: We come to Berlin, we American presidents, because it's our duty to speak, in this place, of freedom. But I must confess, we're drawn here by other things as well: by the feeling of history in this city, more than 500 years older than our own nation; by the beauty of the Grunewald and the Tiergarten; most of all, by your courage and determination."

As Reagan calls for freedom in Germany, he looks upon the sea of people before him, but he also feels all those hidden beyond the wall behind him. He takes in the gravity of the moment, before delivering the speech’s passionate cry for action:

"President Reagan: 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! (crowd cheers). Mr. Gorbachev... Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! (crowd roars in approval)"

Reagan’s call for freedom will reverberate throughout Germany. He had done what many considered unthinkable; he had challenged the Soviet Union on their doorstep, inspiring others to fight for their own freedom. And, by the winter of 1989, it will be not Mikhail Gorbachev, but the very people Reagan addressed that day who will finally begin to tear down the Berlin Wall and reunite the German people, fulfilling the vision Reagan put forth on June 12th, 1987.

Outro

Next on History Daily. June 13th, 1966. The United States Supreme Court rules that police must inform suspects in custody of their Fifth Amendment rights before questioning them, thus establishing what's known as “Miranda Rights”.

From Noiser and Airship, this is History Daily, hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham.

Audio editing by Muhammad Shahzaib.

Sound design by Katrina Zemrak.

Music by Lindsay Graham.

This episode is written and researched by Erik Archilla.

Produced by Alexandra Currie-Buckner.

Executive Producers are Steven Walters for Airship, and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.