A very good speech.
There are many versions of the speech exist, as it was altered over many weeks as Ronald Reagan campaigned for Barry Goldwater. Speaking for Goldwater, Reagan stressed his belief in the importance of smaller government. In this speech, he revealed his ideology:
“The Founding Fathers knew a government can’t control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing.” [2]
He also said:
“You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man’s age-old dream – the maximum of individual freedom consistent with law and order – or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism.” [2][3]
The speech is considered the event that launched Reagan’s political career.[5][6]
To this day, ‘The Speech’ can be considered one of the most effective ever made on behalf of a candidate. Soon afterwards, Reagan was asked to run for Governor of California. He ran for office and won election in 1966. Reagan was later dubbed the “Great Communicator” in recognition of his effective communication.
- Reagan, Ronald (1990). An American Life: The Autobiography. Simon & Schuster. p. 143. ISBN 0671691988. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- ^ Jump up to:a b “A Time for Choosing”. PBS. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
- ^ Richard A. Harris, Daniel J. Tichenor. A History of the U.S. Political System: Ideas, Interests, and Institutions, Volume 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2009. p. 384
- ^ Cannon, Lou (June 6, 2004). “Actor, Governor, President, Icon”. The Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
- ^ Cannon (2001), p. 36
- ^ Peter Schweizer; Wynton C. Hall (2007). Landmark Speeches of the American Conservative Movement. Texas A&M University Press. p. 42. ISBN 9781585445981. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
