President Ronald Reagan delivered his “Tear Down This Wall” speech in West Berlin on June 12, 1987, publicly calling on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to remove the Berlin Wall.
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In Berlin, President Ronald Reagan urged Mikhail Gorbachev on June 12, 1987 to tear down the Berlin Wall.
From the archive, 13 June 1987: 'Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!' | US politics | The Guardian
Source: theguardian.com
At a glance
Verified August 31, 2026Key Evidence
Reagan spoke at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on June 12, 1987, in a speech commemorating Berlin’s 750th anniversary.
Reagan directly addressed Mikhail Gorbachev and urged him to remove the wall separating East and West Berlin.
The wording “tear down the Berlin Wall” is a faithful summary of Reagan’s exact appeal, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
President Ronald Reagan made the appeal during a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin on June 12, 1987. Addressing Mikhail Gorbachev, then the Soviet Union’s general secretary, Reagan called for the Berlin Wall to be torn down. The wording in the claim accurately captures the event, although Reagan’s exact phrase was “tear down this wall,” rather than “tear down the Berlin Wall.”nytimes.comnytimes.comA Look Back at Reagan’s Berlin Wall Speech, 30 Years Later
politico.compolitico.comReagan challenges Gorbachev to 'tear down' Berlin Wall, June 12, 1987+2 more
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