'Tear Down This Wall'

" We'll check your calendar you can believe it it's almost -- twentieth anniversary of the Berlin Wall being torn down it's this month and remember this famous line from Ronald Reagan speech in 1987. In Berlin. Mr. Gorbachev. -- down this wall."

" Okay."

" Didn't take too much longer after that Peter Robinson Robinson is the man who wrote that famous line he's a senior fellow at the Hoover institution he joins us this morning also joining us he's Ronald Reagan's son Michael Reagan. Welcome to both of you nice to see both because your career thank you. -- Mike how are you -- don't we start with you you're out there in Palo -- this morning did you have any idea that that line would reverberate around the world the way it did. No I was not trying to change the world I was trying to meet my deadline. I wanted to give the president a good speech good material I flew to Berlin saw the place where he would be speaking. And understood that there in front of the Berlin Wall as I've looked at it it. It was the kind of ground zero of the great conflict of the twentieth century the Cold War and it's important note by the way that. That evening I spoke to some Germans than it was a German woman. Who who became angry talking about the situation in Berlin -- this thing Gorbachev -- serious with this talk of -- most -- perestroika. He can prove it by coming here -- getting rid of this wall. So it was from the comment of a German woman to a speechwriter who worked with that and and turned it into tear down this wall. To Mike's -- Ronald Reagan. Who's the critical figure here when I wrote those words I was just giving President Reagan what I thought he would want and indeed he did want it and overrule the foreign policy objections to that speech. To deliver the line you know. Peter talked assembly mission which is Gorbachev and his movement in this as a student of his -- no glass notes and perestroika openness. Your father pushing him nudging him all along the whole time with this. But yet he still hasn't been honored there."

" Know that on -- no effect on taken off tomorrow going to Poland will be in Berlin on November 6. We have a foundation regulators -- foundation -- for years ago to give scholarships young men and women USS Ronald Reagan. Expanded last year. We're opening up the Reagan room at the Checkpoint Charlie museum in Berlin on November 6 just three days prior to the twentieth anniversary. Of the fall of Berlin Wall were really looking looking forward to a -- Peter doesn't tell you. That if you read a memo June 2 memo from the State Department. Over to Colin Powell. It said. We've done all we -- with -- speech at best is mediocre it is certainly a lost opportunity she attached for changes you go the page -- changes. And the whole paragraph -- Peter's talking about is -- definition by the State Department to take out of this speech. Eight more mammals from June 2 to June 12 97. From different areas -- government all took that part of the speech unbelievable."

" And we were just talking before we -- on the air about the misinformation. The you know it's it's hard to believe it's been twenty years but young people in Berlin. Have a completely different concept of what unfolded that time they want -- live at the time what are they being told what."

" You just you people about the education here lack of education -- America. What's going on over there is also a lack of education -- young people there are being led to believe now. That the Americans put up the Berlin Wall to keep the Communist. Out of the American sector."

" Unbelievable Peter -- give -- a final thoughts is this anniversary unfolds what should most Americans take away from this incredible moment. They should take -- the courage and dignity and simple it's moral decency of Ronald Wilson Reagan like step. I wrote the speech he's the one who over ruled the State Department in the National Security Council over and over and over again. And went to the wall and delivered -- Ronald Reagan's speech. And a great moment in world history Michael Reagan Peter Robinson thank you so much for joining us this morning. And a safe travels over to Berlin for a final honor that that we're glad finally it's coming tiger much but I stage -- thank you thanks Peter."