President Reagan and the Cold War: Vision and Diplomacy
Making Connections
All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.Introduction
In this activity, we will analyze primary sources that document the role of leadership and diplomacy in ending the Cold War and the special relationship between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev. As a class, we will analyze each document and then figure out how they connect to the story of the ending of the Cold War.Name:
Class:
Class:
Worksheet
President Reagan and the Cold War: Vision and Diplomacy
Making Connections
Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Fill in any blanks in the sequence with your thoughts and write your conclusion response in the space provided.Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev at the first Summit in Geneva
Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
Box 1
•What was the status of U.S. Soviet relations in 1983?
•What Soviet leader headed the Soviet Union in 1983?
•What Soviet leader was in power in 1985?
•What words would you use to describe the mood in the room in document one?
•What words would you use to describe the mood in the room in document two?
•What was the status of U.S. Soviet relations in 1983?
•What Soviet leader headed the Soviet Union in 1983?
•What Soviet leader was in power in 1985?
•What words would you use to describe the mood in the room in document one?
•What words would you use to describe the mood in the room in document two?
Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
Box 2
•Describe the diplomatic relationship between President Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
•Describe some of the major differences in tone between documents four and five.
•Think about the number of audiences a president addresses. What might be some differences between talking to the American people at large and official diplomatic government communications?
•Describe the diplomatic relationship between President Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
•Describe some of the major differences in tone between documents four and five.
•Think about the number of audiences a president addresses. What might be some differences between talking to the American people at large and official diplomatic government communications?
Photograph of President Reagan giving a speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Federal Republic of Germany
Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev signing the INF Treaty in the East Room of the White House
Box 3
•What are some of the differences between the words delivered at the Brandenburg Gate and the signing of the INF Treaty?
•What connections can be found between political rhetoric and diplomatic action? Is this relationship always easy to explain or define? What lessons have history taught us about President Reagan’s foreign policy strategies?
•What are some of the differences between the words delivered at the Brandenburg Gate and the signing of the INF Treaty?
•What connections can be found between political rhetoric and diplomatic action? Is this relationship always easy to explain or define? What lessons have history taught us about President Reagan’s foreign policy strategies?
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Activity Element
Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Activity Element
Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev at the first Summit in Geneva
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3
Activity Element
Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
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4
Activity Element
Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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5
Activity Element
Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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6
Activity Element
Photograph of President Reagan giving a speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Federal Republic of Germany
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7
Activity Element
Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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8
Activity Element
Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev signing the INF Treaty in the East Room of the White House
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Conclusion
President Reagan and the Cold War: Vision and Diplomacy
Making Connections
We have put documents together to tell the story of President Reagan and the Cold War.- What conclusions did you come to?
- What other kinds of documents would provide us with the information about President Reagan and the Cold War that were not included in this activity?
- How do you think this new evidence would influence your understanding of the Cold War?
Your Response
Document
Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
3/8/1983
Draft of the address that became popularly known as the "Evil Empire" speech. This draft is heavily edited by Ronald Reagan, in his handwriting.
This primary source comes from the Collection RR-WHORM: White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files).
National Archives Identifier: 198500
Full Citation: Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983; 3/8/1983; Collection RR-WHORM: White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/presidential-address-national-association-of-evangelicals-orlando-florida-tuesday-march-8-1983, April 20, 2024]Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Presidential Address: National Association of Evangelicals, Orlando, Florida, Tuesday, March 8, 1983
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Document
Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev at the first Summit in Geneva
11/19/1985
Additional details from our exhibits and publications
President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, Geneva, Switzerland.
This primary source comes from the Collection RR-WHPO: White House Photographic Collection.
National Archives Identifier: 75854433
Full Citation: C31982-11; Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev at the first Summit in Geneva; 11/19/1985; Reagan White House Photographs, January 20, 1981–January 20, 1989; Collection RR-WHPO: White House Photographic Collection, ; Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, CA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/photograph-of-president-reagan-and-general-secretary-gorbachev-at-the-first-summit-in-geneva, April 20, 2024]Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev at the first Summit in Geneva
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Document
Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
11/28/1985
Handwritten draft by Ronald Reagan, re the aftermath of the 1985 Geneva Summit.
Additional details from our exhibits and publications
President Ronald Reagan handwrote this letter on November 28, 1985. In it, he expresses his desire for a more constructive relationship to Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The President had just met with Gorbachev in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 19.
This primary source comes from the Executive Secretariat, National Security Council: Records.
National Archives Identifier: 198162
Full Citation: Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version); 11/28/1985; Executive Secretariat, National Security Council: Records, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-ronald-reagan-to-mikhail-gorbachev-english-version, April 20, 2024]Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev (English version)
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Document
Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
2/16/1986
Handwritten letter from Reagan, responding to Gobachev letters of December 1985 and January 1986
This primary source comes from the Collection RR-EXSEC: Executive Secretariat, National Security Council: Records.
National Archives Identifier: 198165
Full Citation: Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev; 2/16/1986; Collection RR-EXSEC: Executive Secretariat, National Security Council: Records, . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-ronald-reagan-to-mikhail-gorbachev, April 20, 2024]Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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Letter from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev
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Document
Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
10/13/1986
Draft of Ronald Reagan's nationally televised address given in the aftermath of the Rejkyavik Summit with Mikhail Gorbachev. Handwritten notation on first page states, "Combined new text w/RR's [Ronald Reagan's] insert."
This primary source comes from the Collection RR-WHORM: White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files).
National Archives Identifier: 198482
Full Citation: Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]; 10/13/1986; Collection RR-WHORM: White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/presidential-address-to-the-nation-iceland-meeting-monday-october-13-1986-[101386-500pm-draft], April 20, 2024]Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Presidential Address to the Nation: Iceland Meeting: Monday, October 13, 1986 [10/13/86 5:00pm draft]
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Document
President Reagan Giving a Speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Federal Republic of Germany
6/12/1987
This photograph shows President Ronald Reagan giving a speech in front of the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate in the Federal Republic of Germany. Reagan covered such topics as the removal of the Berlin Wall, East-West relations, and arms control. This famous speech is known for the line "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
This primary source comes from the Collection RR-WHPO: White House Photographic Collection.
National Archives Identifier: 75855517
Full Citation: C41247-10; President Reagan Giving a Speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Federal Republic of Germany; 6/12/1987; Reagan White House Photographs, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989; Collection RR-WHPO: White House Photographic Collection, ; Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, CA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/reagan-brandenburg-gate, April 20, 2024]President Reagan Giving a Speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, Federal Republic of Germany
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Document
Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
6/12/1987
In June 1987, President Ronald Reagan spoke at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. This page from President Reagan’s speaking copy of his remarks includes his call to Soviet President Michael Gorbachev to “Tear down this wall.” Selected pages are shown.
This primary source comes from the White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files).
National Archives Identifier: 198491
Full Citation: Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]; 6/12/1987; White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), . [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/remarks-at-brandenberg-gate-berlin-germany-[presidents-speaking-copy], April 20, 2024]Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Remarks at Brandenberg Gate, Berlin, Germany [President's Speaking Copy]
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Document
Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev signing the INF Treaty in the East Room of the White House
12/8/1987
This primary source comes from the Collection RR-WHPO: White House Photographic Collection.
National Archives Identifier: 75855867
Full Citation: C44071-15A; Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev signing the INF Treaty in the East Room of the White House; 12/8/1987; Reagan White House Photographs, January 20, 1981–January 20, 1989; Collection RR-WHPO: White House Photographic Collection, ; Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, CA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/photograph-of-president-reagan-and-general-secretary-gorbachev-signing-the-inf-treaty-in-the-east-room-of-the-white-house, April 20, 2024]Photograph of President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev signing the INF Treaty in the East Room of the White House
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