The Reagan Library in California

The Cold War Exhibit at the Reagan Library

There is an area of the Library dedicated to the Cold War.

The overarching theme of Reagan’s presidency was to defeat communism which he did. Or, at least he helped cause the Soviet Union to fall, but unfortunately, was unable to halt the slow march of that malignant ideology in America. Reagan said once that we are only one generation away from totalitarianism. He quoted Ayn Rand, a writer from St. Petersburg, Russia, and author of ‘Atlas Shrugged’.

The Berlin Wall

These urinals may not be the first thing you think of when you think of the Berlin Wall. However, after it fell, everyone wanted a piece of history. These slabs ended up at The Main Street Station Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Men, you are welcome to urinate not actually on the Wall but pretty close. Ladies, security will escort you if you wish a peek at the venerable Wall.

I have never been to the Berlin Wall, however, I do wish to see it someday. Until then, I will have to make do with the assorted slabs we encountered at the Reagan Library.

At the Library, there are slabs of the Wall in a darkened room. Two of the slabs have a hole on the bottom. Maureen crawled through one hole and out the other to the sounds of gunshots and dogs barking.

“Tear Down This Wall!”

The Berlin Wall was erected on the night of August 12, 1961. It split the city of Berlin in two. One side was West Berlin and free, and the other side was East Berlin behind the Iron Curtain imposed by the Soviets. There were so many fleeing the economic hardship and moral degradation of communism that they built the wall to keep people in. Remember, not one communist country has ever had to build a wall to keep people out. Two years before the Wall was destroyed, President Reagan gave his famous speech imploring the Soviet Leader to “tear down this wall!”

There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. 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! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

Ronald Reagan, June 12, 1987, at the Brandenburg Gate

Some of Reagan’s advisors told him that the “tear down the Wall” line did not sound presidential. He thought about it and finally said, “No. I’m keeping that line in.” Because what are politicians for if not to give us, the people, a voice? And we wanted that fucking wall down.

In November 2019, a bronze statue of Reagan was erected at the site of his speech.

The Wall Came Down

Timeline for November 9, 1989
8 pm The lead story on West Germany’s news programs at 8 pm was that officials were allowing the immediate opening of the Wall. These stations also broadcasted to East Germany.

This 9 November is a historic day. The GDR has announced that, starting immediately, its borders are open to everyone. The gates in the Wall stand open wide.

Anchorman, Hanns Joachim Friedrichs

9 pm Thousands of, mostly young, East Germans had flocked to the Wall. No East German authority wanted the personal responsibility of issuing orders to use lethal force.

11 pm People were allowed to pass without having their identity checked. However, they were told it was a one-way passage only. They could not return.

11:30 There were so many parents looking for their children and so much chaos that Commander Harald Jager opened all the gates and allowed the crowds to stream over the border. West Berliners were there to greet them with music and champagne. Some people began to chip away at the Wall with sledgehammers and chisels.

Midnight The checkpoints were completely overrun.
More than 2 million East Germans visited West Germany that weekend for a mass celebration. That’s how fast it happened; literally overnight.

June 13, 1990 East Germany began to officially take down the Wall.

The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the symbolic end of the Cold War. I remember thinking that it was impossible. This could never be, and I would never see this in my lifetime. So, never give up hope. Question authority. Fight the tyrant.