This Day in Pictures: Remembering Reagan and His Famous Line, ‘Tear Down This Wall!’

Samantha Reinis / June 12, 2015

One of the most recognizable quotes of Ronald Reagan’s presidency was deemed too controversial and was almost never spoken.

Peter Robinson, a young speechwriter for the Reagan White House, was given the task of drafting the president’s speech to commemorate the 750th anniversary of Berlin on June 12, 1987. After visiting the people of Berlin to understand their exasperated resentment, Robinson drafted numerous copies and countless wordings of the now famous phrase.

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” was almost revised to “This ugly wall will disappear” after a diplomat in Berlin took out the controversial line, fearing it would be too harsh on Gorbachev.

Yet Reagan made his stance well known.

“The boys at State are going to kill me,” Reagan said, “but it’s the right thing to do.”

Twenty-eight years later, we take a look back at the Great Communicator and the cause he helped to advance in Berlin.

epa01913010 (FILE) A file picture dated 11 June 1982 shows (L-R) then Berlin Mayor Richard von Weizsecker, then US President Ronald Reagan and then German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt at Check Point Charlie in Berlin, Germany. 'Tear down this wall!'. On 12 June 1987, US President Ronald Reagan pronounced these words to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev during a speech at the Brandenburg Gate commemorating the 750th anniversary of Berlin. The Berlin Wall came down two years later on 09 November 1989 and two parts of Germany was reunified after 28 years of separation. The building of the Wall began on 13 August 1961. German Democratic Republic (GDR) armed forces started to seal off the eastern part of the city with road barriers made from barbed wire, to build an 'anti-Fascist protective barrier.' On 09 November 1989, after the spokeperson of German Democratic Republic government Guenter Schabowski announced during a press conference the immediate opening of the inner German border, tens of thousands of GDR citizens flocked to the border crossing points. The Iron Curtain fell. On 09 November 2009 will be the celebration of this historic autumn night, the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. EPA/DIETER HESPE B/W ONLY (Newscom TagID: epaphotosfour391456.jpg) [Photo via Newscom]

Reagan meets with Berlin Mayor Richard von Weizsacker and German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt five years before he would return to make his memorable speech. (Photo: Dieter Hespe/EPA/Newscom)

President Reagan with Chancellor Kohl and Eberhard Diepgen, arriving to give a speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

President Reagan with Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Eberhard Diepgen, arriving to give a speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

President Reagan delivers his speech at the Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

The view of the crowd that gathered to hear Reagan speak. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

Reagan at podium with a thumbs up with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, German political leader Philipp Jenninger and his wife. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

President Reagan and Nancy Reagan depart after remarks at Berlin Wall. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

The Brandenburg Gate at the Berlin Wall in West Berlin. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

President Reagan and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl at the Berlin Wall in West Berlin. (Photo: Ronald Reagan Library)

Border policemen stand next in front of the Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, 17 June 1987. Photo: Wolfgang Kumm/dpa (Newscom TagID: dpaphotostwo228742.jpg) [Photo via Newscom]

Border policemen stand next in front of the Berlin Wall and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin days after Reagan’s famous speech. (Photo: Wolfgang Kumm/dpa/picture-alliance/Newscom)

President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev developed a close relationship amid growing tensions between the two superpowers. (Photo: Steve Gottlieb/Stock Connection Worldwide/Newscom)

November 12, 1989 - Berlin, Germany: On November 9, 2014 the city Capital of Germany will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, built between the east and the west sectors in 1961 and fall down in November 9, 1989. Graffiti and mural on the west side of the wall. (Piero Oliosi/Polaris) (Newscom TagID: polspphotos078877.jpg) [Photo via Newscom]

Graffiti on the Berlin Wall revealed German frustrations and became an outlet for protesters. (Photo: Piero Oliosi/Polaris/Newscom)

President Ronald Reagan, with his wife Nancy Reagan, hammers symbolically at an opening in the Berlin Wall, Sept. 10, 1990. (Photo: Andrew Popper/Polaris/Newscom)

>>> Watch the video of Reagan’s famous line