A Time for Choosing

"A Time for Choosing" Speech

In support of Goldwater, Reagan delivers the address, A Time for Choosing. The speech launches Reagan to national prominence.
Duration 29:33
Date October 27, 1964 (1964-10-27)
Location Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
Also known as "The Speech"
Participants Ronald Reagan
Type Televised campaign speech
Website Video clip, audio, transcript
This article is part of a series about
Ronald Reagan
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A Time for Choosing, also known as The Speech, was a speech presented during the 1964 U.S. presidential election campaign by future president Ronald Reagan on behalf of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.

Background

Many versions of the speech exist, since it was altered over many weeks. Contrary to popular belief, however, the speech was not given at the 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco, California as a nomination speech for presidential candidate Senator Barry Goldwater: Richard Nixon gave that nomination speech. Reagan, though he campaigned for Goldwater, did not use "A Time for Choosing" until October 27, 1964, when it was part of a pre-recorded television program, Rendezvous with Destiny. In his autobiography, An American Life, Reagan recalled going to bed that night "hoping I hadn't let Barry down."[1]

Speaking for Goldwater, Reagan stressed his belief in the importance of smaller government. In the speech, he revealed his ideological motivation: "The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. So we have come to a time for choosing."[2] He also said, "You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream – the maximum of individual freedom consistent with law and order – or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism."[2][3] The speech raised $1 million for Goldwater's campaign,[4] and is considered the event that launched Reagan's political career.[5][6]

Aftermath

To this day, "The Speech" is considered one of the most effective ever made on behalf of a candidate. Nevertheless, Barry Goldwater lost the election by one of the largest margins in history. Soon afterwards, Reagan was asked to run for Governor of California; he ran for office and won election in 1966. Reagan was later dubbed the "Great Communicator" in recognition of his effective speech-making skills.

References

  1. ↑ Reagan, Ronald (1990). An American Life: The Autobiography. New York City: Simon & Schuster. p. 143. ISBN 0671691988. Retrieved 31 March 2014. When it was over, the others in the room said I had done well. But I was still nervous about it and, when I went to bed, I was hoping I hadn't let Barry down
  2. 1 2 "A Time for Choosing". PBS. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  3. ↑ Richard A. Harris, Daniel J. Tichenor. A History of the U.S. Political System: Ideas, Interests, and Institutions, Volume 1. Santa Barbara, California, USA: ABC-CLIO, 2009. Pp. 384.
  4. ↑ Cannon, Lou (June 6, 2004). "Actor, Governor, President, Icon". The Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  5. ↑ Cannon (2001), p. 36.
  6. ↑ Peter Schweizer; Wynton C. Hall (2007). Landmark Speeches of the American Conservative Movement. Texas A&M University Press. p. 42. Retrieved April 26, 2012.

Further reading

Primary sources

External links

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