"A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan
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- Опубліковано 9 тра 2024
- "The Speech" is what Ronald Reagan called it. Today we call it, "A Time for Choosing," and it was a pivotal turning point in Ronald Reagan's life.
Ronald Reagan began a long side-career of public speaking as his acting career closed out. He traveled across the country meeting Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce and any other civic-minded local groups. This continued and intensified during his service as the General Electric spokesperson while hosting their sponsored television series. "The Speech" was delivered in various forms and to different audiences as each word was honed, measured and memorized.
During the 1964 Presidential campaign, Republican party officials in California, who knew Reagan's powerful message and delivery, asked him to film a speech on behalf of the Republican candidate, Barry Goldwater. The speech was aired on October 27, 1964 and it was electrifying. Donations to the Republican party and candidates increased dramatically.
The Republican Party took note and they targeted Reagan as a candidate from that point forward. He agreed in 1966 to run for Governor of California. He won two terms, and eventually won the Presidency.
Table of Contents:
0:00 Choose My Own Words
1:42 We Haven't Balanced Our Budget
2:14 As For The Peace That We Would Preserve...
3:28 Government is Beholden to The People
6:22 Government's Involvement In The Farm Economy
8:26 The Assault on Freedom Carries On
10:18 The Need Grows Greater; the Program Grows Greater
12:37 What Are We Doing to Those We Seek to Help?
15:14 Barry Goldwater Thinks We Can
17:50 No Government Ever Voluntarily Reduces Itself
20:47 Democratic Opponents Seem Unwilling to Debate
23:55 Perhaps There Is a Simple Answer
27:17 You And I Have a Rendezvous With Destiny
Watch a special "Remembering A Time For Choosing" video here: • Remembering "A Time fo...
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If Republicans were like Ronald Reagan, and Democrats were like John F. Kennedy, this country would be going places.
+MusicCityMaverick I would actually not mind voting for a democrat if they were all JFK's. At least he's agreeable
+Dylan Cannon The day of Reagan and JFK are long gone and it is truly our loss.
+matt Taggerty It was JFK and LBJ that started us down this disastrous path that we are on today.
Way things as U say Reagen don't have a chance in the world. Lets pray. That Cathlioc Pope Francis will lead the world in a better direction. Kennedy died twice. We are all of gods creation.
+matt Haggerty Wouldn't it be nice. if USA had a 2nd Amenment? maybe not. lets review democracy thn think constitution. there is just shame in wheel.
Put the political views aside for just a moment, look at the speech itself. The delivery, the clarity of thought, the composition. Its just masterful oration.
+weakestlink41 His wife then said "Ronnie, I was so moved by your speech. We need someone like you now more than ever. Why don't you run for office?" - He was soon California Governor. Yes, THIS speech.
+weakestlink41 "Bold colors, no pale pastels." He painted every word with bold colors, all right. And remember, he didn't have speech writers nor a teleprompter!
Yep, should be like every public speaking class gold standard.
Brandyn Henry say it again!
Sounds like he is speaking for us NOW.
I'm 18. I was never able to see Ronald Reagan as President but I sure do wish we could find a candidate like him today.
Ted cruz
I had the privilege of working on Mr. Reagan's 1980 campaign as a 20 year old. Dear lord we need someone like him today.
Cole P Donald Trump, he considered Reagan a Key Role model.
Cole P Yup Ted Cruz
Cole, I was 20 when I worked on Ronnie's campaign. I know how you feel...
This speech was written and given by Ronald Regan with no teleprompter.
The founding fathers would have been so proud of Reagan..what a speech..
This is a speech every American should hear
Dont change America, dont change like europe or any other country. America, you are that last beacon of hope.
+Jose Martinez This US is on the fast track to becoming a 3rd world nation. We NEED change, and soon.
Carol Danvers Keep thinking that. That's why it's happening. False pride will be the fall of this nation. Yours is false pride. Pride not based on facts. The poorest people in this nation are homeless. They have no food unless they steal it. They have no shelter. They sleep right in the streets, searching for whatever cover they could. But keep telling yourself how the poorest people are sitting in posh homes watching TV all day.
Carol Danvers And that's why this country is quickly moving to 3rd world status. You claim national pride, but don't want to be bothered with the good of the nation.
Carol Danvers Are you incapable of reading? I never said the US is a third world nation. I said we are on the fast track to it.
I despise people with false pride. If you were proud of the US, you wouldn't cower from problems. But that's exactly what you are doing. And that's exactly why the US is falling so fast. Rather than helping fix the myriad problems we face, you close your eyes and just repeat "we are the best" over and over. You disgust me, coward.
www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2012-13.pdf
www.cnn.com/2012/07/02/us/american-exceptionalism-other-countries-lessons/
www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2015/04/23/the-happiest-countries-in-the-world/?tid=a_inl
time.com/2888403/u-s-health-care-ranked-worst-in-the-developed-world/
content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2056723,00.html
The US is near the bottom in the following categories:
Inefficient government bureaucracy
Tax Rates
Tax Regulations
Access to financing
Restrictive labor regulations
Inflation
Inadequately educated workforce
Policy instability
Poor work ethic in national labor force
insufficient capacity to innovate
inadequate supply of infrastructure
Foreign currency regulations
Government instability
Corruption
Crime and theft
Poor public health
It's sad that this speech seems like it was written for today. Our country isn't improving our problems
+Starlesslemon how do you improve your problems?
Reagan is the definition of a MAN. He wasn't just wise, he identified with other people with common sense. Very practical leader.
+Houston Yu sure, right up until the point he turned his back on the people and signed over the nation to a few wealthy men.
+Rasmus Jacopsen Ok, how did Reagan sell us off?
Well I know how you feel. I can't stand what we are promoting these days. I know everyone does wrong, but we are promoting it openly. I know every country does, but I also know that it is no coincidence that we are starting to have all these problems. I just don't understand why so many people can't see what is causing them. Well I do understand, but still it's frustrating. If Christianity (true christianity) becomes majority in any country I believe they will be blessed. Whatever you do if you see that people are watering down God's word like they do here then you better confront them. I think that is why we are having most of our problems. We tried too hard to be "openminded". Many people have opened their minds so far that their brains fell out.
I also think that we should have done more to help others. Eventhough we give a lot of money we should have taken action. If we see Christians being slaughtered by the thousands for their beliefs and do nothing then it is wrong. I hate war, but I also hate letting children grow up in societies that will treat them much worse than the one we have here. If you go to war then yes thousands maybe millions will die, but how many tens or hundreds of millions will die in many places I simply because you do nothing.
I agree with the Allegiance thing. I love most of the ideals that America was founded upon, but I hate what it is becoming. Sometimes if a nation won't repent until it faces a horrible tragedy. I hope that if we do we will repent like was done in the Bible. If there are enough who refuse to repent then we won't be around to pester those who hate us.
Oh how I miss the days when grownups were in charge.
50 years ago this speech was made. Change a few names and a few numbers and you could give it today!
Wow! I'm not a Republican, and neither did I ever listen to a speech from President Ronald Reagan. Great speech! It's almost as if he was giving it today.
+Abdel “Sosa” Russell
It's good to see Americans one at a time growing and learning. Even though you're not a Republican ... welcome to the land of the free.
+Abdel “Sosa” Russell It is absolutely frightening how much it applies to the USA now. They are still trying to do what he warned about over 50 years ago.
+Abdel “Sosa” Russell the reason it sounds like it could apply today is because it's just a bunch of empty platitudes that SOUND good but mean nothing more than "we should do good things cause the bad guys are out to get us". Rhetoric and nothing more.
+Abdel “Sosa” Russell He spoke truth and common sense about the uselessness of big Government waste and preached self responsibility and reliance. Sadly today a lot of overgrown children are too afraid to take control of their own lives and be responsible for their own actions. They will use meaningless terms and try to dismiss truth and reality as propaganda or rhetoric, as they adore authority and crave the security of servitude to their Government masters and falsely believe that someone they have never met, knows what their best interests are and can run their lives for them.
+Christopher Ford Really? Talking about increased debt and decreasing value of the dollar is an empty platitude? Get a clue.
This speech exemplifies exactly why I am a Republican.
Never thought I could get goosebumps from a speech 25 years older than me.
Hope we get a president like Reagan before I die.
+Redblactivist
Believe me i hope you get everything you wish for.
***** right Nikola, ask the people of Guatemala and NIcaragua.. Don't try to sound too smart.
I'm 32 and watching this for the first time. They should be showing this video to kids in school. The educational system has been hijacked now for decades upon decades. Sad.
Really? You want a president like Reagen who cut taxes for the rich and raised them for the poor, tripeled the national debt, raised unemployment by 4%, gave nearly 3 million illegal immigrants amnesty, and ripped the middle class and unions to shreds? Not my cup of tea.
+Nikola Tesla Do you even know the crap Reagen did as president? He was a puppet.
Everything he said is as relevant today as it was 50 years ago.
Prophetic and inspiring. This should be re-played at every Republican convention. It's time to WAKE UP AMERICA!
Tell em' like it is, Mr. Reagan. You still are the "Great Communicator".
Every American student needs to listen to this speech. Make it mandatory.
I was 14 in 64, and working on my Father's farm. We lived close and frugally, but we were able to make a living from our land. I now live alone on a portion of that land, and it would be impossible to farm this land and not lose it. More government involvement is not now and has never been the answer to our problems. In what alternative universe does it make sense for the government to pay a farmer NOT to grow a crop, and farm his land? The end result has been to, largely, abolish the family farms that have fed the nation and a large part of the world. Most of what was once farmland has been lost to "Progress", and can never be reclaimed. Farming now is largely government financed and subsidized "Agribusiness" totally controlled by enormous corporations. The quality of our food has suffered, right along with the quality of life. Like Reagan said" the most frightening words ever said are, I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
Now there's a president.
I bet you....if people kept this speech and said it more often...we wouldnt have the problems that we do now. This speech was very important and that it needs to be repeated. In my personal opinion this is one of the best presidents ive learned about and im only going on 19 years old
I saw this speech in 1975 as a 13 yr old kid this speech made me a conservative. Thank You Ronald Reagan you made me who I am.
I wish my generation was able to experience a president like Reagan. I'm a democrat, but admit my party is single handily destroying everything this man helped build. God bless him.
A Statesman personified.
His Leadership is missed.
His passion and belief in the Exceptionalism of America is missed.
Greatest President ever
The president is right. It’s not about left or right; it’s up or down. It’s not our father who art in Washington ( presidents should never be our moral leaders), it should be our Father who art in Heaven. And he’s also right when he says America is the world’s last stop for freedom. This nation is a republic, not a democracy and our for fathers tried to prevent a centralized government which is communism in the making. RIP President Reagan
I could listen to Reagan for hours
From a Black man Like Me and a USA outsider I would say He was the Best Spoken President of the USA. God Bless President Reagan hope he doing well in the after life.
One of the best presidents America has ever had.
I read once that President Johnson watched the speech and when it was over he turned to an aide and said, "They nominated the wrong boy."
I think this speech is up there with Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural speech.
+Reformed Reinhardt lol--ya gotta be kidding--where' the jelly beans?
+Reformed Reinhardt I agree its the speech that catapulted him to the presidency. Its so masterful and if you changed the names could be given today and it would be just as impactful.
+Reformed Reinhardt Me Too!
It irritates me when liberals blindly claim republicans have moved "so far right" since Reagan. This great historic speech pretty much blows that theory to hell. Meanwhile, their favorite democrat candidate, Sanders, openly declares himself a socialist. And on many issues, Sanders is to the right of Obama.
"It's not that liberals are ignorant, it's just they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
+R. Kasich is irrelevant at this point. He cant win...he basically is giving the election to Trump.
+R. Kasich is irrelevant at this point. He cant win...he basically is giving the election to Trump.
God bless Ronald Reagan. I can't even imagine how he would turn around in his grave seeing America today. Boy do we need him now!
phoenixbornagain Thank you. Hope you had a great conservative new year. Go Donald Trump 2016!
Keep in mind that this historic speech is 50 years old.
But once again we find ourselves in a time when history is repeating itself.
As I listened to this I couldn't help but see the similarities and comparisons to the time we live in today.
I tell you as one American to another, it's not too late.
For our children and grandchildren, pray that America can find the spine to plant it's feet and take a stand.
God Bless America
Amen.
Literally, the best speech I've ever heard. It had the hairs on my arm standing and saluting the flag. Wow I love America! This speech will and go down in history as the best speech ever!
It may or may not be the greatest speech ever, but it has to at least be in the top 10. I would say top 5 at least, but definitely top 10.
Exactly
+JohnQDude Not really the best was either MLK or President Lincoln.
It is that time again - A Time For Choosing America!
This is an American. This man makes me proud to be an American. Where are the leaders that have such insight and ability to communicate? Where are the leaders that understand the spirit of the United States like this man? Oh, I miss him.
When Reagan was in office, I was visiting the home of a co-worker when Reagan came on TV. My friend made a statement, that made me step back at the time, but it was not long before I too, began to believe my young friend’s, (age 24), insightful statement,: “You are looking at one of the greatest presidents that has ever lived.”
How did Barry Goldwater mess this campaign up so hard? Reagan should've won it for him right here.
A great leader that came to soon. We need him now.
Tears in my eyes watching this.
I love how he talks SPECIFICS!
He brings his points home and doesn't speak in lofty ideas. He made things happen. God I want a Reagan back in office.
"There is a price we will not pay, there is a point beyond they must not advance"
If only we had a leader who would say this today.
Yeah. Reagan was the last president that wasn't a eunuch.
Whatever year it is that you are listening to this speech consider how different things may be now and consider sharing this speech with people you know.
Oh how we need a man like Ronald Reagan today.
No Teleprompter! Right from his heart... this message changed my life when I read it for the first time in 1992... Thank You!
God rest his soul.
I wonde how his soul can rest if he has any idea what's happening to his/our country. Ronald Reagan must be spinning in his grave tryito get the hell back out to help his beloved country.
Too bad we don't have anyone give a speech like that today. Then again I'm afraid it would fall on deaf ears.
Reagan, as good as it gets.
Sometimes it really does feel like we lost our way
50 years ago this speech caused the 17 year old me to become a lifelong Conservative. Thank You, Gipper.
This is why I love being an American
A masterpiece of oratory that should be listened to from time to time.
It is astonishing, inflate the numbers, change the names... This could have been delivered yesterday!
God's blessings on all the Americans like these that did resist the communists. Where would the world be without them?
Dam, I really miss him. My first Commander in Chief!
What a dynamic man
WOW.....Reagan saw into 2014 and where we are today.......
Best president in a 100 years.....
Every American should hear this speech, the founders would be proud!
"Well, I would like to suggest that there is no left or right. There is only an up or down." The political and administrative ramifications of that statement are beyond a thread here. But it's the idea of positiveness that he always seemed to convey. He was a communicator genius.
It's amazing and scary to hear the points Ronald Reagan addressed in 1964 and how they mirror the socialist mentality of our present government. The blindness of people in this country in which I was born is too much. Pray to God He shows undeserving mercy to us as a nation!
His speeches were mind blowing and so candid!
This speech is 31 years older than I am, and it gives me chills, hope, and tears at the same time. I'm still finding out where Mr. Reagan ranks among the presidents in my mind, but I don't think anyone can deny this speech is one of the best and most inspiring ever given. It applies almost perfectly today.
Knows his facts and numbers by heart. The sign of someone willing to work hard to illuminate the issues facing America. Such a well articulated, visionary and now prophetic ideology. One of the best presidents ever. God bless America and the spirit of Ronald Reagan.
when you speak from the heart, you dont need a teleprompter
Thank God we had Reagan - he was a warrior for Liberty. Smartest President in my life time.
brought tears to my eyes. It saddens me the decline of our great nation.
My first Commander n Chief!!
President Reagan will always be my favorite President. He was my Commander in Chief when i was in the Navy and I was proud to serve under him. The best President this nation ever had and by the way i'm black and a Reaganite.
One of the most inspiring speeches.
WOW!!! Every brilliant word from the core of his being! Remember, he didn't have a speech writer nor a teleprompter for this. Long live Reagan and conservatism!
I think bernie should see this
Who would vote this down??? Amen Sir!
"A Time For Choosing" By Ronald Reagan should be the blue print for the GOP and our Public School System across the country today, children and adults alike are in big trouble, unless we fix this problem, it will only get worse
Best political speech of all time.
The last great American president. A man of great values who stood for freedom. America needs another Reagan.
And I'm Canadian....
+T25S40 You mean that the GOP is so far to the right. They've moved so far right, in fact, that even GOP supporters don't support them anymore. The GOP is going to die because they cannot separate fact from fiction.
We need another Reagan
We need a Ronald Reagan now more than ever. Obama should watch this video, although it wouldn't help him.
That's it. I'm voting for Goldwater.
Someone should elect this guy president!
Michael Reinmund He served 2 terms.
Please tell me you are not serious.......
I know he was elected twice. Its just a joke. If I saw this speech in 1964, I would be for Reagan 68!
OMG, I can't believe that Gus and Justin did not get the joke..../facepalm
Santiago Matamoros A former Marine Commadant is running in 2016 and his former SMMC is running for VP.
I cannot possibly like this video enough. This is the video, along with David Horiwitz's "Radical Son", which made me realize I am on the right. Absolutely the speech that defined my political life.
+RottenIsAGunner Horowitz still essentially maintains the Marxist-socialist dialectic, only from the other side. He'd still fit Hayek's definition of a leftist.
This, on the other hand, is a distillation of some beautiful ideas- something that has far more permanence than either the highs or lows of Reagan's presidency. Perhaps the greatest American political speech ever given.
Every time I feel down and I get depressed lately following world news, I watch this speech. I hope this type of attitude still exists in the US somewhere....
This man could really deliver a speech. Not like the 'voice' we have now.
wow just wow he predicted alot of things that are happening today i hope he's watching over Donald.Trump
Ronald Reagan.... nuff said what an inspiring man, he loved this country and could see it for what it is 'the last place on earth for freedom', we need another POTUS like him now days....
One of the best historical speeches ever made. This is delivered by a true leader of the most unique and free nation!!
I love this speech. It's maybe the greatest Conservative speeches of all time. He was special.
Everything President Reagan talked about are based on America's own principles of foundations and constitutions for America's greatness by his patriotism and loyalty towards America such a great country. I understand that why if America lost freedom, prosperity of the Capitalism systems, security and safety, the principles of foundations and constitutions, Americans of all will have no place to escape. God bless America.
Every single person in the audience is thinking one thing, "Why wasn't Reagan the nominee?"
The greatest president to live, God bless - Poland
"I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there’s purpose and worth to each and every life."
Good night, sweet prince.
Milton Friedman: "Socialism hasn't worked in 6,000 years of recorded history,"
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure and the gospel of envy; its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money. - Margaret Thatcher
"Socialism is just the last "feel good step on the path to Communism and its slavery." - Lenin
Medicine (health care control) is the keystone of the arch of socialism. - Lenin
Important to watch this before our current election.. Touches on so many similar issues
+Joe Giuliano Very much so.
You are so right!
Kasich did not hold to his word that he would endorse the candidate who won the nomination. And kasich instituted policies in total opposition to reagans stance in opposition of government programs.
This is the greatest political speech of all time. He was the Michael Jordan of American politics in the 20th century. An absolute superstar that wins and wins a lot.
The more things "change," the more things stay the same...
What an excellent speech, yet we never learn.
You can tell he was reading Hayek's _The Road to Serfdom._
The greatest political speech of the latter Twentieth Century. Big ideas; moral clarity; full of dread and scorn about the powers that be, but also optimism and certainty about what must be done; and delivered in earnest tones by a speaker with excellent bearing. This speech should be taught in schools for its rhetorical strength alone.
I get so excited and energized listening him. He is what America needs to succeed!
I love the way he says the word "government".
I truly respect Ronald Reagan's use of "our liberal friends" when taking a slap at the left. Beautiful.