How we cite our quotes: (Sentence)
Quote #1
In the Reichstag a few moments ago, I saw a display commemorating this 40th anniversary of the Marshall Plan… The sign read simply: "The Marshall Plan is helping here to strengthen the free world." (28-31)
Heeeeere we come to save the daaaaaay…
But theme music aside, Reagan is basically reminding Berliners that not only are the U.S. and West Germany allies, they're allies in freedom. And that makes them super-duper allies.
Quote #2
From devastation, from utter ruin, you Berliners have, in freedom, rebuilt a city that once again ranks among the greatest on earth. The Soviets may have had other plans. (42-43)
So to paraphrase: the freedom-haters didn't want you guys to rebuild your city. They wanted you to live in bombed-out buildings, scavenging for food and money. But that's sure not what happened, is it? Ha ha ha, take that, Soviets.
Quote #3
In the 1950s, Khrushchev predicted: "We will bury you." But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of prosperity and well-being unprecedented in all human history. In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind—too little food. Even today, the Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. After these four decades, then, there stands before the entire world one great an inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor. (45-51)
This is maybe the most elegant burn on the Soviet Union that ever there was. Reagan takes former leader Khrushchev's words and basically says, "I don't think so, buddy. You guys can't even feed yourselves." Freedom is the winner.