Rethinking the Fall of the Wall

An enduring image of twenty years ago was the fall of the Berlin Wall which separated East Germany from the West. Time's November 9 issue includes an article that President Reagan's role in bringing down the wall (and the fall of communism) remains "exaggerated, manipulated and misunderstood." The article was adapted from a recent book by Romesh Ratnesar. Ratesnar argues that the eventual change came about from a number of factors. That is obviously true. And indeed, President Reagan mixed diplomacy with tough talk. But part of the reason that Reagan was able to be successful diplomatically was because he could back up his diplomacy with substance.

Ratesnar makes the point that the wall "fell of its own weight." That is utter nonsense. The soviet economic system was driven to ruin because of at least three factors. First, was the fraud that was the system. All the five year plans were piffle dust. But second, technology began to allow people to communicate even with the restrictions that the soviets tried to impose. That also led to increased trade which was facilitated by the Reagan administration's strong stance on opening trade. But finally, the race for defense that Reagan got the soviets to participate in helped to destabilize the system.

Obviously, the aging of the dictators that ran the system and their increasing incompetence helped move the process along. But to deny the central role that President Reagan had in helping to end the oppressive system of soviet communism is revisionism without basis.

Ratesnar's conclusions are sounder than his analysis. He argues that even if the President wants to make peace with the Mullahs "there is no guarantee that he will succeed." He goes on to suggest that "Reagan's gift was his ability to speak candidly about the realities of his age while still presenting and working toward an optimistic vision of the future." You might summarize by saying that for the most part Reagan followed Teddy Roosevelt - he spoke softly and carried a big stick.