Dearborn Public Schools



Famous Speeches: Ronald Reagan, “A Time for Choosing” 020955000 California Governor Ronald Reagan wears a cowboy hat during trail ride on December 5, 1968, at the Republican Governor's Conference in California. Getty Images. “A Time for Choosing” was a speech delivered by Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan during the 1964 U.S. presidential election. The speech, which was given in support of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater, was a huge success. It raised $1 million for Goldwater's campaign and, in the process, launched Reagan’s political career. The speech outlined Reagan's belief in the importance of smaller government and his opposition to socialism, which he believed was basically the same as communism. Soon after he delivered it, Reagan was asked to run for governor of California. In 1980, he was elected the 40th president of the United States. Below are several passages from the speech. "There Is No Such Thing As Left Or Right" I am going to talk of controversial things. I make no apology for this. It’s time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms intended for us by the Founding Fathers. James Madison said, “We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government.” This idea — that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power — is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man. This is the issue of this election: whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves. You and I are told we must choose between liberal or conservative, between 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 order — or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism, to a world in which the few have complete power over the many. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian purpose, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, “The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.” 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. "They Tell Us We're Always 'Against,' Never 'For,' Anything" Public servants say, always with the best of intentions, “What greater service we could render if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” But the truth is that outside of its proper function, government does nothing as well or as economically as private enterprises can. Yet any time you and I question the schemes of the government do-gooders, we’re denounced as being opposed to their humanitarian goals. It seems impossible to debate their solutions by asserting that all of us share the desire to help the less fortunate. They tell us we’re always “against,” never “for” anything. We do strongly believe that destitution should not follow unemployment by reason of old age. For that reason, we have accepted Social Security as a step toward meeting the problem. However, we are against those entrusted with this program when they practice deception regarding its financial shortcomings, when they charge that any criticism of the program means that we want to end payments to retired Americans. We are for aiding our allies by sharing our material blessings with nations which share our fundamental beliefs. However, we are against the idea of our government doling out money to other governments directly, as that will create bloated governments, if not socialism, all over the world. "You Are Feeding The Crocodile Hoping He'll Eat You Last" We need true tax reform. Such reform must at least make a start toward restoring for our children the American Dream that wealth is denied to no one, that each individual has the right to fly as high as his strength and ability will take him. But we cannot have such reform while our tax policy is engineered by people who view the tax as a means of achieving changes in our social structure, through the redistribution of wealth. Are you willing to spend time studying the issues, making yourself aware, and then conveying that information to family and friends? Will you resist the temptation to get a government handout for your community? Realize that the doctor’s fight against socialized medicine is your fight. We can’t socialize the doctors without socializing the patients. Recognize that government invasion of public power is eventually an assault upon your own business. If some among you fear taking a stand because you are afraid that customers, clients, or even the government may punish you for it, recognize that you are just feeding the crocodile hoping he’ll eat you last. "You And I Have A Rendezvous With Destiny" If all of this seems like a great deal of trouble, think what’s at stake. We are faced with the most evil enemy mankind has known in his long climb from the swamp to the stars. There can be no security anywhere in the free world if the United States is not economically strong and stable. Those who ask us to trade our freedom for the soup kitchen of the welfare state are architects of a wrongheaded policy that will only strengthen our enemies. They say the world has become too complicated for simple answers. They are wrong. There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. Winston Churchill said that “the destiny of man is not measured by material computation. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we are spirits, not animals.” And he said, “There is something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty.” You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.QuizWhich of the following details is MOST important to the development of the main idea?Reagan compares the welfare state to a soup kitchen.Reagan wants lower taxes and smaller government.Reagan mentions that Americans have accepted Social Security.Reagan believes that Winston Churchill would support his ideas.Which two of the following excerpts from the speech include central ideas of the speech?1. I am going to talk of controversial things. I make no apology for this.2. The Founding Fathers knew a government can’t control the economy without controlling people.3. We do strongly believe that destitution should not follow unemployment by reason of old age.4. Such reform must at least make a start toward restoring for our children the American Dream that wealth is denied to no one, that each individual has the right to fly as high as his strength and ability will take him.1 and 22 and 32 and 43 and 4Read the sentences from the section "They Tell Us We're Always 'Against,' Never 'For,' Anything."Public servants say, always with the best of intentions, “What greater service we could render if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” But the truth is that outside of its proper function, government does nothing as well or as economically as private enterprises can.Reagan uses the phrase "public servants" to mean:people who work for the governmentpeople who follow the rules of the governmentpeople who care about the good of the countrypeople who volunteer with their churches or community groupsRead the selection from the section "There Is No Such Thing As Left Or Right."Up to man’s age-old dream — the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order — or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism, to a world in which the few have complete power over the many.Which of the following phrases provides context clues for the word "totalitarianism"?age-old dreamindividual freedomant heapcomplete powerShort Answer: On the left page, break Reagan’s speech into OREOS. What is his claim? What reasons does he give? What specific evidence does he cite? Does he address those who oppose him? How does he sum it up?Quiz AnswersWhich of the following details is MOST important to the development of the main idea?Reagan compares the welfare state to a soup kitchen.Reagan wants lower taxes and smaller government.Reagan mentions that Americans have accepted Social Security.Reagan believes that Winston Churchill would support his ideas.Which two of the following excerpts from the speech include central ideas of the speech?1. I am going to talk of controversial things. I make no apology for this.2. The Founding Fathers knew a government can’t control the economy without controlling people.3. We do strongly believe that destitution should not follow unemployment by reason of old age.4. Such reform must at least make a start toward restoring for our children the American Dream that wealth is denied to no one, that each individual has the right to fly as high as his strength and ability will take him.1 and 22 and 32 and 43 and 4Read the sentences from the section "They Tell Us We're Always 'Against,' Never 'For,' Anything."Public servants say, always with the best of intentions, “What greater service we could render if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” But the truth is that outside of its proper function, government does nothing as well or as economically as private enterprises can.Reagan uses the phrase "public servants" to mean:people who work for the governmentpeople who follow the rules of the governmentpeople who care about the good of the countrypeople who volunteer with their churches or community groupsRead the selection from the section "There Is No Such Thing As Left Or Right."Up to man’s age-old dream — the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order — or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism, to a world in which the few have complete power over the many.Which of the following phrases provides context clues for the word "totalitarianism"?age-old dreamindividual freedomant heapcomplete powerFamous Speeches: Ronald Reagan, “A Time for Choosing” 020955000 California Governor Ronald Reagan wears a cowboy hat during trail ride on December 5, 1968, at the Republican Governor's Conference in California. Getty Images. “A Time for Choosing” was a 1964 speech delivered by Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan. It was?given?in?support of Barry Goldwater, a Republican then running for president. Reagan's speech was a huge success and raised $1 million for Goldwater.In his speech, Reagan argued that it was dangerous for the government to have too much power. He also warned against what he saw as the evils of socialism. Reagan thought of socialism as a system in which the government?controls much of people's daily lives, including their businesses and health care. For him, it was essentially the same thing as communism.Back in 1964, the U.S. was in the middle of the Cold War, a struggle between the West and the communist world. The Cold War was a war of ideas, not bullets. Reagan was strongly anti-communist and feared the spread of communism to this country. Soon after he delivered his speech, Reagan was?asked to run for governor of California. In 1980, he was elected the 40th president of the United States. Below are passages from the speech."I Believe?We Must Say No?To Big Government"I am going to talk of things that?have caused bitter fights. I do not apologize for this.It’s time we?asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms the Founding Fathers meant us to have.?The men who wrote our nation's Constitution had strong ideas about what freedom is. For James Madison, the goal of our new country was to have the people govern themselves. He believed Americans did not need a king or distant government ruling over them.The Founding Fathers believed that government should serve the people, and that its?power comes from the people. This is still the most important idea in our nation's history. It is what this election is all about.?Do we still believe we can govern?ourselves? Or are we ready to give up on the American Revolution? Are we willing to accept that a small group of government?officials can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves? I?believe we must say?no to?big government, and yes to freedom."We Must?Bring Back The American Dream"Well-meaning government officials say, “How much more good we could do if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” But the truth is there are few things the government can do as well or as cheaply as businesses can.?Government has its proper duties, but should not go beyond them.Yet any time?you and I question the ideas of the government do-gooders, we’re accused of being uncaring. It seems impossible to convince them that we too want?to help the less fortunate.?We do strongly believe that those who are too old to work should not have to fall into poverty. For that reason, we have accepted Social Security. It is not wrong to help the elderly live?better lives by giving them a monthly check.?However,?we are against those who run Social Security when they lie about its cost and?about how much money there is to run it. They accuse us of wanting to end the program simply because we point out its problems. We object to this. We simply want a?better program.We are for aiding friendly countries. However, we are against the idea of our government giving money directly to other governments. Doing that will lead to governments all over the world gaining too much power. It could help the spread of socialism.We agree we?must change our tax system, but we need true reform. We must bring back the American Dream that anyone can become rich. Each person has the right to fly as high as they can.?Tax reform?should not be about?giving money to the poor by taking it from the rest of us. Our tax system should be reformed to allow businesses to grow. The better our businesses do, the more jobs there will be for all our people.The government's take-over of public power is dangerous for all of us. It will eventually lead to an attack upon?your own business. If some of you are afraid of taking a stand because you are afraid it will get you in trouble — recognize what you are doing.?You are just feeding the crocodile hoping he’ll eat you last."We Must?Have The Courage To Do What Is Right"If all of this?seems like a great deal of trouble, think what’s at stake. We are faced with the most evil enemy man has ever known. Russia, China, and the other nations to which communism has spread are determined to destroy our way of life. There can be no real safety anywhere in the free world if the United States is not strong and rich.?Many in our?government think they know what is best, We should not let them make?us give up our freedoms. In the name of helping the poor, they are pushing?programs that would make this country poorer and weaker. In the end, their approach would only strengthen our enemies.We must have the courage to do?what we know is right.?For our children's sake, you and I must preserve our freedoms. We must save our form of government?by the people. It is the last best hope of man on earth. If it falls, the world may be plunged into a?thousand years of darkness.?Let us try our hardest to hold on to our freedoms. If we fail, at least our children and?our children’s children will be able to say of us that we did our best. We did all that?could be done.Quiz What is the BEST summary of the section "I Believe We Must Say No To Big Government"? Reagan agrees with James Madison that in the United States people should govern themselves. Reagan poses questions to the American people about whether or not they are ready to give up the ideals of the American Revolution. Reagan believes that Americans should look back to the Founding Fathers' ideas about self-governance and make government smaller. Reagan believes that he should never apologize for his beliefs, because he believes in the same ideas as the Founding Fathers. Which sentence from the speech is MOST important to include in its summary?Well-meaning government officials say, “How much more good we could do if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” Government has its proper duties, but should not go beyond them.It is not wrong to help the elderly live better lives by giving them a monthly check.However, we are against the idea of our government giving money directly to other governments. Read the sentence from the section "We Must Have The Courage To Do What Is Right." If it falls, the world may be plunged into a thousand years of darkness. Which sentence uses "plunged" in the SAME way as the sentence above? The race car plunged down the track. He plunged the toilet because it was clogged.After my cat died, my mood plunged into sadness. Hungry for meat, he plunged his fork into his steak. Read the paragraph from the section "We Must Bring Back The American Dream." We do strongly believe that those who are too old to work should not have to fall into poverty. For that reason, we have accepted Social Security. It is not wrong to help the elderly live better lives by giving them a monthly check. Which phrase from the speech MOST helps you understand the meaning of "Social Security"? strongly believe fall into povertynot wrong help the elderlyShort Answer: On the left page, break Reagan’s speech into OREOS. What is his claim? What reasons does he give? What specific evidence does he cite? Does he address those who oppose him? How does he sum it up?Quiz AnswersWhat is the BEST summary of the section "I Believe We Must Say No To Big Government"? Reagan agrees with James Madison that in the United States people should govern themselves. Reagan poses questions to the American people about whether or not they are ready to give up the ideals of the American Revolution. Reagan believes that Americans should look back to the Founding Fathers' ideas about self-governance and make government smaller. Reagan believes that he should never apologize for his beliefs, because he believes in the same ideas as the Founding Fathers. Which sentence from the speech is MOST important to include in its summary?Well-meaning government officials say, “How much more good we could do if only we had a little more money and a little more power.” Government has its proper duties, but should not go beyond them.It is not wrong to help the elderly live better lives by giving them a monthly check.However, we are against the idea of our government giving money directly to other governments. Read the sentence from the section "We Must Have The Courage To Do What Is Right." If it falls, the world may be plunged into a thousand years of darkness. Which sentence uses "plunged" in the SAME way as the sentence above? The race car plunged down the track. He plunged the toilet because it was clogged.After my cat died, my mood plunged into sadness. Hungry for meat, he plunged his fork into his steak. Read the paragraph from the section "We Must Bring Back The American Dream." We do strongly believe that those who are too old to work should not have to fall into poverty. For that reason, we have accepted Social Security. It is not wrong to help the elderly live better lives by giving them a monthly check. Which phrase from the speech MOST helps you understand the meaning of "Social Security"? strongly believe fall into povertynot wrong help the elderly ................
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