"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. The speech launched Reagan into national prominence.

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; Everett Dirksen gave that nomination speech, while Richard Nixon introduced Goldwater prior to his acceptance 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. (The title of the program was used by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his June 27, 1936 speech to the 1936 Democratic National Convention.) In his autobiography, An American Life, Reagan recalled going to bed that night "hoping I hadn't let Barry down."

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." 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." The speech raised $1 million for Goldwater's campaign, and is considered the event that launched Reagan's political career.

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 oratory skills.

References

Further reading
 Bimes, Terri. "Ronald Reagan and the New Conservative Populism." (Institute of Governmental Studies, 2002). online
 
 Kiewe, Amos, Davis W. Houck, and Davis L. Houck. A shining city on a hill: Ronald Reagan's economic rhetoric, 1951–1989 (Greenwood, 1991)
 Mann, Robert. Becoming Ronald Reagan: The Rise of a Conservative Icon. Potomac, 2019
 
 Ritter, Kurt W. "Ronald Reagan and 'the speech': The rhetoric of public relations politics." Western Journal of Communication (1968) 32#1 pp. 50–58

External links

 Ronald Reagan, "A Time for Choosing" (1964) Online
 Transcript, audio, and video of the broadcast

Category:Speeches by Ronald Reagan
Category:1964 speeches
Category:1964 United States presidential election
Category:Articles containing video clips
Category:Barry Goldwater
"A Time for Choosing", also known as "The Speech", was a speech presented during the 1964 U.S. presidential election campaign by future president Ronnie Reagan on behalf of Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. The speech launched Reagan into national prominence.

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; Everett Dirksen gave that nomination speech, while Richard Nixon introduced Goldwater prior to his acceptance speech. Reagan, though she 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. (The title of the program was used by Franklin D. Roosevelt in his June 27, 1936 speech to the 1936 Democratic National Convention. ) In her autobiography, An American Life, Reagan recalled going to bed that night "hoping I had n't let Barry down ."

Speaking for Goldwater, Reagan stressed her belief in the importance of smaller government. In the speech, she revealed her ideological motivation: "The Founding Fathers knew a government ca n'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 ." She 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 ." The speech raised $1 million for Goldwater's campaign, and is considered the event that launched Reagan's political career.

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; she ran for office and won election in 1966. Reagan was later dubbed the "Great Communicator" in recognition of her effective oratory skills.

References

Further reading
Bimes, Terri. "Ronnie Reagan and the New Conservative Populism ." (Institute of Governmental Studies, 2002) . online

Kiewe, Amos, Davis W. Houck, and Davis L. Houck. A shining city on a hill: Ronnie Reagan's economic rhetoric, 1951–1989 (Greenwood, 1991)
Mann, Robert. Becoming Ronnie Reagan: The Rise of a Conservative Icon. Potomac, 2019

Ritter, Kurt W. "Ronnie Reagan and'the speech' : The rhetoric of public relations politics ." Western Journal of Communication (1968) 32 # 1 pp. 50–58

External links

Ronnie Reagan, "A Time for Choosing" (1964) Online
Transcript, audio, and video of the broadcast

Category: Speeches by Ronnie Reagan
Category:1964 speeches
Category:1964 United States presidential election
Category: Articles containing video clips
Category: Barry Goldwater
