A Time for Choosing

Last updated
"A Time for Choosing" speech
In support of Goldwater, Reagan delivers the address, "A Time for Choosing"—the speech launched Reagan to national prominence in politics
DateOctober 27, 1964 (1964-10-27)
Duration29:33
Location Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Also known as"The Speech"
TypeTelevised campaign speech
Participants Ronald Reagan
Website Video clip, audio, transcript

"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. "A Time for Choosing" launched Reagan into national prominence in politics.

Contents

Background

Many versions of this 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 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." [1]

Speaking for Goldwater, Reagan stressed his belief in the importance of smaller government. In the speech, Reagan 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." [2] 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." [2] [3] The speech raised $1 million for Goldwater's campaign, [4] and is considered the event that launched Reagan's political career. [5] [6]

Aftermath and legacy

"A Time For Choosing" has been considered one of the most effective speeches ever made by an eventual presidential candidate. Following "A Time For Choosing" in 1964, Washington Post reporter David S. Broder called the speech "the most successful national political debut since William Jennings Bryan electrified the 1896 Democratic Convention with his 'Cross of Gold' speech." [7] Nevertheless, Barry Goldwater lost the election by one of the largest margins in history. Soon afterward, Reagan was asked to run for Governor of California; he ran for office and won the election in 1966. When Reagan won the White House in 1980, George Will of The Washington Post referred back to "A Time For Choosing" and said, "Goldwater won the election of 1964... it just took sixteen years to count the votes." [7]

In 2014, Professor Steven F. Hayward, Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University and Reagan biographer, looked back at the speech and said, "at the time, critics thought the speech was too emotional; while others thought it was too controversial. But after the speech, it was clear that Ronald Reagan and his ideas were simply irresistible." [8]

"A Time For Choosing" ushered in a conservative movement in American politics at a time when the country was looking for strong leadership following President John F. Kennedy's assassination, a growing welfare state, and a raging Cold War. [7] Reagan's speech in 1964 not only made him the leader of this movement but also earned him the nickname "The Great Communicator" in recognition of his effective oratory skills.[ citation needed ] Among Reagan's admirers, "A Time For Choosing" is known simply as "The Speech." [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Goldwater</span> American politician and military officer (1909–1998)

Barry Morris Goldwater was an American politician and major general in the Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Republican Party's nominee for president in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 United States presidential election</span> 45th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1964 United States presidential election was the 45th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 3, 1964. Incumbent Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Senator Barry Goldwater, the Republican nominee, in a landslide. Johnson was the fourth and most recent vice-president to ascend to the presidency following the death of his predecessor and to win a full term in his own right. With 61.1% of the popular vote, Lyndon B. Johnson won the largest share of the popular vote for the Democratic Party in history, and the highest for any candidate since the advent of widespread popular elections in the 1820s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention of the Republican Party

The 1984 Republican National Convention convened on August 20 to August 23, 1984, at Dallas Convention Center in downtown Dallas, Texas. The convention nominated President Ronald W. Reagan and Vice President George H. W. Bush for reelection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention of the Republican Party

The 1964 Republican National Convention took place in the Cow Palace, Daly City, California, from July 13 to July 16, 1964. Before 1964, there had been only one national Republican convention on the West Coast, the 1956 Republican National Convention, which also took place in the Cow Palace. Many believed that a convention at San Francisco indicated the rising power of the Republican Party in the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Viguerie</span> American conservative figure (born 1933)

Richard Art Viguerie is an American conservative figure, pioneer of political direct mail and writer on politics. He is the current chairman of ConservativeHQ.com.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention of the Republican Party

The 1980 Republican National Convention convened at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, from July 14 to July 17, 1980. The Republican National Convention nominated retired Hollywood actor and former Governor Ronald Reagan of California for president and former Representative George H. W. Bush of Texas for vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Goldwater Jr.</span> American politician (born 1938)

Barry Morris Goldwater Jr. is an American politician. He is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from California, serving from 1969 to 1983. He is the son of U.S. Senator and 1964 Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention of the Republican Party

The 1960 Republican National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 25 to July 28, 1960, at the International Amphitheatre. It was the 14th and most recent time overall that Chicago hosted the Republican National Convention, more times than any other city.

The bibliography of Ronald Reagan includes numerous books and articles about Ronald Reagan. According to J. David Woodard, a political science professor, more than 11,000 books on Reagan have been published.

The 1964 presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater began when United States Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona elected to seek the Republican Party nomination for President of the United States to challenge incumbent Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson. Early on, before officially announcing his candidacy for the presidency, Goldwater was accused by Governor of New York Nelson Rockefeller of attempting to galvanize Southern and Western Republican support while neglecting the industrial northern states, eventually becoming one of Goldwater's primary opponents in the race for the Republican Party's nomination in 1964.

Movement conservatism is a term used by political analysts to describe conservatives in the United States since the mid-20th century and the New Right. According to George H. Nash (2009) the movement comprises a coalition of five distinct impulses. From the mid-1930s to the 1960s, libertarians, traditionalists, and anti-communists made up this coalition, with the goal of fighting the liberals' New Deal. In the 1970s, two more impulses were added with the addition of neoconservatives and the religious right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Republican Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of Republican US presidential candidate

From March 10 to June 2, 1964, voters of the Republican Party elected 1,308 delegates to the 1964 Republican National Convention through a series of delegate selection primaries and caucuses, for the purpose of determining the party's nominee for president in the 1964 United States presidential election.

Richard Nixon served as the 37th president of the United States from 1969 to 1974. He previously served as the 36th vice president of the United States from 1953 to 1961, and as a United States senator from 1950 to 1953 and United States representative from 1947 to 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Democratic Party presidential primaries</span> Selection of the Democratic Party nominee

From March 10 to June 2, 1964, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1964 United States presidential election. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1964 Democratic National Convention held from August 24 to August 27, 1964, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Frederick Clifton White Sr., was an American political consultant and campaign manager for candidates of the Republican Party, the New York Conservative Party, and some foreign clients. He is best remembered as the moving force behind the Draft Goldwater Committee from 1961 to 1964, which secured a majority of delegates to nominate U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona as the presidential candidate of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of modern American conservatism</span>

This timeline of modern American conservatism lists important events, developments and occurrences which have significantly affected conservatism in the United States. With the decline of the conservative wing of the Democratic Party after 1960, the movement is most closely associated with the Republican Party (GOP). Economic conservatives favor less government regulation, lower taxes and weaker labor unions while social conservatives focus on moral issues and neoconservatives focus on democracy worldwide. Conservatives generally distrust the United Nations and Europe and apart from the libertarian wing favor a strong military and give enthusiastic support to Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speeches and debates of Ronald Reagan</span>

The speeches and debates of Ronald Reagan comprise the seminal oratory of the 40th President of the United States. Reagan began his career in Iowa as a radio broadcaster. In 1937, he moved to Los Angeles where he started acting, first in films and later television. After delivering a stirring speech in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential candidacy in 1964, he was persuaded to seek the California governorship, winning two years later and again in 1970. In 1980, as the Republican nominee for president of the United States, he defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter. He was reelected in a landslide in 1984, proclaiming that it was "Morning in America". Reagan left office in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 United States presidential election in Wyoming</span> Election in Wyoming

The 1964 United States presidential election in Wyoming took place on November 3, 1964, as part of the 1964 United States presidential election. State voters chose three representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald Reagan 1984 presidential campaign</span>

President Ronald Reagan authorized the formation of his 1984 reelection campaign committee, Reagan-Bush '84, on October 17, 1983. He made the formal announcement of his candidacy for re-election on January 29, 1984. On August 23, 1984, he secured the nomination of the Republican Party at its convention in Dallas, Texas. The convention nominated Vice President George H. W. Bush as his running mate.

References

  1. ↑ Reagan, Ronald (1990). An American Life: The Autobiography . New York: Simon & Schuster. p.  143. ISBN   0-67169198-8 . Retrieved 31 March 2014. When it was over, the others in the room said I had done well. But I was still nervous about it and, when I went to bed, I was hoping I hadn't let Barry down.
  2. 1 2 "A Time for Choosing". PBS. Archived from the original on September 22, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  3. ↑ Richard A. Harris, Daniel J. Tichenor. A History of the U.S. Political System: Ideas, Interests, and Institutions, Vol. 1. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2009. p. 384
  4. ↑ Cannon, Lou (June 6, 2004). "Actor, Governor, President, Icon". The Washington Post . p. A01. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  5. ↑ Cannon (2001), p. 36
  6. ↑ Peter Schweizer; Wynton C. Hall (2007). Landmark Speeches of the American Conservative Movement. Texas A&M University Press. p. 42. ISBN   978-1-58544598-1 . Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 Hayward, Steven F., Why Ronald Reagan’s ‘A Time for Choosing’ endures after all this time. The Washington Post, October 23, 2014
  8. ↑ F. Hayward, Steven. "Professor". Ronald Reagan Foundation. Retrieved July 11, 2022– via YouTube.
  9. ↑ Morgan, I. (2016). Reagan: American Icon. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-78672-050-4 . Retrieved 2024-02-01.

Further reading

Listen to this article (3 minutes)
Sound-icon.svg
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 13 September 2023 (2023-09-13), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
(Audio help  · More spoken articles)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.