sign in sign up
<<
Home , Edwin Meese

August 2002 Volume 31, Number 8

IMPRIMISBecause Ideas Have Consequences OVER 1.1 Million Readers

Morality and Foreign Policy: Reagan and Thatcher Edwin Meese III Former Attorney General of the United States

EDWIN MEESE III was the Attorney General of the United States from 1985- 88. Prior to that he served as Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, California; professor of law at the ; Governor ’s Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff; Chief of Staff and Senior Issues Advisor for the Reagan-Bush Committee during the 1980 presidential campaign, head of President-elect Reagan’s transition team following the November 1980 election; and Counsellor to the President from 1981-85. He currently holds the Ronald Reagan Chair in Public Policy at , and is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the University of London’s Institute of United States Studies. A 1953 graduate of , Mr. Meese holds a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, is a retired in the Reserve and is the author of With Reagan: The Inside Story (Regnery Gateway, 1992).

The following is adapted from speeches freedom. He rejected absolutely the idea of moral delivered by Mr. Meese on June 8 and June equivalence – the idea, prevalent at the time, 12, 2002, at sea aboard the Crystal and still prevalent today, that there is no moral Symphony, during the first Hillsdale College difference between free government and tyranny. cruise, “A Salute to Freedom.” Second, Reagan stood up to Soviet aggression. In 1979 and 1980, before he took office, the Soviets onald Reagan revitalized the American had marched into Afghanistan with virtual economy and began an unprecedented impunity. Reagan made it clear, through his R period of economic growth. He rebuilt discussions with the Soviet ambassador and our armed forces. He restored the spirit of the through other means, that the United States American people. But most important to our dis- would not allow the Soviet Union to occupy cussion today, he developed a new set of strategic one square foot of additional ground anywhere principles to deal with the Soviet Union and the in the world. And third, Reagan adopted the threat of communist imperialism. According to policy of rolling back communism wherever those principles, the United States would oppose possible, by supporting freedom fighters in rather than accommodate the Soviet Union, Poland, Angola, Nicaragua and elsewhere insofar as it sought to expand its power and around the world. impose totalitarianism around the globe. The public unveiling of Reagan’s anti- The first way in which Reagan took on the communist strategy took place 20 years ago Soviet Union – and the basis of everything else – today, [on June 8, 1982], when he spoke to the was to defend strongly the moral superiority of

A monthly publication of Hillsdale College • www.hillsdale.edu IMPRIMIS Because Ideas Have Consequences 3 British Parliament at Westminster Palace. It and in the same spirit, Reagan declared the InterShow presents was in that speech that he announced his importance of the Strategic Defense Initiative – battle plan for dealing with communism in what we know today as Ballistic Missile Defense the future. Writing about that speech later, – and announced his intention to begin to The Seco nd he said, develop it. There are several other milestones in When I came into office, I believed there had Reagan’s campaign against communism. In been mistakes in our policy toward the Soviets October of 1983, at the request of the in particular. I wanted to do some things dif- Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the ferently, like speaking the truth about them for United States used military force for the first time Cr uise a change, rather than hiding reality between since Vietnam, rescuing nearly a thousand “Exploring the Roots of Western Civilization” the niceties of diplomacy. American citizens and putting down an oppres- OCTOBER 1-13, 2003 sive totalitarian regime on the island of Grenada. ATHENS • ISTANBUL • DIKILI • SANTORINI • SORRENTO • VENICE So he spoke openly about the conflict between After that there was the series of meetings the principles of constitutional government with Mikhail Gorbachev, beginning in 1985, in - Confirmed Speakers Include - and those of communism. In retrospect, I’m which Reagan set forth the understanding that amazed that previous national leaders had the United States posed no threat to the Soviet Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Victor Davis Hanson American Enterprise Institute Professor of Classics, California State University, Fresno not attacked the ideas behind Marxism- Union, but that we would not accept peace at Former Ambassador to the United Nations, 1981-85 Author, Carnage and Culture Leninism in this direct way. We had come to the expense of other peoples’ freedom. be too worried that we would offend the Soviet The most important of these meetings – leaders if we did so. But Reagan portrayed which came to be called “summits” – was at ON THE W Marxism-Leninism as an “empty cupboard.” Reykjavik in 1986. It was at this meeting that BRAND NE Everyone knew this by the 1980s, he believed, Gorbachev put on the table what would have CRYSTAL Y but no one was saying it. Being honest about been the greatest reduction of offensive SERENIT it, he thought, would help the Soviets to face weapons in the history of the world. But he had up to their own weaknesses, and to their one requirement: the United States would have uncertain future. to give up the Strategic Defense Initiative. Reagan already knew that ballistic missile Don’t miss this opportunity... Scaring the “Striped-Pants defense was important, and had explained why Contact your Hillsdale College Cruise Specialist Diplomats” to the American people. But it wasn’t until that and book your cabin today—Call moment that he realized how important it was IT WAS in that speech that Reagan said, to the Soviets. The Soviet Union had been 800/797-9519. cheating on the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty – What I am describing now is a plan and a hope the 1972 treaty which forbade the Soviet Union progress that was taking place in the West with There is one sign the Soviets can make that for the long-term. The march of freedom and and the United States from going beyond a cer- the technological backwardness and privation would be unmistakable, that would advance democracy will leave Marxism-Leninism on tain level of ballistic missile defense – for 10 or in the communist world. He suggested that the dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. the ash heap of history, as it has left other 15 years. But already in 1986, Gorbachev rec- Soviets themselves may be coming to under- General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek tyrannies which stifled the freedom and muz- ognized that the United States was eclipsing stand the importance of freedom, noting that peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet zled the self-expression of the people. the Soviet Union in its technological develop- under Gorbachev there had been some Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liber- ment of missile defense. changes. Political prisoners had been released. alization, come here to this gate. Mr. As you might imagine, those words scared the Reagan turned down Gorbachev’s offer. At Economic enterprises had been permitted to Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, heck out of the people whom Reagan used to the time, the news media, along with many operate with greater freedom from state con- tear down this wall! call “striped-pants diplomats.” It was not at all others in our country and around the world, trol. “Are these the beginnings of profound what the State Department would have pre- argued that Reagan had made a mistake by changes in the Soviet state,” Reagan asked, That was in many ways the beginning of ferred him to say in such a widely broadcast not giving in to Gorbachev’s demand. But in “or are they token gestures intended to raise the end of the Cold War. From that point on, speech. But honesty was Reagan’s way, and it hindsight, we can say that this was one of the false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the there was a marked difference in the goings-on turned out to be effective. critical moments in the entire Cold War. The Soviet system without changing it?” within the comunist world. Reagan had accu- The following year, in March of 1983, Soviets realized the importance of SDI. They “We welcome change and openness,” he rately perceived the weaknesses of the Soviet Reagan gave a speech to the National also knew, because of Reagan’s refusal to give continued. “We believe that freedom and secu- Union. He had formulated American policy in Association of Evangelicals in which he said it up – as many Soviet leaders have written rity go together, that the advance of human a way that those weaknesses couldn’t be hid- that those who promote the total sovereignty of since that time – that they would never be able liberty can only strengthen the cause of world den. He had spoken openly about the immoral the state over the individual are the focus of evil to prevail over the United States. peace.” And then Reagan went on to make the reason for those weaknesses. And so, as he pre- in the modern world. This is the speech in Following Reykjavik was Reagan’s visit to challenge that we’ve heard repeated so many continued on page 6 which he called the Soviet Union an “evil Berlin on June 12, 1987. In his speech that day times since, and that turned out to be so empire” – again, much to the dismay of the at the Brandenburg Gate, Reagan reviewed the momentous in the history of Berlin and of the State Department. And in that same month, history of the Cold War. He compared the Cold War: 3 InterShow presents The Seco nd

Cr uise “Exploring the Roots of Western Civilization” OCTOBER 1-13, 2003 ATHENS • ISTANBUL • DIKILI • SANTORINI • SORRENTO • VENICE - Confirmed Speakers Include - Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Victor Davis Hanson American Enterprise Institute Professor of Classics, California State University, Fresno Former Ambassador to the United Nations, 1981-85 Author, Carnage and Culture

ON THE W BRAND NE CRYSTAL SERENITY

Don’t miss this opportunity... Contact your Hillsdale College Cruise Specialist and book your cabin today—Call 800/797-9519. progress that was taking place in the West with There is one sign the Soviets can make that the technological backwardness and privation would be unmistakable, that would advance in the communist world. He suggested that the dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. Soviets themselves may be coming to under- General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek stand the importance of freedom, noting that peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet under Gorbachev there had been some Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liber- changes. Political prisoners had been released. alization, come here to this gate. Mr. Economic enterprises had been permitted to Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, operate with greater freedom from state con- tear down this wall! trol. “Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state,” Reagan asked, That was in many ways the beginning of “or are they token gestures intended to raise the end of the Cold War. From that point on, false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the there was a marked difference in the goings-on Soviet system without changing it?” within the comunist world. Reagan had accu- “We welcome change and openness,” he rately perceived the weaknesses of the Soviet continued. “We believe that freedom and secu- Union. He had formulated American policy in rity go together, that the advance of human a way that those weaknesses couldn’t be hid- liberty can only strengthen the cause of world den. He had spoken openly about the immoral peace.” And then Reagan went on to make the reason for those weaknesses. And so, as he pre- challenge that we’ve heard repeated so many continued on page 6 times since, and that turned out to be so momentous in the history of Berlin and of the Cold War: IMPRIMIS Because Ideas Have Consequences

The Firstirst Hillsdale College Cruise PPhotoshotosJuneJune 1-13, 2002

Hillsdale College Vice President for Development John Cervini ’74 and his wife Sue muster for the mandatory life boat drill

Hillsdale cruisers Gerald and Marilyn Matt dressed for Medieval Night on the Crystal Symphony Cruise speaker Herbert Romerstein signs a copy of his book, The Venona Secrets

Doris Myers, Hillsdale College Trustee J. Eric Plym ’63, Ursula Meese, and cruise speakers Edwin Meese III Cruise speaker William Rusher discusses and Midge Decter, seated for dinner in the the history of American conservatism Crystal Dining Room in the Galaxy Lounge IMPRIMIS Because Ideas Have Consequences 5

The Firstirst Hillsdale College Cruise Hillsdale cruisers at Schloss Cecilienhoff JuneJune 1-13, 2002 in Potsdam, Germany, site of the 1945 Photoshotos conference attended by Churchill, P Truman and Stalin

Hillsdale College Vice President for Development John Cervini ’74 and his wife Sue muster for the mandatory life boat drill

Hitler biographer Ian Kershaw lectures on “World Hillsdale cruisers return from a tour War Two in Hitler’s Mind” at the Rathaus of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia Schöneberg in Berlin, Germany

Hillsdale cruisers Gerald and Marilyn Matt dressed for Medieval Night on the Crystal Symphony Cruise speaker Herbert Romerstein signs a copy of his book, The Venona Secrets

Churchill biographer and Hillsdale College Distinguished Fellow Sir Martin Gilbert leads a tour of Horse Guards Parade in London, England

Guest speaker Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Winston Churchill, and Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn, at lunch with cruisers at the Selsdon Park Hotel Doris Myers, Hillsdale College Trustee J. Eric Plym ’63, in Croydon, England Ursula Meese, and cruise speakers Edwin Meese III Cruise speaker William Rusher discusses and Midge Decter, seated for dinner in the the history of American conservatism Crystal Dining Room in the Galaxy Lounge IMPRIMIS Because Ideas Have Consequences 7 dicted at the end of his speech at the The key element of Reagan’s strategy in Dr. Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Home Office Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall – and all dealing with the Soviet Union was NATO. He Name Telephone ( ) it represented – fell. “For it cannot withstand had exerted his leadership to move NATO poli- Address Email faith,” Reagan said. “It cannot withstand cies into line with a more assertive response to truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.” the Soviet Union, inaugurating the principle City State ZIP that an attack on one would be an attack on IMPRIMIS Qty. Author/Title Price Reagan and Thatcher all. He also worked with the other NATO lead- ORDER FORM ers to gain support for freedom fighters in RONALD REAGAN said that his principles were places such as Poland, and to give hope to 1-10 copies $.50 each 25-$10; 50-$15; 100-$25 formed out of his upbringing in middle captive nations. In all of this, Thatcher had a Subtotal America. His boyhood was in a poor, but very very important role. She was, as she described FREE SHIPPING! Michigan residents, add 6% sales tax upright family. He learned religious faith herself, Reagan’s principal cheerleader in Total from his mother. He learned friendship and NATO – not only in NATO councils, but also h Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution respect toward others, including a strong privately as she met with other NATO leaders, to Hillsdale College for $ opposition towards racial discrimination, and also, perhaps even more importantly, as h My check made payable to Hillsdale College is enclosed. Interested in admission from his father. He learned the importance of she met with leaders of the Warsaw Pact. In h Please charge my: h VISA h MC h Discover public service, and of neighbors helping each talking to leaders in Hungary, Czechoslovakia to Hillsdale Card No. hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh College? Call other, from the community in which he lived. and other places, she explained that the Exp. Date hh-hh 1-800-255-0384 Margaret Thatcher came from a similar, United States and NATO were not threats to and we’ll lend although slightly more affluent background. the Warsaw Pact, but that they would resist Signature “Hillsdale College She learned a great deal from her father’s work any actions by the Soviets to engage in Video Visit” to you at as a grocer – particularly the lesson that let- aggression. In a sense, she was trying in these For more information, check areas that interest you: no cost! ting people make their own decisions was vast- meetings to create a wedge between the lead- h Center for Constructive Alternatives on-campus seminars (Orders only ly superior to government-controlled econom- ers of the Warsaw Pact countries and the please–not an ic systems. It was this background, she said, Soviet Union itself. h Shavano Institute off-campus seminars h Hillsdale Hostel information that gave her the mental outlook and tools of Nowhere was Thatcher’s help to Reagan h Hillsdale Academy Reference Guide h Gift and Estate Planning line) analysis for reconstructing an economy in more pronounced than in his dealings with h Hillsdale College Admissions h Freedom Library Catalog (books and tapes) England that had been ravaged by socialism. Gorbachev. Reagan had delayed meeting with h Hillsdale College Athletics h Dow Leadership Center Seminars Reagan and Thatcher were of like mind Soviet leaders until 1985, largely because he h Endowment for Teaching Independence in world affairs, particularly in regard to wanted the United States to be able to negoti- dealing with the Soviet Union. Their joint ate from a position of strength, and it had IMPRIMIS (im-pri.-mis), taking its name from the Latin term, “in the first place,” is a monthly publication of Hillsdale College. Editor, Douglas A. Jeffrey; Deputy Editor, Timothy W. Caspar; Assistant to the Editor, Patricia A. DuBois. leadership during the Cold War resembled in taken a few years to build up our military Illustrations by Tom Curtis. The opinions expressed in IMPRIMIS are not necessarily the views of Hillsdale College. Copyright © 2002. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: many ways the collaboration between forces to the point where he was in a position “Reprinted by permission from IMPRIMIS, the national speech digest of Hillsdale College (www.hillsdale.edu).” Roosevelt and Churchill during World War II. to do so. Thatcher agreed with and supported Subscription free upon request. ISSN 0277-8432. IMPRIMIS trademark registered in U.S. Patent and Trade Office But there was one big difference: Churchill this strategy, whereas other leaders, particu- #1563325. knew the importance of United States partic- larly in Europe, were pressing for Reagan to ipation and support of Britain in World War meet immediately with the Soviet leadership. II, and he was tremendously grateful to When Gorbachev came to power in 1985, continued from page 6 Roosevelt for his leadership in that war and Mrs. Thatcher met with him first. She had for his friendship toward Britain. Together, studied his statements and his background. The close personal and political friendship order to be considered truly free, countries they agreed on most major decisions about She knew of his education and knew that he between Reagan and Thatcher had obvious must also have a deep love of liberty and an international affairs. But concerning a phi- understood the West better than his predeces- long-term significance for world history. It abiding respect for the . losophy of government and domestic policy, sors. After she had talked with him and before also illustrates an important lesson to keep in Churchill did not share Roosevelt’s penchant he had met with Reagan, she shared with mind as we navigate the future. It embodied That is a moral creed to which both Reagan for centralizing power and regulating the Reagan her view that he was “a man that we the principles that have characterized the his- and Thatcher subscribed, and which both pre- economy. By contrast, Reagan and Thatcher can do business with.” Her insights helped tories of the United States and England. The served. And our world is the better for it. saw eye-to-eye on both international affairs Reagan greatly in preparing for his first meet- origins of those principles date back many and government generally – particularly on ing with Gorbachev. She was of critical help centuries to a common beginning, and to the the need for as a protec- also in demonstrating to Gorbachev that she fundamental ideas which guide both our CHANGING ADDRESS? tion for individual liberty. and Reagan were in total agreement. By pre- countries today – the ideas of freedom and the Please use the enclosed Thatcher wrote about Reagan, senting a united front, she was instrumental rule of law. postpaid envelope or in creating the right background for Reagan’s Thatcher put it well recently when she said telephone 1-800-437-2268 Above all, I knew that I was talking to some- meetings with Gorbachev in Geneva, – at a Hillsdale event, interestingly enough – or e-mail [email protected]. one who instinctively felt and thought as I did. Reykjavik, Washington, D.C., and Moscow. Not just about policies, but about a philoso- Being democratic is not enough, for a major- phy of government, a view of human nature. continued on next page (detach envelope) ity cannot turn what is wrong into right. In 7

Dr. Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Home Office Name Telephone ( ) Address Email City State ZIP IMPRIMIS Qty. Author/Title Price ORDER FORM 1-10 copies $.50 each 25-$10; 50-$15; 100-$25 Subtotal FREE SHIPPING! Michigan residents, add 6% sales tax Total h Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution to Hillsdale College for $ h My check made payable to Hillsdale College is enclosed. Interested in admission h Please charge my: h VISA h MC h Discover to Hillsdale Card No. hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh College? Call Exp. Date hh-hh 1-800-255-0384 and we’ll lend Signature “Hillsdale College Video Visit” to you at For more information, check areas that interest you: no cost! h Center for Constructive Alternatives on-campus seminars (Orders only please–not an h Shavano Institute off-campus seminars h Hillsdale Hostel information h Hillsdale Academy Reference Guide h Gift and Estate Planning line) h Hillsdale College Admissions h Freedom Library Catalog (books and tapes) h Hillsdale College Athletics h Dow Leadership Center Seminars h Endowment for Teaching Independence

IMPRIMIS (im-pri.-mis), taking its name from the Latin term, “in the first place,” is a monthly publication of Hillsdale College. Editor, Douglas A. Jeffrey; Deputy Editor, Timothy W. Caspar; Assistant to the Editor, Patricia A. DuBois. Illustrations by Tom Curtis. The opinions expressed in IMPRIMIS are not necessarily the views of Hillsdale College. Copyright © 2002. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: “Reprinted by permission from IMPRIMIS, the national speech digest of Hillsdale College (www.hillsdale.edu).” Subscription free upon request. ISSN 0277-8432. IMPRIMIS trademark registered in U.S. Patent and Trade Office #1563325.

continued from page 6

The close personal and political friendship order to be considered truly free, countries between Reagan and Thatcher had obvious must also have a deep love of liberty and an long-term significance for world history. It abiding respect for the rule of law. also illustrates an important lesson to keep in mind as we navigate the future. It embodied That is a moral creed to which both Reagan the principles that have characterized the his- and Thatcher subscribed, and which both pre- tories of the United States and England. The served. And our world is the better for it. origins of those principles date back many centuries to a common beginning, and to the fundamental ideas which guide both our CHANGING ADDRESS? countries today – the ideas of freedom and the Please use the enclosed rule of law. postpaid envelope or Thatcher put it well recently when she said telephone 1-800-437-2268 – at a Hillsdale event, interestingly enough – or e-mail [email protected].

Being democratic is not enough, for a major- ity cannot turn what is wrong into right. In ORG. AGE College AID P POST U.S. Hillsdale NON-PROFIT

802 TO . S , ANT W CALL IMPRIMI NOT DO PLEASE RECEIVE 1-800-437-2268 YOU IF 8 IMPRIMIS to NUMBER changes • 2 31 address RIMIS 4924 REQUESTED Street Send VICE SER Michigan College VOLUME College MP East I Hillsdale 33 Hillsdale, ADDRESS POSTMASTER:

200