You didn't have to agree with Ronald Reagan's conservative social agenda to understand that his liberal call for universal human freedom was destined to remove the chains from hundreds of millions.
Many students of democracy today are taking a new look at the controversial president, so it's a good time to re-examine how, more than 20 years ago, one speech started an historic chain reaction for liberty.
The Evil Empire Speech signaled a new directness in American foreign policy. In spite of hysterical calls in Europe for a freeze on nuclear weapons, Reagan's approach resulted in the first-ever reduction in nuclear arsenals. And in spite of the panic of those accustomed to making excuses for dictators, Reagan's straightforward words challenged the Soviet Union's cruel repression and helped inspire the end to the totalitarian nightmare.
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On March 8, 1983, Ronald Reagan called the Soviet Union the focus of evil in the modern world. The Evil Empire Speech disturbed the political universe. And yet the critical words almost went unsaid.
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