Ronald Reagan: Evil Empire Speech - Analysis | Milestone Documents - Milestone Documents

Ronald Reagan: “Evil Empire” Speech

( 1983 ) Commentary by Chester Pach, Ohio University

Audience

Reagan's audience for his “Evil Empire” Speech was the group whose meeting he was attending—the NAE. He also expected, of course, that his message would reach beyond the hotel ballroom in Orlando where he delivered the address. He particularly hoped that other Christian conservatives who were especially concerned with social issues would also be encouraged to back his defense policies and oppose the nuclear freeze movement. Since the speech received extensive news coverage, he also thought that it could strengthen general support for the building up of U.S. military strength to deter war and oppose Soviet expansion.

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Ronald Reagan (Library of Congress)

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