Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Speech ·189 of 348
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
They never said that.
What people say
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall."
What was actually said
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Ronald Reagan — Speech at the Brandenburg Gate, 12 June 1987
Why it stuck
Correct — but usually attributed as one of Reagan's spontaneous lines. It was drafted by speechwriter Peter Robinson; the State Department and National Security Council tried to remove the line four times before delivery.
Reagan insisted on keeping it. The Wall fell 29 months later.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.