(1) Reagan did not do this on his own. He was chosen, backed and to some extent controlled by a cabal of California millionaires (when that meant something) who had been part of California's far right for many years. This was never a spontaneous campaign.
(2) While the Free Speech Movement was indeed one of Reagan's targets, his primary target was California's black population. His campaign made heavy use of dog whistle racist appeals that played on white fears in the wake of the Watts Uprising in August of 1965. Anti-Communism and racism have always been a potent combination in American history. Those of us who survived 8 years of Ronald Reagan in California knew that the country was screwed when he was elected president. We are still paying dearly for the mistake of electing Reagan.
Reagan’s attack on Berkeley is the epitome of hypocrisy and irony. The anti-government poster child cracking down on students’ right to freedom of speech.
SUBSIDIZING INTELLECTUAL CURIOUSITY !!!! Wonder what the founding fathers would think about that phrase being a slur in the 20th century. Shameful the slogan resonated with so many voters.
I was a young kid on the opposite side of the country when the Free Speech movement was playing out in Berkley. I was dimly aware of the controversy but unaware of the details and what was at stake. Thanks for the incisive history Prof Reich. It is a history basic to our understanding of American Democracy - and how fragile it is, and how bad actors (sorry for that ) can subvert our politics.
In November, 1964 I was the Political Editor of the Spartan Daily, the student newspaper at San Jose State. I covered the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley which resulted in my writing of an editorial supporting the objectives of the student protests at Cal. Our faculty advisor at the Spartan Daily didn’t like my position in the editorial but our editorial board voted to approve my draft and it ran on November 16th, 1964. I felt vindicated on December 8th when the University of California Academic Senate voted 824 to 115 in support of the students and the Free Speech Movement at Cal (San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 9, 1964).
Ron Jr. Opposed GWB, now says , his father would be "ashamed" over the influence of Trump in the Republican Party. He currently works for MSNBC as a political analyst.
However, please note that hate speech and "fighting words" do not constitute discourse. I kissed the ACLU goodbye when they defended Nazis. Threats of violence are not "speech."
I was at UC Berkeley for all of this. I remember Joan Baez entering the occupied Sproul Hall, sitting on a table and singing peace songs for us. Today, there is a “Free Speech Cafe” on campus.
I voted republican in my first primary to vote for John Anderson, my congressman, against Ronald Reagan- the hero of our neighboring town of Dixon Illinois. I knew there was more to the story than just his views. Thank you for the history lesson today. My feelings were so strong- I had to declare myself a republican, at the beginning of my voting history, to try to prevent the harm I could see was coming, namely redistribution of wealth and war. I cried for 2 days when he was elected. As a mere 18 year old, I was devastated that all those older voters did not see what was coming. I truly thought the voting public was easily fooled. That blew me away but not as much as having Trump elected. Of course that took Russian misinformation but still it was even more devastating to my confidence that we fulfil our founders' legacy.
First I believe in free speech. But I also believe in the majority over the minority. A vocal minority can force their way into appearing to be a majority. MAGA for instance. This is where the media comes in by covering the minority loud mouths over the quieter majority furthering the appearance.
Mario Savio was a genius. Kerr received a big ovation at the end of his speech. It felt like he had ended the conflict, brought peace to the campus. Then Mario Savio walked from off stage to the podium Kerr has just vacated and attempted to speak. Immediately a big uniformed cop came out and dragged him off stage. Complete pandemonium. Kerr's speech was instantly forgotten. Everyone rushed to Sproul Plaza.. It felt to me as though the University was literally crumbling.
The start of the GQP war on higher education.
Thanks for the history lesson. Did not realize Reagan got involved in suppressing University demonstrations on top of everything else.
Ronnie Rayguns - the gift that keeps on giving and the beginning of today’s insanity. Oops! Almost forgot about Nixon and his reign of terror.
Let's not forget two things:
(1) Reagan did not do this on his own. He was chosen, backed and to some extent controlled by a cabal of California millionaires (when that meant something) who had been part of California's far right for many years. This was never a spontaneous campaign.
(2) While the Free Speech Movement was indeed one of Reagan's targets, his primary target was California's black population. His campaign made heavy use of dog whistle racist appeals that played on white fears in the wake of the Watts Uprising in August of 1965. Anti-Communism and racism have always been a potent combination in American history. Those of us who survived 8 years of Ronald Reagan in California knew that the country was screwed when he was elected president. We are still paying dearly for the mistake of electing Reagan.
Reagan’s attack on Berkeley is the epitome of hypocrisy and irony. The anti-government poster child cracking down on students’ right to freedom of speech.
SUBSIDIZING INTELLECTUAL CURIOUSITY !!!! Wonder what the founding fathers would think about that phrase being a slur in the 20th century. Shameful the slogan resonated with so many voters.
I was a young kid on the opposite side of the country when the Free Speech movement was playing out in Berkley. I was dimly aware of the controversy but unaware of the details and what was at stake. Thanks for the incisive history Prof Reich. It is a history basic to our understanding of American Democracy - and how fragile it is, and how bad actors (sorry for that ) can subvert our politics.
In November, 1964 I was the Political Editor of the Spartan Daily, the student newspaper at San Jose State. I covered the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley which resulted in my writing of an editorial supporting the objectives of the student protests at Cal. Our faculty advisor at the Spartan Daily didn’t like my position in the editorial but our editorial board voted to approve my draft and it ran on November 16th, 1964. I felt vindicated on December 8th when the University of California Academic Senate voted 824 to 115 in support of the students and the Free Speech Movement at Cal (San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 9, 1964).
Bob - I was at Parkhurst Hall in 1969 for the Dartmouth protest. I’ve been waiting 50+ years for student activism to return.
Tom M. Cooper ‘71
The right to disagree (when it’s peaceful and in good faith) ought to be sacrosanct.
Reagan was a demagogue. I have a lot of respect for his kids, Patti Davis and Ron Jr., who opposed many of his policies. https://www.amazon.com/Home-Front-Patti-Davis/dp/555137047X
Patti now says she doubts that even e=her father would want to be associated with the Republican Party. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4462982-reagan-daughter-patti-david-gop-trump/
Ron Jr. Opposed GWB, now says , his father would be "ashamed" over the influence of Trump in the Republican Party. He currently works for MSNBC as a political analyst.
However, please note that hate speech and "fighting words" do not constitute discourse. I kissed the ACLU goodbye when they defended Nazis. Threats of violence are not "speech."
Reagan was a piece of poo
I was at UC Berkeley for all of this. I remember Joan Baez entering the occupied Sproul Hall, sitting on a table and singing peace songs for us. Today, there is a “Free Speech Cafe” on campus.
I voted republican in my first primary to vote for John Anderson, my congressman, against Ronald Reagan- the hero of our neighboring town of Dixon Illinois. I knew there was more to the story than just his views. Thank you for the history lesson today. My feelings were so strong- I had to declare myself a republican, at the beginning of my voting history, to try to prevent the harm I could see was coming, namely redistribution of wealth and war. I cried for 2 days when he was elected. As a mere 18 year old, I was devastated that all those older voters did not see what was coming. I truly thought the voting public was easily fooled. That blew me away but not as much as having Trump elected. Of course that took Russian misinformation but still it was even more devastating to my confidence that we fulfil our founders' legacy.
First I believe in free speech. But I also believe in the majority over the minority. A vocal minority can force their way into appearing to be a majority. MAGA for instance. This is where the media comes in by covering the minority loud mouths over the quieter majority furthering the appearance.
Mario Savio was a genius. Kerr received a big ovation at the end of his speech. It felt like he had ended the conflict, brought peace to the campus. Then Mario Savio walked from off stage to the podium Kerr has just vacated and attempted to speak. Immediately a big uniformed cop came out and dragged him off stage. Complete pandemonium. Kerr's speech was instantly forgotten. Everyone rushed to Sproul Plaza.. It felt to me as though the University was literally crumbling.
'When will we ever learn?'
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/9055604/Where+Have+All+the+Flowers+Gone%3F