President Ronald Reagan Gave The Best D-Day Commemoration Speeches 40 Years Ago
On this 80th anniversary of D-Day, I look back to the 40th
On June 6, 1984, world leaders, veterans of D-Day, and grateful Europeans gathered in Normandy, France to observe the 40th anniversary of the largest amphibious invasion in history. They gathered to remember a combined Allied military operation that led to the liberation of Western Europe and the downfall of Nazi Germany.
One of the featured speakers that day was the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan. He gave two memorable speeches — both of which remain, in the opinion of many people (including this writer), the greatest D-Day commemoration addresses ever delivered (certainly by an American President).
Whatever your feelings are about Ronald Reagan as a historical political figure, he was unquestionably one of the greatest public speakers in American presidential history. It’s why he was called “the Great Communicator.” He shows his communication prowess in these speeches.
Pointe du Hoc Speech
This speech was given at Pointe du Hoc, a high point between Utah Beach and Omaha Beach, which had been a strategic German defense point. Reagan spoke to an audience that included World…
