Ronald Reagan - Address to the Nation on Christmas and the Situation in Poland

(December 23,1981)

In August 1980, a worker's strike began in Gdansk, Poland in reaction to the struggling economy and massive shortages. In a compromise, the Communist government legalized Solidarity, but this only increased tensions. Imports from the Soviet Union and the West failed to improve the economy, with more strikes becoming endemic throughout 1980 and 1981. Fearing a Soviet military invasion to restore order, President Ronald Reagan issued a stern warning to Moscow in the spring of 1981. On December 13, the Polish Communist Party, prodded by the Soviets, declared martial law and outlawed Solidarity. Reagan wished to quarantine the Soviets & Poland with no trade, or communications across their borders, he told the National Security Council, and tell our NATO allies & others to join us in such sanctions or risk an estrangement from us. In the following televised address, however, the president issued more modest sanctions on Poland.

• Category

  News & Politics

[Johncroce1]

He is what we need today, a President with brains & balls.

[Pavvel86]

Thank you Mr President. Poland needs president like you

[noless]

USSR is no more. They lost!

[domarat11111]

Załgany sukinsyn!

[DBCOOPER888]

The Reagan love fest in here is pretty homosexual.

[hoosierdaddy75]

Leadership like 'polish unions good, air traffic control union bad'?

[zyrtec3]

I żadnych problemów z wyrażaniem odniesień i uczuć religijnych swoich i swojego Narodu.... Żadnych. Duma, spokój, pewność przywódcy, nie tchórzliwego miernoty... Ciekawe co powiedziałby takiej p. Nowickiej, gdyby miał okazję...

[grcboy29]

Not scared to talk religion no matter the repercussions. A true president.

[XplosionWithU]

USSR THE DAD OF THE USA

[maciek c]

Thank You Mr Reagan for all You have done for my homeland. Now we honor You with statues in gratitude. i hope that mr obama has a 1/10th of your wisdom... but we all know

he rather go down on putin and get a big load blown in his mouth. bad news for Poland that this porch monkey jungle bunny cotton picker ebony rhythm stick thug ho slapping pimp daddy, got reelected for second term...

[vitoduval]

I remember Reagan said we should put a candle in our window for Poland, and someone said how many houses will burn down because of it. Gorby had to undo what Stalin caused.

[FoxNewsRulez]

There wasn't a more decent human being in history...