In 1987, the world had witnessed a divided Germany, then President of the United States, Ronald Reagan gave a speech in support of a unified Germany. The setting was in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Reagan was appealing to the Russian people and to their leader, Mikael Gorbachev, to assist him in this endeavor. His intent was to have East Berlin join with West Berlin in achieving economic and political freedom. He was also seeking a peace accord between the Soviet Union. As this was nearing the end of the Cold War, the president was also seeking an arms reduction treaty with Russia. The president felt that the Berlin wall not only divided Berlin but all of Europe (Reagan). Reagan believed the road of peace and diplomacy ran the middle of Berlin. Two years later, the Berlin wall did indeed fall, families were reunited, and from the ruins of the Berlin wall emerged the beginnings of a road to democracy and the end to the Cold War. Reagan was using pathos to arouse the passion of the people to agree with him to persuade Mr. Gorbachev into tearing down the Berlin wall. 

 He also was hoping his presence there as a World leader would also convince them of his authority. The use of this to establish his position of authority is one of Aristotle's first principles of Ethos ("Aristotle's Appeals" 13). As he referenced previous presidential visits to Berlin states, "We come to Berlin, we American presidents, because it's our duty to speak, in this place, of freedom" (Reagan). Here, he once again asserts a situated ethos, as he declared that it is his moral duty to help freedom advance to East Berlin. In using this specific terminology, he also established the values of freedom and democracy, this position also asserts a hinting of pathos. In using the term freedom he aroused the desires of the people showing that there true desire is a free Germany. It appears Pres. Reagan, had a mixed audience, some who supported him being in their city, and others who were still communist sympathizers. He was appealing to those who protested, by turning their own demonstrations into an argument for free democracy. By using the statement, "And I would like to say just one thing, and to those who demonstrate so. I wonder if they have ever asked themselves that if they should have the kind of government they apparently seek, no one would ever be able to do what they're doing again" (Reagan), he is implying that under communist rule, they would not have the freedom of public demonstrations or protests.

The main argument of the text suggests that the divided Germany is suffering personal, economic and diplomatic ruin at the hands of Communist rule, suggesting that a unified Germany would be in a better state of affairs. He desires for Mikael Gorbachev to destroy the wall and fences separating the two German regimes. He uses examples of successful democracies in the West to bolster this position. As he stated in the following excerpt, "In the Philippines, in South and Central America, democracy has been given a rebirth. Throughout the Pacific, free markets are working miracle after miracle of economic growth" (Reagan). He attempted to appeal to the younger generation by referencing something he felt they could be the believe in, he declared, "There is no better way to establish hope for the future than to enlighten young minds, and we would be honored to sponsor summer youth exchanges, cultural events, and other programs for young Berliners from the East" (Reagan).

Upon reflection of the speech, Reagan showed the compassion and strength of the man referred to as 'The Great Communicator'. Reagan comes across as a very passionate man, who truly believed that a democratic world would be a better and safer world. He was trying to convince the audience in Berlin that democracy and freedom will grant them a better way of life.  He also imparted a sense of patriotism and unity for the country as he stated, "Standing before the Brandenburg Gate, every man is a German, separated from his fellow men. Every man is a Berliner, forced to look upon a scar" (Reagan).  This statement alludes to pathos as he asserts that a divided Germany is a blemish for the free World to see. As he acknowledged he was being broadcast to the Western world, it is apparent that he also realized that indeed the Soviet Union was listening as well. He also made an appeal to young people and families of East Germany. Pres. Reagan was addressing Mikael Gorbachev as he declared, "General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" (Reagan). In the opening of his speech Pres. Reagan is largely ethos in nature, he continually reinforces who he is, and what he wishes to accomplish. Pathos is used several times, as he attempts to arouse the passion of the audience. There is however, some fault in his Logos, as it is entirely one-sided. He bolstered the successes of the West with given examples of specific countries that were prospering, and just a casual mention to the failures of the East. One of the omissions that was needed in this part of speech is that there is no evidence given to this declaration made by Reagan, "In the Communist world, we see failure, technological backwardness, declining standards of health, even want of the most basic kind--too little food" (Reagan). Here, he could have given a few examples of failures or of suffering in the Communist society. If a comparison is used to raise a passion, both sides should be supported with equal evidence to apply this logic (Aristotle's Three Appeals). Overall, this was a very passionate speech utilizing all three of Aristotle's appeals, ethos and pathos were very prominent, while logos was lacking. This speech has a strong ethos, an even stronger pathos, either one of which is a great strength for this argument for a unified Germany.

