When President Reagan called upon Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall," he was discouraged by his advisors and ridiculed in Europe as a "warmonger." Whereas Obama's superfluous speech attracted 200,000, Reagan's now-historic speech was witnessed by just 20,000 Germans — in contrast to 25,000 who protested against him.

Seventeen months later, Reagan was vindicated when the wall did come down. What could possibly be significant about Obama's speech 17 months from now?

When Obama claims "a wall came down, a continent came together, and history proved that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one," he proves that just because a speaker is captivating, he doesn't necessarily know what he's talking about.

The world certainly did not stand "as one" against Soviet communism. Much of the world either was controlled by, supportive of or unwilling to confront the USSR.

Like Obama, Reagan's predecessor, Jimmy Carter, thought negotiation and accommodation could accomplish more than confrontation. Six months into his first term, Carter criticized our "inordinate fear of communism." He signed treaties that trusted the Soviets, without verification, to limit their nuclear arsenal. By the end of his term, the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan and Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran.

Truman, Kennedy and Reagan earned their places in history because they believed that freedom — even for people in a foreign land — was worth fighting for. Freedom's enemies were moved not by words but by the conviction that our presidents would back their words with action.

Obama's talk tickles the ears of his audiences, but so far nothing indicates that he is prepared, in the manner of Teddy Roosevelt, to "speak softly and carry a big stick."