Last week’s foreign trip by an American president to speak to a wary and distrustful people about America’s interest in a peaceful relationship with them brought to mind a similar speech 21 years earlier.

President Barack Obama’s June 4 speech at Cairo University, like the 1988 speech of former President Ronald Reagan at Moscow State University, was delivered before a student assembly, but was intended for a larger audience.

Both speeches were meant to seize an opportunity to establish new relationships with a significant population (i.e., citizens of the USSR and the Eastern Bloc; and Muslims, particularly Arab Muslims).  Both made extensive and sincere efforts to show respect for the culture and traditions of the audience.  Both sought to educate their audiences to America’s history and the principles upon which it’s government and policy are based. 

As guest lecturers to their respective student assemblies and millions beyond, both Reagan and Obama addressed the subjects of democracy and individual rights.  Though delivered at different times to different audiences, both men extolled the virtues of democratic government.

Reagan encouraged his audience, which was emerging from decades of totalitarianism, to continue on its course toward democracy.  He noted that “Democracy is less a system of government than it is a system to keep government limited, unintrusive: A system of constraints on power to keep politics and government secondary to the important things in life, the true sources of value found only in family and faith.” 

To a region where elections have not produced the individual rights associated with democracy, Obama stated his belief “that all people yearn for certain things:  the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn’t steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose.  These are not just American ideas; they are human rights.  And that is why we will support them everywhere.”

America was founded on the principle that the individual is sovereign, and that government derives its authority from their consent.  From its origin America has understood that democracy is organic.  It must be chosen.  It can’t be imposed.

As a democratic nation, America benefits when any nation choses democracy or takes steps to recognize the rights of its citizens, but it must be chosen.   To that end America’s interests can be advanced by her example, and successfully educating others to democracy’s benefits. 

Reagan understood that a more democratic Russia and Eastern Europe would would have nothing to fear from America and her allies, and his encouragement produced a lasting peace.  Obama understands that more freedom in the Middle East will isolate the extremism that threatens the security of people there and here alike. 

Reagan’s speech was not the pivot point from which the successful conclusion of the Cold War can be traced.  Likewise, the Obama speech is unlikely, in itself, to produce the outcome we currently seek.  Nontheless, both speeches were important and consequential and worthy of being remembered.