Two events that, while emotional, really are overrated in the context of actual events:
1. Kennedy's address to congress on 25 May 61
Quote:
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I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.
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This is often applauded as being visionary, but it was simply political one-up-manship.
Earlier, Richard Nixon gave two speeches concerning space exploration.
In one, Nixon called for a manned trip around the moon, and in the other predicted that the first manned moon landing would occur in the 1970's
If your political opponent calls for a trip around the moon, then you say landing on the moon
If you political opponent calls for a moon landing in the 1970's, then you say before the 1970's.
JFK's speech writers just took Nixon's speeches and just "added 1".
Since JFK was not initially a big fan of the space race, I often wonder who was JFK competing against? The USSR or Nixon?
2. Reagan 12 Jun 87 speech
Quote:
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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!
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The actual opening of the border control was much more complicated and the US played an almost negligible role.
Both speeches were inspiring and certainly good political moves. But for actually changing world events, I feel they were overrated.