Reagan spent weeks tweaking and practicing the speech. It was scheduled to air on October 17, 1964, from an NBC studio as part of a pre-taped TV program called Rendezvous with Destiny.

The immortal Reagan speech that gutless staffers nearly nixed is revealed By Joshua Gilder Published March 18, 2025, 8:17 p.m. ET ...

Mr. Reagan’s speech was so powerful that it both impressed and depressed aides to his Democratic challenger, Walter F. Mondale, who were watching on television.