--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President [Ronald] Reagan told me he…" description: "\"President [Ronald] Reagan told me he would negotiate and negotiate and negotiate with the Soviets, and I believed him.\" — Helmut Schmidt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/helmut-schmidt-23706_president_president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would_1072952.jpg" --- # President \[Ronald\] Reagan told me he would negotiate and… ![“President [Ronald] Reagan told me he would negotiate and negotiate and negotiate with the Soviets, and I believed him.” quote by Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/helmut-schmidt-23706_president_president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would_1072952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/helmut-schmidt-23706_president_president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would_1072952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/helmut-schmidt-23706_president_president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would_1072952.jpg) > “President \[Ronald\] Reagan told me he would negotiate and negotiate and negotiate with the Soviets, and I believed him.” [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reagan claimed he would keep negotiating with the Soviets, and Schmidt trusted him. **In simple terms:** Schmidt trusted Reagan’s promise to negotiate. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate political promises before accepting them. Themes politics trust negotiation Cold War Mood cautious thoughtful Type historical political When to use this quote - policy discussions - international relations - historical analysis Key Concepts diplomacy leadership skepticism Questions to Reflect On - What evidence should guide trust in leaders? - How can diplomatic skepticism be balanced with dialogue? A Different Perspective Overreliance on trust can be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President ronald reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-ronald-reagan/) ## Related quotes > [“President Ronald Reagan, who spent World War II in Hollywood, vividly described his own role in liberating Nazi concentration camp victims. Living in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/president-ronald-reagan-who-spent-world-war-ii-in-hollywood-vividly/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ President \[Ronald\] Reagan never has tried to become an expert on military matters. He never has endeavored to learn the most important details in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-never-has-tried-to-become-an-expert-on/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [I'm a Reagan conservative. Reagan did negotiate with the Soviets. But you have to negotiate from a position of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-m-a-reagan-conservative-reagan-did-negotiate-with-the-soviets-but/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [“The Soviets, at least some of them, believed in what they were doing. After all, they did it themselves and recorded what they did,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/the-soviets-at-least-some-of-them-believed-in-what-they-were-doing/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [The modern era of continuity planning began under President Ronald Reagan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-modern-era-of-continuity-planning-began-under-president-ronald/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [The American pledge not to negotiate with terrorists has been honored more in the breach than the observance from the moment President Ronald Reagan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/the-american-pledge-not-to-negotiate-with-terrorists-has-been-honored/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Some People Live and Entire life, and wonderif they made a difference in the World... MARINES don't have that problem.! President Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/some-people-live-and-entire-life-and-wonderif-they-made-a-difference/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [You could tell he (President Ronald Reagan) was an old radio guy. He never once looked at the television monitor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/you-could-tell-he-president-ronald-reagan-was-an-old-radio-guy-he/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [President Ronald Reagan on his 1980 opponent: "I had a dream the other night. I dreamed that Jimmy Carter came to me and asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dole/president-ronald-reagan-on-his-1980-opponent-i-had-a-dream-the-other/) [Bob Dole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dole/) > [I was friends with President Ronald Reagan and he once said to me, 'I don't know how anybody can serve in public office without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-beatty/i-was-friends-with-president-ronald-reagan-and-he-once-said-to-me-i/) [Warren Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-beatty/) > [It was a particular pleasure to examine President Ronald Reagan's leadership. I experienced it first-hand, as a member of his administration in several capacities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/it-was-a-particular-pleasure-to-examine-president-ronald-reagan-s/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [When President Ronald Reagan asked me a stupid question once, I called him an idiot in public! I thought I was going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikram-choudhury/when-president-ronald-reagan-asked-me-a-stupid-question-once-i-called/) [Bikram Choudhury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikram-choudhury/) > [Do Americans want the government to micromanage every aspect of our lives? President Ronald Reagan certainly didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/do-americans-want-the-government-to-micromanage-every-aspect-of-our/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [President Ronald Reagan used to speak of the Soviet constitution, and he noted that it purported to grant wonderful rights of all sorts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-roberts/president-ronald-reagan-used-to-speak-of-the-soviet-constitution-and/) [John Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-roberts/) > ['There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching, a door at the end of the day. Knowing someone on the other side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-greater-happiness-for-a-man-than-approaching-a-door-at/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Helmut Schmidt > [People who have visions should go see a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/people-who-have-visions-should-go-see-a-doctor/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [If somewhere is a deficiency the normal American answer would have been well then, let's spend some more money, build some more weapons and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/if-somewhere-is-a-deficiency-the-normal-american-answer-would-have/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [ \[Ronald\] Reagan seems to be a man of some basic convictions and on the other hand willing to let others do the ground homework,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/ronald-reagan-seems-to-be-a-man-of-some-basic-convictions-and-on-the/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [I have had and still do have every confidence in Paul Nitze, a man whom I have known for decades, one of the wisest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-have-had-and-still-do-have-every-confidence-in-paul-nitze-a-man/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [Population growth and the proliferation of mega-cities around the world redefines the entire global security agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/population-growth-and-the-proliferation-of-mega-cities-around-the/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [Some of the American military obviously were thinking in terms of fighting a nuclear war. I was opposed to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/some-of-the-american-military-obviously-were-thinking-in-terms-of/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [Ronad Reagan might go down to history as a man who in the end of this administration brought about the first nuclear arms reduction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/ronad-reagan-might-go-down-to-history-as-a-man-who-in-the-end-of-this/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [ President \[Ronald\] Reagan never has tried to become an expert on military matters. He never has endeavored to learn the most important details in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-never-has-tried-to-become-an-expert-on/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [What I do see, for instance, is that the French are not very happy with the ... I am happy but they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/what-i-do-see-for-instance-is-that-the-french-are-not-very-happy-with/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [The catch word is equilibrium again, informed the field what are conventional weapons or nuclear weapons of different qualities. You cannot make up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/the-catch-word-is-equilibrium-again-informed-the-field-what-are/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [Political leaders normally act by making convincing speeches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/political-leaders-normally-act-by-making-convincing-speeches/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [I have talked about the deterioration of the atmosphere between Washington and Moscow. It was quite clear that in the year 1980, which at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-have-talked-about-the-deterioration-of-the-atmosphere-between/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [I think that the solution of the question of numerical superiority of Russian conventional forces has to be solved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-think-that-the-solution-of-the-question-of-numerical-superiority-of/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [I've never been a classic Gaulist! Not a Gaulist at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-ve-never-been-a-classic-gaulist-not-a-gaulist-at-all/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) > [I hate the idea that someone think the destruction of Chicago as strategic affair, the destruction of Hamburg as a tactical one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/i-hate-the-idea-that-someone-think-the-destruction-of-chicago-as/) [Helmut Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) [Explore all 22 Helmut Schmidt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/) ## More President quotes > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [I had to perform at the White House for the president, That's always kind of a weird set to try to put together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/i-had-to-perform-at-the-white-house-for-the-president-that-s-always/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [When the President starts talking about something, it makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-the-president-starts-talking-about-something-it-makes-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [In any event, it is one thing to assert, then or now, that the Iraq war was ill-advised. It is quite another to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-silberman/in-any-event-it-is-one-thing-to-assert-then-or-now-that-the-iraq-war/) [Laurence Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-silberman/) > [A wholesome regard for the memory of the great men of long ago is the best assurance to a people of a continuation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/a-wholesome-regard-for-the-memory-of-the-great-men-of-long-ago-is-the/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. 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Rhodes [Browse all 9,921 President quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "President [Ronald] Reagan told me he would negotiate and negotiate and negotiate with the Soviets, and I believed him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helmut Schmidt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would-negotiate-and-negotiate-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "President" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would-negotiate-and-negotiate-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/helmut-schmidt-23706_president_president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would_1072952.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/helmut-schmidt-23706_president_president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would_1072952.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93a/helmut-schmidt-23706_president_president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would_1072952.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“President [Ronald] Reagan told me he would negotiate and negotiate and negotiate with the Soviets, and I…” — Helmut Schmidt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Helmut Schmidt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-schmidt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "President [Ronald] Reagan told me he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would-negotiate-and-negotiate-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-schmidt/president-ronald-reagan-told-me-he-would-negotiate-and-negotiate-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```