Fifty years ago, a week before the 1964 presidential election, Ronald Reagan gave his famous “Time for Choosing” address to support the candidacy of Barry Goldwater. Though Goldwater would go on to suffer a historic defeat, Reagan’s speech (which has become known simply as “The Speech”) helped launch Reagan’s political career, as he would be elected governor of California two years later.

Full of trademark Reagan lines such as “a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we’ll ever see on this earth,” the speech also articulated the philosophy of limited government and principle of “peace through strength” that would define Reagan’s presidency as well as modern conservatism to this day.