Who said one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter?

During a heated and fairly naive debate on extreme politics between my friends and I at school around 1977/78 I came out with the phrase 'one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter'. It had quite an impact on the group and I was quite pleased with myself to have come up with a completely original yet neat, concise and poignant phrase which could be thrown into such debates (which were common amongst young teenagers in the post-punk politically heated climate of the time in the UK). Pleased enough to tuck away the saying and repeat it from time-to-time on future occasions.

Imagine my surprise then, that over the years I have heard the phrase time and again in the media.

Initially I was convinced this had been a totally spontaneous and original thought from myself - but perhaps I'd dragged it from my subconscious having heard it or read it elsewhere though if I had I was completely unaware of the circumstance. I pretty much decided that must be the case - until recently that is when I decided to look up the origin of the phrase.

It appears that most people believe it was used by Reagan in the 80s first, some people cite later origins while others quote slightly different sayings by authors from the mid seventies - authors which I have never read, nor would I have come across at that point aged 14 with a knowledge of politics that didn't go much beyond the lyrics of The Clash.

So if I had read it somewhere - how come no one has a reference to the publication of this quotation?

I am forced to conclude, unlikely as it seems, that I did indeed originate this 'saying' and that it was repeated enough to filter into the zeitgeist and is now most commonly attributed to 'anonymous' and assumed to be much older than it actually is.

Well, here I am, not anonymous, and unfortunately with no proof either and little more than an approximate date (I can't even remember who else was present during the discussion and if I did its doubtful they would remember the exact Wording or occasion themselves).

However, in the absence of any proof of its previous existence and my original heartfelt conviction of my own originality, I hear by lay claim as the originator of the phrase 'One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter'