The Presidency of Ronald Reagan 1981 1989 Biographical

The Presidency of Ronald Reagan (1981 -1989)

Biographical Information: Party: Republican Years in Office: 1981 -89 President Before: Jimmy Carter President After: George H. W. Bush Important Bio Information: § Born and raised in Illinois § BA in Economics from Eureka College § 1937 -57 made 52 movies in Hollywood § President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1947 -54, where he opposed communist influence. § 1953 -62 spokesman for GE and host of the General Electric Theater § 1964 campaigns for Goldwater and delivers “A Time for Choosing” speech which launches his political career. § 1966 -74 Governor of California § 1976 Challenged Ford for GOP nomination.

The Election of 1980 – Democrat President Jimmy Carter The Economy is #1 issue: § High inflation § Ongoing energy crisis § Rising unemployment § High interest rates *Carter’s record is mixed at best, and he didn’t hesitate to blame Americans in the 1979 “Malaise Speech. ” Carter on Foreign Policy: § Scored a major victory by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel & Egypt § Dogged by ongoing Iran Hostage Crisis throughout the campaign

The Election of 1980 – Republican Governor Ronald Reagan On the economy, Reagan campaigned to: § Cut government spending § Cut taxes § Shift power to the states § Rebuild the military *On foreign policy, Reagan advocated a hard line with the Soviets. *On social issues, he is popular with conservatives for his traditional values: family, faith, hard work, and patriotism.

The New Reagan Coalition The Reagan Revolution was made possible by support from: § Southern Conservatives § Religious Conservatives – especially Evangelical Christians § Traditional Republicans § Western Libertarians § *Reagan Democrats (These are blue collar social conservatives that have traditionally voted Democrat in the past. )

1980 Debate Highlights

The 1980 Election Results

President Reagan survives an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981

“Reaganomics” = Supply Side Economics (often called “trickle down” economics by critics) is based on the economic theory that if the government: § Cuts taxes § Reduces spending – especially on entitlements § Reduce government regulation The new revenues would be reinvested back into the economy and produce more jobs and ultimately, more tax revenues.

• To this end, Congress passed and Reagan signed the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, which called for significant tax cuts over 3 years. • Reagan made large budget cuts to domestic programs like education, food stamps, public housing, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. • The Defense budget was increased by $12 billion. • After suffering a brief recession in 1982, the economy began to respond to Reaganomics with the longest sustained economic expansion since WWII – 92 months. (Inflation went from 13% in 1981, to 2% in 1986)

Trickle Down Economics • The downside to Reaganomics included: higher state tax rates in some cases to offset the federal programming cuts, and ballooning budget deficits, which contributed to the growing national debt. • Reagan was unable to control spending as much as he wanted because of opposition from the Democratically controlled House of Representatives.

POTUS & SCOTUS • 1981 Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to sit on the SCOTUS • 1986 Associate Justice William Rehnquist was elevated to Chief Justice after the retirement of Warren Burger • 1986 Antonin Scalia • 1988 Anthony Kennedy

1984 Election • The Democratic Party nominated Carter’s Vice President, Walter Mondale of Minnesota. • In a historic move, Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro of New York was tapped as his running mate. • Mondale criticized Reagan’s budget deficits and cuts to social spending. • Ferraro was distracted with a financial scandal involving her husband.

1984 Election Results

“The Two Reagans” on Foreign Policy First Term: Military build up, aggressive rhetoric & policies Second Term: Continue pressure, but diplomatically engage

The Reagan Doctrine Under the Reagan Doctrine, the United States provided overt and covert assistance to antiguerrillas and resistance movements in an effort to “roll back” communism in Soviet-backed governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The doctrine was designed to diminish Soviet influence in these regions as part of the administration's overall Cold War strategy. The Reagan Doctrine was especially significant because it represented a substantial shift in the post–World War II foreign policy of the United States beyond containment. Peace through strength

Reagan’s Cold War Strategy 1. US military buildup to force arms reductions with the Soviets 2. Regime change in the USSR 3. Emphasize the ideological argument 4. Engage the USSR – arms control, regional conflict, human rights, cultural/commercial exchange

• • • Lebanon – Reagan deployed 800 US Marines to Lebanon as part of a multinational force (along with Syria and Israel) attempting to resolve a long, bloody civil war that threatened to destabilize the region. On April 18, 1983, a car bomb detonated outside the US Embassy killing 17 Americans. Six months later, on October 23, 1983, a suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives into the Marine Barracks killing 241 servicemen. Reagan soon announced a withdraw of US forces from Lebanon. Libya - After a series of terrorist attacks in Western Europe were linked to Libya and aggressive Libyan military moves in the Mediterranean Sea , Reagan orders an attack by F-111 strike bombers on the capital – Tripoli. Iran-Iraq War – The US supported the Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussein as the US and Iran had become bitter enemies since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and Iranian Hostage crisis. Between 1987 -88, the US and Iran fight a quasi-war in the Persian Gulf while the US escorts oil tankers through the Straits of Hormuz. Middle East Challenges

Reagan and the Contra Rebels Nicaragua – In 1979, the Sandinistas, a socialist revolutionary movement backed by Cuba, took control of Nicaragua. In keeping with his “roll back” strategy, Reagan sent covert aid and the CIA to support the Contras, or “Counterrevolutionaries”, which he called “freedom fighters”. From bases in neighboring Honduras, the Contras will conduct operations in Nicaragua in this brutal, atrocity laden conflict.

Turning back Communism in the Americas El Salvador – Reagan sent military advisors to support the pro-US government of El Salvador as well as gaining congressional approval for $5 billion in aid. Public opinion soured after news of government “death squads” eliminating thousands of the opposition. Grenada – In 1983, Reagan ordered 6, 000 US troops to the Caribbean Island of Grenada where a military coup had brought a Marxist regime to power. In addition to allowing the Cubans to build a air base capable of accommodating large military aircraft, there was grave concern for the hundreds of American medical students studying on the island. US forces quickly took over the island.

Iran-Contra Affair - As part of the Reagan’s effort to “roll-back” communism, the Reagan Doctrine (using the CIA to train/equip forces fighting communism) was used to support the Contras Rebels in Nicaragua. Reagan was especially sympathetic to the Contras calling them “the moral equivalent to the Founding Fathers. ” To insure Congressional oversight in the administration of the Reagan Doctrine, the Democratically controlled Congress passed the Boland Amendment, which restricted the aid the CIA and Dept of Defense could give the Contras. Reagan ordered his National Security Advisor to secretly continue aid to the Contras. To fund this aid, a secret arms deal with Iran (at war with Iraq and listed as a state sponsor of international terrorism) was negotiated. In addition to the monies generated by the arms sales, Reagan hoped to improve US relations with Iran and secure the release of American hostages in Lebanon. In the end: the weapons went to Iran, some of the hostages were released, and $18 million dollars were directed to the Contras. Once public, an 8 -year investigation of the so-called “Arms-for. Hostages” deal ensued in which some officials resigned, few were convicted, and a handful of high-profile Reagan officials were ultimately pardoned. While Reagan’s image was briefly tarnished, most historians agree that no major damage was done to his legacy.

Iran-Contra

• • Unlike Nixon’s efforts at détente for a peaceful coexistence; Reagan refused to give up the “moral high ground” to the communists. Reagan said it best, “We win. They lose. ” Reagan made the Cold War an ideological struggle against communism. After US intelligence reports indicate that the USSR is near economic collapse attempting to maintain support for their military, Reagan launches a low-level economic war to put additional pressure on the struggling Soviet economy. Tensions in Poland mount led by the first noncommunist union, Solidarity, who received millions in secret financial support from the US. (Poland is also under pressure from another front, the new Polish pope, John Paul II. ) KAL Flight 007 - The Soviets shot down a Korean Air Lines jumbo jet after straying into Soviet airspace. Hundreds were killed including an American congressman. US breaks off all arms control negotiations in response. Reagan refers to the Soviet Union as “the Evil Empire” in a speech to Evangelical Christians to justify his military buildup. US medium range Pershing and cruise missiles to Western Europe. Soviet Relations 1981 -85

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) – “Star Wars” • In 1983, Reagan announced his intention to develop and deploy a high-tech missile defense system based partially in space. • Reagan claimed that SDI would provide an umbrella over American cities. • Diplomatically, Reagan used the threat of SDI to scare the Soviets. He was also very aware that his dramatic increases in defense spending could not be matched by the USSR. While SDI was never deployed, Reagan used the threat of SDI to great success in his negotiations with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.

The Emergence of Mikhail Gorbachev In 1985, Gorbachev becomes the Soviet Premier and immediately demonstrated his reform minded agenda: • expanded free speech, capitalist reforms, and limited democracy. • Demonstrates a willingness to discuss reducing nuclear weapons in Europe.

The 1985 Geneva Summit GENEVA: The first meeting between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev took place in Geneva, Switzerland in November 1985. Reagan and Gorbachev discussed all areas of U. S. -Soviet relations. Overall, the two leaders used the meetings to feel out each other’s positions. Although no significant agreements were made, the two leaders agreed to meet again. The Geneva Summit is seen today as a success as Reagan and Gorbachev were able to start the process that led to a thawing of Cold War tensions, and the eventual signing of the INF Treaty in 1987.

The 1986 Reykjavik Summit REYKJAVIK Over two-days of meetings in October 1986 failed to produce any arms control agreements. General Secretary Gorbachev and Reagan, however, seemed on the verge of agreeing to a sweeping arms control agreement that would in principle work towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The Reykjavik Summit is now seen as significant turning point in arms control negotiations. Although no agreement was reached at the time, Reagan and Gorbachev in principle agreed on the need to reduce their nuclear arsenals. Gorbachev also recognized that Reagan would not negotiate SDI. Over the next couple of months Gorbachev dropped his insistence that SDI be linked to any arms control agreement, and when Reagan and Gorbachev met again in Washington in December 1987, all they had to do were sign the documents agreeing to eliminate their intermediate range nuclear weapons (The INF Treaty), the most sweeping arms control reductions treaty ever signed by that time.

The 1987 Washington Summit WASHINGTON: General Secretary Gorbachev came to Washington in December 1987 to sign the INF Treaty documents and to persuade President Reagan to agree a further arms control agreement, a START agreement. The START negotiations started from the principle that both sides would eliminate 50% of their offensive ballistic missiles. To accomplish this goal, however, General Secretary Gorbachev insisted that Reagan agree to delay deployment of SDI until both sides had eliminated their offensive weapons. This way, Gorbachev argued, one side would not have an advantage over the other. Reagan, however, insisted that SDI could not be part of any arms control negotiations. After the Washington Summit Reagan encouraged his advisers to continue to seek a START agreement, but that he would not make any

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces [INF] Treaty Provisions The INF Treaty eliminated all nucleararmed ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5, 500 kilometers (about 300 to 3400 miles) and their infrastructure. The INF Treaty is the first nuclear arms control agreement to actually reduce nuclear arms, rather than establish ceilings that could not be exceeded. Altogether it resulted in the elimination by May 1991 of 846 longer-and shorterrange U. S. INF missile systems and 1846 Soviet INF missile systems, including the modernized U. S. Pershing II and Soviet SS-20 missiles. *The INF Treaty contains the most comprehensive verification regime ever achieved to that point.

The 1988 Moscow Summit MOSCOW: President Reagan traveled to Moscow in May 1988. General Secretary Gorbachev was hoping to use the Summit as an opportunity for Reagan and Gorbachev to agree to the START Treaty, but soon after Reagan arrived it became very clear that Reagan was not interested in further arms control agreements. Reagan spent most of the Summit, instead, talking about human rights. The Summit is probably best remembered for Reagan's statement to reporters, outside the Kremlin, declaring that he no longer thought of the Soviet Union as an "evil empire. ”

The 1988 New York Meeting NEW YORK: Reagan and Gorbachev had a short visit in December 1988 on Governor's Island, right outside Manhattan in New York City. President-elect George H. W. Bush was also present. No substantive issues were discussed, and President-elect Bush interesting chose to observe. The meeting is probably most significant for President-elect Bush's lack of participation.

The Reagan Legacy • He had the gift of taking complicated ideas and making them easy for voters to understand (frequently through anecdote), which made for broader appeal. • Refused to compromise on communism. Reagan’s Cold War policies directly led to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Reagan Legacy While the economy did improve, it came at a cost. § Budget deficit rose from $79 billion to $1. 1 trillion. § $1. 86 trillion added to the National Debt. § critics call out Reagan for his efforts to cut government spending (welfare). § deregulation sets up future economic crises.

The Reagan Presidential Library

The Reagan Memorial