Foreword 12 Introduction 15

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1 RONALD REAGAN

2 CONTENTS Foreword 12 Introduction 15 CHAPTER 1: REAGANOMICS 1. The Reagan Presidency Constituted a Profound Change in U.S. Politics by David Mervin 37 In his first inaugural speech Ronald Reagan proclaimed, "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." The Reagan administration favored reducing taxes and cutting unnecessary federal programs. In advocating a turn away from government, Reagan became the first president to openly oppose Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal of the 1930s. 2. Reaganomics Was a Success by Esmond Wright 49 Reagan's economic policies were based on the theory of supply-side economics, which holds that cutting taxes can help boost the economy. Reagan's 1981 tax cut helped initiate "the Reagan boom," the largest surge in the U.S. economy since World War II. 3. Reaganomics Was Fatally Flawed by Anthony S. Campagna 57 Ronald Reagan came into office promising to cut taxes, reduce government spending, increase defense spending, and balance the budget. However, the promises of supply-side economics proved hollow; under Reagan taxes were cut while government spending increased, and as a result the national debt soared. 4. Reagan's Economic Policies Favored the Rich by Howard Zinn 68 The main legacy of Reaganomics is increased economic inequality. Reagan's tax cuts favored the very rich more than they did the middle class, and his efforts to eliminate "big government" harmed the poor, since they usuf NIEDERS. mats-u.univ.. I BIBUOTHEK

3 ally involved eliminating social programs such as welfare and school lunches. CHAPTER 2: THE END OF THE COLD WAR 1. Renewing the Cold War by Andrew E. Busch and Elizabeth Edwards Spalding 76 Ronald Reagan came into office determined to deal with the Soviets from a position of strength. His administration built up the military, increased U.S. deployment of nuclear missiles in Europe, and funded anticommunist forces in the Third World. 2. Reagan and Gorbachev: An Unexpected Thaw in the Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis 89 To many people's surprise, Reagan toned down his anticommunist rhetoric when Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985, and the two leaders eventually signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, an important step in arms reductions. Ironically, the man who came into office denouncing the Soviet Union helped end forty years of enmity and distrust between the two superpowers. 3. The Strategic Defense Initiative Helped End the Cold War by Lou Cannon 99 With the Strategic Defense Initiative, a space-based, computer-controlled defense system that would shoot down nuclear missiles, Reagan hoped that people could once again live without fear of nuclear war. Although an actual missile defense system never materialized, the prospect of the United States building such a defense helped convince the Soviets to resume arms reduction negotiations. 4. The Strategic Defense Initiative Was a Failure by Michael Schaller 111 The Strategic Defense Initiative never really stood a chance of being built from both a financial and technological perspective, it would have been almost impossible. But the Soviet Union saw SDI as one more unprovoked

4 threat and, if anything, this reduced their willingness to discuss arms control. 5. The Reagan Military Buildup Prolonged the Cold War by Raymond L. Garthoff 115 The Cold War ended because of Mikhail Gorbachev's efforts to reform the corrupt Soviet government and to improve relations with the West. Reagan's military posturing only hindered Gorbachev's efforts, initially causing Soviet leaders to resist improving U.S.-Soviet relations. CHAPTER 3: THE IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR 1. The Reagan Administration's Involvement in Central America by Haynes Johnson 125 The Reagan administration was committed to supporting the Nicaraguan contras, who were rebelling against the left-wing government of their country. Reagan and his advisers feared that if communism gained a foothold in Central America, it would soon spread to Mexico. 2. An Insider's Perspective on the Iranian Initiative by Edwin Meese III 132 Contrary to popular belief, the Reagan administration's sale of arms to Iran was not illegal. While the United States has a policy of never negotiating with terrorists, the Reagan administration was not seeking to deal with hostagetakers themselves, but rather more moderate groups in Iran who had some influence with the terrorists. 3. Ronald Reagan's Role in the Iran-Contra Affair by William E. Pemberton 140 When the events of the Iran-contra affair were made public, Reagan initially refused to believe that his administration had sold arms to hostages, and he seems to have been unaware that the proceeds from these arms sales were being diverted to the contras. However, a congressional committee concluded that ultimately Reagan was responsible for the illegal activities of his staff.

5 4. The Scandal Breaks by Adriana Bosch 154 The first few months after the press first learned of the Iran-contra affair were the worst of Reagan's presidency. However, after the Tower Commission concluded that Reagan was ultimately responsible for the scandal, he publicly apologized, and his public approval ratings soon rebounded. 5. The Cover-Up That Worked by Joel Brinkley 162 According to the independent counsel appointed by Congress to investigate Iran-contra, Reagan had explicit knowledge of several important elements of the Irancontra affair and the efforts to cover up the scandal. It was a bungled cover-up that forced Richard Nixon to resign after the Watergate scandal, but the Reagan administration largely succeeded in its efforts to hide the worst aspects of the Iran-contra affair. CHAPTER 4: THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR 1. Reagan Was a Great Communicator of American Ideals by Dinesh D'Souza 169 Ronald Reagan was one of the most popular presidents in recent history because he formed a bond with the American people. Reagan has earned the name "the Great Communicator" because of his extraordinary knack for inspirational rhetoric. 2. The Myth of Reagan as a Great Communicator by Wilbur Edel 177 Reagan had an extraordinary ability to influence public opinion, but his popularity alone does not justify the nickname "the Great Communicator." Instead of being a good communicator, Reagan often bungled the facts, made up statistics, or even knowingly lied to the media in order to advance his own agenda. 3. Reagan the Actor by Bob Schieffer and Gary Paul Gates 187 As president, Reagan relied heavily on his training as an actor, relying on his speech writers and political advisers

6 the same way that an actor relies on a script and a director. The president's acting skills also account for his success with the media, since a trained actor is always conscious of appearing his best. 4. Reagan Was a Charismatic Leader and a Shrewd Politician by David Mervin 192 Many political pundits have described Ronald Reagan as a likeable person but a poor politician. However, it was precisely Reagan's personal charisma that enabled him to handle the media effectively, shape public opinion, and influence Congress. 5. Reagan's Popularity Before and After the Assassination Attempt by Haynes Johnson 201 Public support for Reagan's tax cuts and other proposals was much higher after the 1981 attempt on his life than they were in the first months after he was elected. The president though severely wounded in the shooting handled the ordeal with genuine courage and grace. The public rallied around him. 6. The First True Television President by Mary E. Stuckey 209 Reagan was the first president to fully grasp the power of television in shaping public opinion, and that is why he has been variously hailed as the Great Communicator and the "Teflon President." Reagan and his staff understood the importance of politics as theater: They designed press conferences for full dramatic effect, and the president's speeches were full of simple and clear soundbites to better fit the television news format. Appendix: Excerpts from Original Documents 215 Chronology 235 For Further Research 242 Index 244

Was the Reagan Revolution good for the nation?

Was the Reagan Revolution good for the nation? Warm Up 6- Take this short, 5-question true or false quiz. 1. T or F: Reagan had a very quiet, shy personality. 2. T or F: Reagan was nationally famous before