Reagan & George H.W. Bush

1. Reagan & George H.W. Bush Mr. Ermer U.S. History Honors Miami Beach Senior High

2. Reagan and the World • Reagan renews “active” fight against Communism • Calls the Soviet Union an “Evil Empire” • Strategic Defense Initiative—”Star Wars” • The Reagan Doctrine • Renewed promise to support anti-communists around the world • 1982: Marines sent to Granada • Support for Nicaraguan “contras” • Intervention in Lebanon (w/ Israel) • 1983: terrorists bomb U.S. marine base in Beirut, Lebanon • Terrorism in the “Third World” rises throughout 1980s

3. Election of 1984 • Reagan has full support of Republican Party • Democrats fight rough primary • Walter Mondale, early favorite, fights challenge from Sen. Gary Hart • Jesse Jackson also enters race, sapping African-American support • Mondale wins nomination, choses Geraldine Ferraro as running mate • Reagan campaigns on “Morning In America” • Reagan wins in landslide, Democrats remain in control of House, gain seats in Senate • Appoints Sandra Day O’Connor as first female justice of SCOTUS • Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, William Rehnquist new chief justice

5. Waning of the Cold War • Mikhail Gorbachev, new premier of Soviet Union • Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (reform) • 1986: Reagan and Gorbachev begin series of meetings • 1987: USSR pulls support for other communists • 1989: Every communist government in Eastern Europe falls • 1989: Tiananmen Square protest in China unsuccessful—brutally suppressed • 1991: Unsuccessful coup precipitates fall of USSR • Gorbachev remains in power w/ military support • Soviet republics begin declaring independence from Russia • Gorbachev resigns as leader of Communist Part • Soviet Union ceases to exist, replaced by Russian Federation

8. Fading of the Reagan Revolution • Series of scandals flow from EPA, CIA, Defense Department, Department of Labor, Justice Department, and HUD • Deregulation of Savings & Loan Industry causes widespread corporate corruption, fraud • Government saves industry from near collapse • Iran-Contra Scandal • Scandal breaks in 1986 • Reagan Administration admits selling weapons to Iran in unsuccessful attempt to have Americans held by Islamic terrorists released • Money from weapons sale illegally transferred to Nicaraguan Contras

10. Election of 1988 • 1986: Amid scandals, Democrats regain control of the Senate • 1988: Democrats nominate Gov. Michael Dukakis • Vice President George H. W. Bush on Republican ticket • Both candidates seen as dull, fail to win enthusiasm • Bush runs a long, negative attack campaign • Ties Dukakis to all the stances Americans saw as “liberal” • Considered one of the most negative of 20th Century • Marks political aggressiveness of the New Right • Bush wins election on promise to lower deficit and not raise taxes • Democrats remain in control of Congress

12. The Bush Presidency • Bush oversees demise of Soviet Union • Also seen as unthreatening by Americans, high approval • Negotiates far reaching arms reduction treaty • Political gridlock on domestic issues • Folds to congressional pressure to raise taxes in exchange for long range budget aimed to reduce federal deficit • Recession of 1990-1992 causes bankruptcies • Caused by high corporate and individual debt • Congress rejects capital gains tax cut • Demand rises for government to control cost of healthcare

13. The First Gulf War • Collapse of USSR, leaves US as only superpower • Movement to reduce military, focus on domestic issues • Some want to use power to protect interests • 1989 invasion of Panama • 1990: Iraq invades oil-rich Kuwait • Bush convinced world to support trade embargo of Iraq • United Nations authorizes military action, Jan. 15 deadline • Jan. 16, 1991: US and allies bomb Iraqi forces and bases • Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf leads Operation Desert Storm • Feb. 28, 1991: Iraq accepts demands of US and allies • Gulf War angers many Muslims • United States seen as bully among Islamists