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Reagan’s Popularity. Optimism and Hope “Stand Tall in the World” Charismatic Great public speaker Skilled at media relations Belief in greatness of America Ability to articulate the beliefs of many Americans Quick recovery after assassination attempt. Reagan on Government.
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Reagan’s Popularity • Optimism and Hope “Stand Tall in the World” • Charismatic • Great public speaker • Skilled at media relations • Belief in greatness of America • Ability to articulate the beliefs of many Americans • Quick recovery after assassination attempt
Reagan on Government “High taxes and excess spending growth created our present economic mess…..The answer to a government that’s too big is to stop feeding its growth. Government spending has been growing faster than the economy itself. The massive national debt which we accumulated is the result of the government’s high spending diet.” • Pres. Reagan addressing Congress in April 1981 • Video of Reagan
Reaganomics • Compare Supply Side & Keynesian Economics: • tax cuts vs. government spending to spur the economy • Reaganomics • debates • supply side economics • Tax cuts • Spending cuts for social welfare programs • Deregulation of Business • “Trickle-Down Economics”
Era of Prosperity • The Economy Boomed in 1980s… • Volcker’s policies reduced inflation • Tax cuts Businesses & GNP grew • Sustained period of Economic Growth • Unemployment & Interest rates fell • However… • Budget Deficits skyrocketed (due to tax cuts & increased military spending) • Growing Gap between rich & poor (rich got richer, but more people in poverty) • 1989 Savings & Loan Crisis • Deregulation allowed risky and fraudulent investments • 1000 banks failed $200 billion taxpayer bailout • Derivatives were also deregulated…. • Recession in early 1990s • Question: Were Reagan’s economic policies good or bad for the country?
Reagan and the Cold War • Massive Cold War military build-up • Massive Deficit spending to Outspend the Soviets • Peace through Strength • Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”) • Network of land and space-based lasers to destroy missiles • Never fully developed; basis for some missile defense systems
Cold War Ends… • Causes?: Economy, Solidarity & Eastern European resistance, USSR overextended, Afghanistan, Gorbachev, Military Buildup • Gorbachev & Reagan met 4 times from 1985 to 1989 • 1987 – Reagan’s Speech in Berlin • 1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall • 1989 – Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Romania • 1991 – Yeltsin rallies supporters to defend Gorbachev against a coup; Soviet Union dissolves & Yeltsin becomes President
Iran-Contra Affair 1979: Sandinistas control Nicaragua 1984: Congress outlaws aid to Nicaraguan rebels (Contras) “Boland Amendments” US covertly sells arms to Iran for help with hostages in Lebanon Violates Arms Embargo and Reagan’s policy against negotiating with terrorists Profits used to fund Contras in hopes of overthrowing Sandinista govt. How much did Reagan know? Ordered support for Contras Knew about arms-for-hostages deal with Iran Unclear whether knew of $ diversion to Contras 11 people Convicted Pres. George HW Bush pardoned 6 of them (before his diary could be scrutinized by courts; ended the investigations into his & Reagan’s involvement) North & Poindexter’s convictions overturned on technicalities SOURCE: The National Security Archive, George Washington University Col. Oliver North testifying before Congress
Iran-Contra Questions • Should there be limits on the President’s ability to direct covert operations without the approval of Congress, or in direct violation of laws of Congress? • Should Bush have pardoned the 6? Do you believe the Founding Fathers intended for pardons to be used this way? • Should Reagan have been impeached? • Should people associated with the scandal be able to serve in public office again? • Elliott Abrams: Pres. George W Bush’s National Security Advisor on “Global Democracy Strategy” • Poindexter: Directed Pentagon’s Total Information Awareness Program under Pres. George W Bush • Negroponte: U.S. Rep. to United Nations in 2002, Ambassador to Iraq in 2004; first Director of National Intelligence in 2005 • In conclusion, was the Iran Contra Scandal a testament to our Constitution and our system of checks & balances?
Cold War Coups & Covert Activities • 1953 – Iran (Eisenhower) • 1954 – Guatemala (Eisenhower) • 1963 – Vietnam (Kennedy) • 1964 – Vietnam (Johnson) • 1969 & ‘73 – Cambodia & Chile (Nixon) • 1970s – Carter – focus on Human Rights • 1980s – Iran-Contra, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nicaragua (Reagan) • Source: The National Security Archive, http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/ • QUESTIONS: • 1) In each instance, what should the U.S. have done? • 2) In each instance, should Congress have been consulted? • 3) What impacts have these events had? On taxpayer $? On trust in government? On the Cold War? On democracy? On international human rights? On terrorism? Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of Pres. Reagan, in Baghdad in 1983
As you watch The Century clip… • What major issues developed as part of the Cold War in the 1980s? • How were those issues resolved? • To what extent were Reagan’s Cold War policies/decisions responsible for the end of the Cold War? • To what extent were additional factors responsible for the end of the Cold War?
