the foreign policies of ronald reagan

THE FOREIGN POLICIES OF RONALD REAGAN

Background Career started as a Movie Actor Originally supported the Democratic Party,

but switched to Republicans because of Democratic tax policies

Former Governor of California Powerful, charming personality; earned

nickname Great Communicator

Background (cont.) Wife, Nancy, played

a leading role in his administration“Just Say No!”

antidrug campaign Survived an

assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. (1981)

The Reagan Revolution Became part of a growing conservative

movement called the New Right Supported…

School PrayerLower TaxesSmall Gov’t.Strong MilitaryBible-based Human Creation

Reaganomics Two Goals:

1. Reduce taxes to stimulate economic growth

2. Cut the federal budget

Reagan’s economic theory was based on Supply-Side Economics

Supply-Side Economics Tax cuts allow businesses to

expand and invest their tax savings Businesses could then hire more

workers or build new stores Critics:

Rich would become richer, poor would become poorer

No wealth would “trickle down” to the working class

Reaganomics Before becoming

Reagan’s VP, Bush Sr., referred to it as…“Voodoo Economics”

Tax cuts combined with increased military spending drove the deficit higher, increasing national debt

Reagan & the Cold War Rejected policies of

détente & containment Took a hard-line stance

towards communism and the USSR

Referred to the USSR as the “evil empire” and wanted to destroy it.

Reagan & the Cold War “Peace with Strength”

Huge increases in military/defense spending1. 1981-1985 defense budget grew from

$150 billion to $250 billion2. Increased nuclear stockpiles3. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI):

shield in space that would protect the US against incoming Soviet missiles

“Star Wars”

Reagan & the Cold War US-Soviet relations warm

In 1985 new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began talks to reduce nuclear stockpiles with the US

In an act of defiance, Reagan gave a speech at a famous Berlin Wall landmark called the Brandenburg Gate○ “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”○The Berlin Wall officially came down in 1989○USSR fell two years later in 1991

Iran-Contra Affair Background

US supported Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza

Sandinistas (Marxist group) with help from Cuba (communist) overthrew Samoza

Reagan cuts off aid to Nicaragua and alleges that the Sandinistas were supported by USSR

Reagan then secretly approves $20 million for the CIA to train an opposition called the Contras

Congress discovered the secret activities of the CIA (without their approval) and immediately cut off all aid to the Contras

Sandinistas

The Iran Connection Despite Congress’ ban on aid to the Contras,

Reagan remained determined to help them Reagan approves of weapons sales to Iran – a

direct violation of a US arms embargo Members of Reagan’s National Security Council

secretly diverted funds from the illegal Iranian arms sales to the Contras in Nicaragua

Vice Admiral John Poindexter & Lt. Colonel Oliver North carried out the plan

The Aftermath The scheme was revealed to Congress in

1986 followed by an investigation1. Reagan admitted authorizing Iranian arms

sales, but denied knowledge of the diversion of funds to the Contras

2. Other members of the administration engaged in a cover-up

○ North admitted destroying key documents (let off on a technicality)

○ Others lied and withheld evidence