Essay on Differences and Similarities between Reagan and Gorbachev

Two past presidents of the United States leading America through tough times and crisis’. Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy were two of the most significant leaders in America. Kennedy and Reagan were very popular presidents. When Reagan took office he got shot but it didn’t kill him. Reagan had a lot of integrity in his personal life where Kennedy didn’t. Reagan was faithful to his wife while Kennedy ran around with other women. They were both powerful communicators. Reagan had a greater impact because of the way that he spoke he was able to articulate conservatism in a way that nobody else was able to do. Reagan and Kennedy both led presidencies that were compelling and significant.

“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help” (Reagan). Reagan believed in giving more power to the people and less to the government. Both of these presidents aren’t afraid to speak their minds. Former president, Ronald Reagan, and future president Donald Trump are similar and different because of their background, popularity before running for office and their ability to communicate to the people.

In order for Reagan to succeed, [Reagan] used patience and negotiation to end the Cold War. During Reagan's presidency four USSR leaders attempted to negotiate with Reagan (“Children’s”). Reagan increased pressure on the arms race and waited until a deal could be settled that did not compromise the American people. After forty years the Iron Curtain fell, and the new deal settled the “superpowers first agreement to reduce nuclear weapons” (“Children’s”). The fall of the USSR was significant because it liberated millions of people living the impoverished lifestyle of communism. While modern-day Russia does not have a perfect government the end of the Cold War significantly made the world closer to ending

Despite the increase of defense projects and counter-Soviet initiatives, Reagan did desire for negotiation and improve relations between Washington and Kremlin (Rossinow, 224). Soon afterward, during his second term, Reagan held meetings with leader Mikhail Gorbachev, with whom he negotiated a treaty to eliminate a range of nuclear weapons. Between the two men was a forged relationship- as a partnership, as friends. Reagan, surprisingly, even suggested that both powers should do what they can to ensure that such weapons entirely removed from the world (Rossinow, 232)- although the proposal 's implementation did not work, it still did prove interestingly of Reagan 's thinking to establish disarmament, even if it never happened. Nonetheless, ending the war after so many decades of tension was a monumental triumph for the US and American policy.

Ronald Reagan was a very popular person before, during, and after his time of presidency. He went from a mere radio announcer, to the head of the United States of America. Ronald had defeated most of the world’s problems with Communism, improved the economy, and handled terrorist threats like a pro. Ronald quickly took America’s heart with his honorable deeds and doings. He was very famous by the time he became deceased. (Ronald Reagan Facts.)

Forty-four years (1947-1991) of the “Cold War”, also known as communism, was overpowering many of the nations from Russia, Eastern Europe, Eastern Asia and South Africa – just to name a few places. Communism was a very powerful issue in 1981. During this time, Reagan was taking his stand as the 40th President of the United States. During this time, Russia was under the leadership of Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko.

President Reagan’s many actions helped to end the Cold War. He communicated with Gorbachev. When there is communication through the two leaders there is mutual respect. They drafted up the INF treaty. This shows that they are willing to work together try to create peace between the two countries. In a New York Times article called A President Who Listened it said, “his second term as president emphasized a different set of goals. I think he understood that it is the peacemakers, above all who earn a place in history.”

From Hollywood to the White House, Ronald Reagan has always been a public favorite, especially among presidential history. Many people view him as an iconic political figure, who made bold decisions as part of his leadership. Reagan has been credited with numerous feats and failures, such as, reducing the poverty rate by cutting taxes and increasing defense spending, negotiating a nuclear arms reduction agreement with the Soviets to bring a quicker end to the Cold War, and by delivering weapons to terrorists. However, behind his Hollywood smile, and his ravishing ways, many people oppose the opinion of Reagan’s bold leadership decisions.

He also laid the framework with Gorbachev for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which reduced both countries’ arsenals of nuclear weapons. therefore cutting. Reagan and Gorbachev's relationship was vital for the fall of the soviet union, and the end of the cold war.

Both had been previously Governors of states and they both published works, however, Reagan did so many more times. Reagan seems to still have a large impact as well on the moral in America when it comes to his optimism he has exhibited (Scarborough, 2014). He has a legacy that carries on in the American people. Reagan had a uniqueness to him as he believed in God, his people, and in himself; as a result, he could communicate his values and thoughts as no one had before. Reagan was always optimistic even in the roughest of times. He always saw a brighter future, the glass half full not empty, and the past was behind us so only one way to look and that was ahead at brighter

In the minds of many Americans Ronald Reagan is the president that ended the Cold War, but is this view accurate? They claim Reagan's unprecedented military spending forced the Soviets to crumble. However, many critics of the president's outspending theory claim that the Russian economy would have imploded without such spending, and a military buildup of that kind did nothing but delay peace. Although, Reagan's willingness to negotiate was a clear factor in ending the Cold War, his aggressive arms race may have done more to forestall peace than abet it. The ascendance of Mikhail Gorbachev to power, the stagnating economy of Russia, and the personal friendship forged between Gorbachev and Reagan were the clear factors that contributed to

Both Reagan and Gorbachev palyed big roles in Cold war. Gorbachev wanted to increase the spendings in the military and the government. In 1981, Reagan initiated Recovery Tax Act or ERTA to reduce individual income tax rates. However, the tax cuts worsened the deficits in the budget of the United States government. On the other hand, Gorbachev, who was a leader of Soviet Union, wanted to invest more money in technology to improve nuclear arms race.

Both Gorbachev and Reagan should be credited equally. At the beginning of Reagan’s time in office, he took a stance that communism had to be defeated through military intimidation and threat of force. However, over time he changed his beliefs and came to realize that the threat of force was not the only option and perhaps peaceful diplomacy might be a better choice for all involved. If Reagan had not softened his views on a military stance then Gorbachev would not have been able to introduce his reforms and his “new thinking.” Reagan and Gorbachev were able to stop the nuclear arms race by overcoming obstacles erected by their own countries (Wittner 2004).

The most significant way to note that Gorbachev to an extent “ended” the cold war is through his decision to not use force to somewhat alienate Soviet satalites and Eastern Europe

This investigation examines to what extent did the four summits between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985-1988 contribute to ending the Cold War? My research assesses whether the summits were the main catalyst for ending the war or whether there were broader political and economic forces from both the USA and USSR that ended it. The years from 1985 to 1993 will be the main focus.