The Reagan Tax Cuts and Foreign Policy

Moss, G. D. & Thomas, E. A. (2013). Moving on: the American people since 1945 (5th ed.).

The end of the Cold War can be credited to the actions of Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, and George Bush, as well as the breakup of communist satellite nations. Ronald Reagan with his increased spending in the defense sector instigated an arms race with the Soviet Union in an attempt to overwhelm the Soviet Union through military influence. However, the Soviet Union was unable to keep up with the arms race due to a weak and stagnating economy since building new weapons was costly. Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985 also introduced two new policies, Glasnost and Perestroika which ended political censorship and restructured the economy respectively. Glasnost allowed for the actions of the Soviet Union’s government to be publicly displayed and further reduced the appeal of communism. George Bush and Gorbachev both signed the START I and START II treaties which further reduced the number of nuclear warheads on both sides. The breakup of satellite states also contributed to the end of the cold war as the Soviet Union stated that they would not provide military help to the various communist governments. This eventually lead to the falling out of Communist parties in several

The person I choose for this topic is Ronald Reagan, he is a big part on how the Cold War ended. Russia, as everyone knows, has always been competitive with the U.S.A, the two countries always go back and forth with each other to be the first at everything. Now the Berlin Wall had been there for some time, ever since 1961. The communist government of Eastern Germany created the wall because they wanted to prevent disaffected people who were trying to fleeing to the West. But with this little did they know the trouble it would cause for the future. There were four powers during the time, Russia, France, Britain, and the United States. Berlin was in the Russian sector, but because the powers were only split amongst four countries it became a

Reagan increased defense spending. U.S. exports were falling, creating a negative balance of trade where the country was buying more from foreign countries than it was selling to them.

The phenomenon dubbed the “Reagan Revolution,” can have its roots traced back decades, as early as the 1950s. It is important to start in this era, as it sets the stage for the 60s, which ultimately leads into the 70s and 80s, as history tends to portray a cause and effect relationship. Each of these generations contribute to this revolution of conservatism becoming the most popular view in the nation because of their cultural and social elements, with the 60s being the most important period. However, there is also an effect that stems from the previous Presidents, and their governing abilities, or lack thereof, that held office before Reagan. Ultimately, it is a blend of these two components at the same time in their respective decades,

Upon taking office in 1980, Reagan issued a massive build up of the American military, and generally adapted a more confrontational policy towards the Soviet Union (which he referred to as an "evil Empire" in a 1983 speech) than had been adapted by his predecessors in the White House. This policy is ultimately credited with helping speed the economic collapse and opening of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, which ultimately led to the breakup of the former USSR under the first President Bush. However, Reagan's policy included provisions for providing covert support for anti-Communist resistance activities around the world, including giving weapons and arms to Mujaheddin guerrilla fighters in Afghanistan, some of whom led Afghan and Taliban resistance to the US invasion of Afghanistan a two decades later in the 2000s. Perhaps the biggest scandal of Reagan's presidency also resulted from this policy, as the CIA violated American law by selling guns and weapons to Iran to fund the "Contra" rebels in Nicaragua, an episode that became known as the Iran-Contra scandal.

Ronald Reagan was born at Tampico Illinois in February 6, 1911. Later in his childhood he lived in a serious of towns around Illinois, but finally settled in Dixon, Illinois in 1920. Mr. Reagan graduated Dixon high school in 1920. During his high schools years he was an athlete, school play performer and was student body president. On his summers he would work as a lifeguard. Next, for his athletic ability, he was enrolled in Eureka College in Illinois and got a scholarship for it. Mr. Reagan also took economics and sociology. In 1937, Mr. Reagan went into acting; he signed a seven-year contract with Warner Bothers movie studios. In the next three years he was in more than 50 films. One of his notorious films was “Kings Row”, it’s about a man whom Mr. Reagan plays a man that gets into an accident and has his leg amputated. Three years after Mr. Reagan got into acting, he got married to June Wyman, whom together had a daughter, then adopted a boy.

Ronald Reagan served from January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 as President of the United States he is remembered as one of the best Presidents that the United States has ever had, He is vastly recognized because he served as president at the end of the Cold War, he was known as the president that “ended it”(the cold war). Though, the question remains in how? How was Reagan able to accomplish the ending of something that had lasted so long (the Cold war)? Thus was a task only accomplished by him because; he had a strong perseverance, intellectuality and held a strong desire for the destruction of all nuclear weapons. All of these elements combined took him to the decision and policy’s implemented during his terms as president. Reagan Started by taking a “Defense Policy” and his creation of SDI (The Strategic Defense Initiative) was all a part of a plan to disregard the MDA (Mutual Assured Destruction). Reagan came to these plans in despair to prevent any future nuclear wars with the SU (Soviet Union), “According to Weinberger, the idea that one was safe from nuclear attack only if vulnerable to it ‘repelled’ Reagan. Meese told the author that Reagan felt that MAD was politically and diplomatically, militarily, and morally flawed.’ ”( Steinberg, 39). Whit that being said Weinberger lets us know how Reagan felt about MAD.

Beginning with the creation of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, up to the current Obama doctrine, presidential doctrines have dominated United States foreign policy. A presidential doctrine highlights the goals and positions for United States foreign affairs outlined by the sitting president. Many of the country’s major foreign policy successes or disasters can be explained by tracing the doctrines of sitting or previous presidents and analyzing their evolution and eventual impact on world events. After established, a presidential doctrine often takes on a life of its own. This can be explained by the military resources and human capital involved in carrying out these doctrines. Future presidents often feel compelled to abide by previous doctrines, or find the reality of change can only be done with incremental changes over a period of years. For this reason, presidential doctrines often outlive their creators and consequently effect American foreign policy for years to come.

“Remove all of the baggage- all of the ideology, the history …and look in purely geostrategic terms… it’s hard to figure out why the United States and Iran would necessarily be in conflict. In fact during the Shah’s era, before 1979- recognizing that there were all kinds of other problems- the Unites States and Iran worked together splendidly at the strategic level” ( qtd. in Addis). Initially, the United States and Iran maintained amicable relations but resentment rose in Iran over time toward the Americans. The Iran-contra with the United States lasted for more than a century, conflict beginning in the late 1800s until 1980. The Iran Hostage crisis on November 4th, 1979, served as the

Also, Oliver North was ordered to teach the Contras military tactics and raised money for them. As Reagan and his private officials went about on doing this secretly, publicity had a way to find what was going on. Congress was lied to as a cover up by Reagan so they would not intervene. After his reelection, Reagan supported another covert program: an attempt to release hostages in Lebanon. This would soon turn into the Iran-Contra Affair. In 1984 a Shiite Islamic group that was loyal to Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini had captured and held seven Americans hostage in Lebanon. The President was very much concerned for the Americans’ well being. An Israeli foreign minister, David Kimche, insisted that since Iran and Iraq were at war with each other, Iran would need more weapons, and because Israel would also gain monetary benefits, they could help with persuasion to release the officials. All the U.S. needed to do was to approve a small shipment of armaments to Iran. Reagan then agreed to this deal, to sell arms to Iran through Israel, which would induce the kidnappers in releasing the hostages. Even though Reagan stated before that “America will never make concessions to terrorists,” the transferring of arms violated that statement and the Arms Export Control Act since congress was not informed and didn’t give consent. The secret request, hidden from congress would not only help free the hostages, but also

humiliated and his failure to find a resolution made him look incompetent to the American people. A second rescue attempt, Operation Credible Sport, was planned but due to mechanical failures the plan was abandoned. In May 1980, an embargo was instituted against Iran and on September 22, Iraq invaded Iranian borders. Iran couldn’t keep up with the cost of the war while the embargo was cutting off their economy so they returned to the negotiation table but insisted that negotiations wouldn’t be handled directly. Algerian diplomats were utilized as a third party during the rest of the negotiation period that lasted from 1980 through 1981. Iran demanded to have the embargo lifted and have their assets unfrozen and seemed more than willing

Operation TPAJAX was prompted by the British who were concerned that Iran may fall into Communist hands. Iran was led by prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh. Iran at this time was suppling 90 percent of its oil to Europe through a British and Iranian owned company called the Anglo-Iranian Oil company. Mossandegh found out that Britain was developing a plot to get rid of him and closed the British embassy, expelling British citizens from Iran. Britain came to the US for help. In early 1953, President Eisenhower was briefed by the CIA that the Soviets could take control of Iran and something should be done. Kermit Roosevelt was tasked with developing a propaganda campaign against Mossadegh. The efforts almost worked but failed and Shah that was to take Mossadegh’s place fled the country. Roosevelt tried again a few days later by organizing demonstrations against Mossadegh, which were joined by the Communists. At the same time Roosevelt set up demonstrations in support of the Shah. Roosevelt was able to help overcome Mossadegh, resulting in his arrest. The Shah returned to Iran and took control.

From the 1953 CIA led overthrow of Iran 's prime minister to the present day increase in dialogue between Washington and Tehran leading to direct talks on Iraq 's security and an interim agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, there has been more than 60 years of complex and evolving relations between the United States and Iran. In 1953, British and US intelligence services executed Operation Ajax. Operation Ajax led to the ouster of the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mossadeq. In 1954, the US and Britain would support and install Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi as the Shah of Iran. Despite claims and evidence of human rights violations against his people and the use of the Iranian security services (SAVAK) to silence his critics, Pahlavi was often publically praised by and maintained strong relations with the US and many regional leaders. By 1979, the Iranian public’s discontent with Pahlavi had reached a critical point and the Shah would be force to

Although the hostage crisis took place in 1979, the disapproval of the United States and Iran foreign relations took place over a century before the overthrow of the embassy. A major threat to the United States was the fear of the Soviets spreading their communist beliefs internationally. Due to this, the United States came to conclusion that the best way to stop the Soviets was to use a containment strategy (Cold War Intervention 1954). This entailed the United States doing what they thought was necessary to stop the spread of communism. Unfortunately, the prime minister of Iran at that time supported Soviet beliefs along with the idea of nationalism. The nationalist beliefs of the prime minister gave him the idea of nationalizing the Britain and American owned petroleum refineries in Iran, and god forbid someone touches the U.S. oil. With the fear of Soviet communism having an influence on Iran, the United States successfully completed a covert CIA operation that overthrew Mossaegh. Thus, replacing him with a pro-western Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who despised the Soviets just as much as the United States. With the new anti-communist Shah in place, the fear of the Soviets influencing Iran had finally subsided. However, even though the United States needs were satisfied, American intervention with Iranian affairs was deeply resented. By the time of 1970 the Iranian people