Reagan’s PopularityReagan’s Popularity Optimism and Hope Optimism and Hope

“Stand Tall in the World”“Stand Tall in the World” CharismaticCharismatic Great public speakerGreat public speaker Skilled at media relationsSkilled at media relations Belief in greatness of Belief in greatness of

AmericaAmerica Ability to articulate the Ability to articulate the

beliefs of many Americansbeliefs of many Americans Quick recovery after Quick recovery after

assassination attemptassassination attempt

Reagan on GovernmentReagan on Government““High taxes and excess High taxes and excess spending growth created our spending growth created our present economic present economic mess…..The answer to a mess…..The answer to a government that’s too big is government that’s too big is to stop feeding its growth. to stop feeding its growth. Government spending has Government spending has been growing faster than the been growing faster than the economy itself. The massive economy itself. The massive national debt which we national debt which we accumulated is the result of accumulated is the result of the government’s high the government’s high spending diet.”spending diet.”

- Pres. Reagan addressing Pres. Reagan addressing Congress in April 1981Congress in April 1981

- Video of ReaganVideo of Reagan

ReaganomicsReaganomics

Compare Supply Side & Compare Supply Side & Keynesian Economics:Keynesian Economics:

tax cuts vs. government spending tax cuts vs. government spending to spur the economyto spur the economy

ReaganomicsReaganomics debatesdebates supply side economicssupply side economics Tax cutsTax cuts Spending cuts for social welfare Spending cuts for social welfare

programsprograms Deregulation of BusinessDeregulation of Business ““Trickle-Down Economics”Trickle-Down Economics”

Era of ProsperityEra of Prosperity The Economy Boomed in 1980s…The Economy Boomed in 1980s…

Volcker’s policies reduced inflationVolcker’s policies reduced inflation Tax cuts Tax cuts Businesses & GNP grew Businesses & GNP grew Sustained period of Economic GrowthSustained period of Economic Growth Unemployment & Interest rates fellUnemployment & Interest rates fell

However…However… Budget Deficits skyrocketed (due to tax Budget Deficits skyrocketed (due to tax

cuts & increased military spending)cuts & increased military spending) Growing Gap between rich & poor (rich Growing Gap between rich & poor (rich

got richer, but more people in poverty)got richer, but more people in poverty) 1989 Savings & Loan Crisis1989 Savings & Loan Crisis Deregulation allowed risky and fraudulent Deregulation allowed risky and fraudulent

investmentsinvestments 1000 banks failed 1000 banks failed $200 billion taxpayer $200 billion taxpayer

bailoutbailout Derivatives were also deregulated….Derivatives were also deregulated…. Recession in early 1990sRecession in early 1990s

Question: Were Reagan’s economic Question: Were Reagan’s economic policies good or bad for the country? policies good or bad for the country?

Reagan and the Cold WarReagan and the Cold War Massive Cold War military build-upMassive Cold War military build-up

Massive Deficit spending to Outspend the SovietsMassive Deficit spending to Outspend the Soviets Peace through StrengthPeace through Strength Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”)Strategic Defense Initiative (“Star Wars”)

Network of land and space-based lasers to destroy missilesNetwork of land and space-based lasers to destroy missiles Never fully developed; basis for some missile defense systems Never fully developed; basis for some missile defense systems

Cold War Ends…Cold War Ends… Causes?:Causes?: Economy, Solidarity & Eastern European resistance, Economy, Solidarity & Eastern European resistance,

USSR overextended, Afghanistan, Gorbachev, Military BuildupUSSR overextended, Afghanistan, Gorbachev, Military Buildup Gorbachev & Reagan met 4 times from 1985 to 1989Gorbachev & Reagan met 4 times from 1985 to 1989 1987 – Reagan’s 1987 – Reagan’s Speech in BerlinSpeech in Berlin 1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989 – Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, 1989 – Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria,

RomaniaRomania 1991 – Yeltsin rallies supporters to defend Gorbachev against a 1991 – Yeltsin rallies supporters to defend Gorbachev against a

coup; Soviet Union dissolves & Yeltsin becomes Presidentcoup; Soviet Union dissolves & Yeltsin becomes President

Iran-Contra AffairIran-Contra Affair 1979: Sandinistas control Nicaragua1979: Sandinistas control Nicaragua 1984: Congress outlaws aid to Nicaraguan rebels 1984: Congress outlaws aid to Nicaraguan rebels

(Contras) “Boland Amendments”(Contras) “Boland Amendments” US covertly sells arms to Iran for help with hostages US covertly sells arms to Iran for help with hostages

in Lebanon in Lebanon Violates Arms Embargo and Reagan’s policy against Violates Arms Embargo and Reagan’s policy against

negotiating with terroristsnegotiating with terrorists Profits used to fund Contras in hopes of Profits used to fund Contras in hopes of

overthrowing Sandinista govt. overthrowing Sandinista govt. How much did Reagan know?How much did Reagan know?

Ordered support for ContrasOrdered support for Contras Knew about arms-for-hostages deal with IranKnew about arms-for-hostages deal with Iran Unclear whether knew of $ diversion to ContrasUnclear whether knew of $ diversion to Contras

11 people Convicted11 people Convicted Pres. George HW Bush pardoned 6 of them (before his Pres. George HW Bush pardoned 6 of them (before his

diary could be scrutinized by courts; ended the diary could be scrutinized by courts; ended the investigations into his & Reagan’s involvement)investigations into his & Reagan’s involvement)

North & Poindexter’s convictions overturned on North & Poindexter’s convictions overturned on technicalitiestechnicalities

SOURCESOURCE: : The National Security Archive, George Washington UniversityThe National Security Archive, George Washington University

Col. Oliver North testifying before

Congress

Iran-Contra QuestionsIran-Contra Questions Should there be limits on the President’s ability to direct Should there be limits on the President’s ability to direct

covert operations without the approval of Congress, or in covert operations without the approval of Congress, or in direct violation of laws of Congress?direct violation of laws of Congress?

Should Bush have pardoned the 6? Do you believe the Should Bush have pardoned the 6? Do you believe the Founding Fathers intended for pardons to be used this Founding Fathers intended for pardons to be used this way?way?

Should Reagan have been impeached?Should Reagan have been impeached? Should people associated with the scandal be able to Should people associated with the scandal be able to

serve in public office again?serve in public office again? Elliott AbramsElliott Abrams: Pres. George W Bush’s National Security Advisor on : Pres. George W Bush’s National Security Advisor on

“Global Democracy Strategy”“Global Democracy Strategy” PoindexterPoindexter: Directed Pentagon’s Total Information Awareness : Directed Pentagon’s Total Information Awareness

Program under Pres. George W BushProgram under Pres. George W Bush NegroponteNegroponte: U.S. Rep. to United Nations in 2002, Ambassador to Iraq : U.S. Rep. to United Nations in 2002, Ambassador to Iraq

in 2004; first Director of National Intelligence in 2005in 2004; first Director of National Intelligence in 2005 In conclusion, was the Iran Contra Scandal a testament to In conclusion, was the Iran Contra Scandal a testament to

our Constitution and our system of checks & balances?our Constitution and our system of checks & balances?

Cold War Coups & Covert ActivitiesCold War Coups & Covert Activities

1953 – Iran (Eisenhower)1953 – Iran (Eisenhower) 1954 – Guatemala (Eisenhower)1954 – Guatemala (Eisenhower) 1963 – Vietnam (Kennedy)1963 – Vietnam (Kennedy) 1964 – Vietnam (Johnson)1964 – Vietnam (Johnson) 1969 & ‘73 – Cambodia & Chile (Nixon)1969 & ‘73 – Cambodia & Chile (Nixon) 1970s – Carter – focus on Human Rights1970s – Carter – focus on Human Rights 1980s – Iran-Contra, Iraq, Afghanistan, 1980s – Iran-Contra, Iraq, Afghanistan,

Nicaragua (Reagan)Nicaragua (Reagan) Source: The National Security Archive, Source: The National Security Archive,

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/ QUESTIONS:QUESTIONS: 1) In each instance, what should the U.S. have 1) In each instance, what should the U.S. have

done?done? 2) In each instance, should Congress have been 2) In each instance, should Congress have been

consulted?consulted? 3) What impacts have these events had? On 3) What impacts have these events had? On

taxpayer $? On trust in government? On the taxpayer $? On trust in government? On the Cold War? On democracy? On international Cold War? On democracy? On international human rights? On terrorism?human rights? On terrorism?

Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of Pres. Reagan, in Baghdad in 1983

As you watch As you watch The CenturyThe Century clip…clip…

What major issues developed as part of What major issues developed as part of the Cold War in the 1980s?the Cold War in the 1980s?

How were those issues resolved?How were those issues resolved? To what extent were Reagan’s Cold War To what extent were Reagan’s Cold War

policies/decisions responsible for the end policies/decisions responsible for the end of the Cold War?of the Cold War?

To what extent were additional factors To what extent were additional factors responsible for the end of the Cold War?responsible for the end of the Cold War?