| Presidency of Ronald Reagan | |
40th President of the United States | |
|---|---|
| In office January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989 | |
| Vice President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Jimmy Carter |
| Succeeded by | George H. W. Bush |
| Born | February 6, 1911 Tampico, Illinois, United States |
| Died | June 5, 2004 (aged 93) Bel Air, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | (1) Jane Wyman (married 1940, divorced 1948) (2) Nancy Davis Reagan (married 1952) |
| Alma mater | Eureka College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Signature | |
The United States Presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan Administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Tampico is a village located in Whiteside County Illinois, United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Bel Air is a wealthy and prominent faux-gated residential community in the Westside of the city of Los Angeles California, United States. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Jane Wyman ( January 5, 1917 &ndash September 10, 2007) was an American actress. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6 1921 is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother" It was used in Ancient Rome as a title for the mother Goddess, and in Medieval Eureka College is a Liberal arts college in Eureka Illinois related by covenant to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ and founded in 1855 Acting is the work of an Actor or Actress, which is a person in Theatre, Television, Film, or any other Storytelling Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by
Domestically, the administration favored tax cuts and smaller government, introducing the largest tax cuts in American history. A tax cut is a reduction in taxes. Economic stimulus via tax cuts along with interest rate intervention and deficit spending are one of the central tenets of Keynesian economics The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (also known as ERTA or the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut) was "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to encourage economic The economic policies enacted in 1981, known as "Reaganomics," were similar to those of supply-side economics and advocated free markets. Reaganomics (a portmanteau of "Reagan" and "economics" refers to the Economic policies promoted by United States President Ronald Supply-side economics is an arguably heterodox school of Macroeconomic thought that argues that economic growth can be most effectively created using incentives for The policies aimed to reduce the growth of government spending through tax cuts, as well as reduce regulation and inflation. It is arguable, however, to what extent they were achieved. As well as the economy, Reagan ordered a massive buildup of the military amidst the Cold War. The United States Armed Forces are the overall unified military forces of the United States Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the
In dealing with foreign affairs, the administration was steadfastly anti-communist, employed a foreign policy of “peace through strength,” and played a major role in the end events of the Cold War. Anti-communism refers to opposition to Communism. Historically the word "communism" has been used to refer to several types of communal social organization and Foreign Policy is a bimonthly American Magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P "Peace through Strength" is the doctrine that Military strength is a primary or necessary component of peace Reagan met with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev four times, aiming to shrink both the US and USSR's nuclear arsenals. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ( Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov;; born 2 March 1931 in Privolnoye Stavropol Krai) is a Russian politician The events contributed greatly to the end of the Cold War, occurring in 1991, after Reagan left office.
Reagan's presidency was known to many as the "Reagan Revolution," as proponents stated that America's morale had been restored and the Cold War largely ended. Critics noted, however, that the national debt had quadrupled at the end of Reagan's terms, and claimed that the Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal regarding administration officials, lowered American credibility. Government debt (also known as public debt or national debt) is Money (or credit) owed by any level of government either Central government The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal which was revealed in November 1986 as a result of earlier events during the Reagan administration. Reagan himself left office with a 64% approval rating, one of the higher approval ratings of departing presidents. In the United States, presidential job approval ratings were introduced by George Gallup in the late 1930s (probably 1937 to gauge public support for the president
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Reagan was an advocate of free markets and, upon taking office, believed that the American economy was hampered by excessive economic controls and misguided welfare programs enacted during the 1960s and 1970s. A free market is a Market in which property rights are voluntarily exchanged at a price arranged completely by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers Taking office during a period of stagflation, Reagan said in his first inauguration speech, which he himself authored,[1] "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. Stagflation is an economic situation in which Inflation and Economic stagnation occur simultaneously and remain unchecked for a period of time " His first act as president was to issue an executive order ending certain price controls. His economic policies, similar to supply-side economics and dubbed "Reaganomics," achieved a 25% cut in the federal personal income tax, moderate deregulation and tax reform, which he believed would remove barriers to efficient economic activity. Supply-side economics is an arguably heterodox school of Macroeconomic thought that argues that economic growth can be most effectively created using incentives for Reaganomics (a portmanteau of "Reagan" and "economics" refers to the Economic policies promoted by United States President Ronald After a sharp recession, a long period of high economic growth without significant inflation ensued.
Despite Reagan's stated desire to cut spending, federal spending grew during his administration. However, economist Milton Friedman points out that non-defense spending as a percentage of national income stabilized throughout Reagan's term, breaking a long upward trend; the number of new regulations added each year dramatically decreased as well. [2]
One of Reagan's most controversial early moves was to fire most of the nation's air traffic controllers who took part in an illegal strike. Air traffic controllers are people who operate the Air traffic control system to expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic and help prevent Reagan strengthened Social Security to make it solvent longer by cutting disability benefits, and survivor benefits, and by increasing the FICA payroll withholding tax. Social Security, in the United States currently refers to the federal Old-Age Survivors and Disability Insurance ( OASDI) program The Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA tax ( is a United States payroll (or employment Tax imposed by the federal government on both employees He also took tough positions against crime, declared a renewed war on drugs, but was criticized for being slow to respond to the AIDS epidemic. The War on Drugs is a prohibition campaign undertaken by the United States government with the assistance of participating countries intended to reduce the Illegal
In foreign affairs, Reagan initially rejected détente and directly confronted the Soviet Union through a policy of "peace through strength," including increased military spending, firm foreign policies against the USSR and support for anti-communist groups around the world. Détente is a French term meaning a relaxing or easing the term has been used in international politics since the early 1970s The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 A military budget of an entity most often a Nation or a State, is the Budget and financial resources dedicated to raising and maintaining The Reagan Doctrine was a strategy orchestrated and implemented by the United States to oppose the global influence of the Soviet Union during the Reagan later embraced and negotiated with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, a reformer, and together they contributed greatly to a peaceful end of the Cold War. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ( Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov;; born 2 March 1931 in Privolnoye Stavropol Krai) is a Russian politician Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the
Reagan authorized military action in Lebanon, Grenada, and Libya throughout his terms in office. Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab It was later discovered that the Administration also engaged in covert arms sales to Iran in order to fund anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua 's FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional Sandinista Junta of National Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America The resulting Iran-Contra Affair became a scandal to which Reagan professed ignorance. The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal which was revealed in November 1986 as a result of earlier events during the Reagan administration. A significant number of officials in the Reagan Administration were either convicted or forced to resign as a result of the scandal.
By the end of the Reagan presidency, a high level of public approval (64% of the nation) indicated that the administration had recovered its image among the American public due to the perceived restoration of America's power, prosperity and national pride.
Ronald Reagan
Major acts as PresidentMajor treaties
| Major legislation signed
Major legislation vetoed |
The Reagan presidency began on January 20, 1981 with the ceremonial swearing in of President Reagan. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 An oath of office is an Oath or Affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an Office, usually a position in government or within a religious He had defeated incumbent President Jimmy Carter the previous November with 50. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 7% of the popular vote and 489 electoral votes. An electoral college is a set of many electors who are empowered to elect a candidate to a particular Office. [3] In his inaugural address, Reagan spoke of the economic malaise he inherited, famously arguing: "Government is not the solution to our problems; Government is the problem. The first inaugural address of Ronald Reagan was the 1981 inaugural address delivered by U " As he was giving his inaugural speech, 52 Americans held hostage by Iran for 444 days were released. The Iran hostage crisis ( Persian: تصرف سفارت آمریکا was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 [4]
In the address, Reagan stated his goals for the new administration: a build up of the military during the height of the Cold War;[5] a multi-faceted program to restore the staggering American economy;[5] and improve relations with the Soviet Union. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991
On March 30, 1981, only 69 days into the new administration, Reagan, his press secretary James Brady, Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy were struck by gunfire from a deranged would-be assassin, John Hinckley, Jr.. The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on March 30 1981 just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 James Scott “Jim” Brady (born August 29, 1940, Centralia Illinois) is a former Assistant to the President and White House Press Thomas K Delahanty (born c1934 was the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department officer who was wounded during the assassination attempt Timothy J McCarthy (born c 1949 is the police chief of Orland Park Illinois, but is most famous for leaping in front of US President Ronald Reagan to John Warnock Hinckley Jr (born May 29 1955) is a United States citizen who attempted to assassinate U Reagan was exiting the Washington Hilton Hotel following a speech to the building trades conference of the AFL/CIO when six shots were fired from a roped off area for bystanders. The Hilton Washington (also called the Washington Hilton and locally the Hinckley Hilton) is a Hotel in Washington D [6] Reagan was pushed into the waiting limousine by Secret Service agent Jerry Parr. Parr described doing what he had learned in his training: "I heard these six shots, actually fired in less than two seconds, and that starts the action for an agent and you simply cover, first, and evacuate. "[6] Parr directed the chauffeur to drive to George Washington University Hospital where the president was brought into the emergency room and subsequently operated on. The George Washington University ( GW or GWU) is a private coeducational university located in Washington D [6] Missing his heart by less than an inch, the bullet instead pierced his left lung, which likely saved his life. Reagan's condition in the hospital room was critical, as his heartbeat was faint and he had a very low blood pressure. [6] Doctor Joseph Giordano, head of the Reagan trauma team, described the president as being "close to death. "[6] In the operating room, the bullet which had entered under his left armpit was removed, but Reagan was left with a collapsed lung. After the surgery, the president joked to the surgeons, "I hope you're all Republicans!"[7] Though they were not, Dr. Giordano replied, "Today, Mr. President, we're all Republicans. " First Lady Nancy Reagan arrived at the hospital before her husband went into surgery; Reagan famously told her, "Honey, I forgot to duck" (using defeated boxer Jack Dempsey's quip). Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6 1921 is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential Jack "Manassa Mauler" Dempsey ( June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983) was an American boxer who held the world Reagan was released from the hospital on April 12, and was escorted back to the White House by Mrs. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Reagan and their daughter Patti. Patti Davis (born Patricia Ann Reagan on October 21, 1952 in Los Angeles California) is the daughter of former President of the United
Only a short time into his administration, Federal air traffic controllers went on strike, violating a regulation prohibiting Government unions from striking. Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization or PATCO was Template talkInfobox Union for usage --> The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization or PATCO was [8] Reagan announced that the situation had become an emergency as described in the 1947 Taft Hartley Act, and held a press conference on August 3, 1981 in the White House Rose Garden regarding the strike. A news conference or press conference is a Media event in which newsmakers invite journalists to hear them speak and most often ask questions Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The White House Rose Garden is a Garden bordering the Oval Office and the West Wing of the White House. Reagan stated that if the air traffic controllers "do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated. "[9]
Two days later, on August 5, Reagan fired 11,359 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order to return to work, notwithstanding the fact that the strike was illegal under federal law. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. The breaking of the strike had a significant impact on labor-management relations in the private sector. Although private employers nominally had the right to permanently replace striking workers under the National Labor Relations Act, that option was rarely used prior to 1981, but much more frequently thereafter. Reagan's actions essentially broke the striking union. [10]
When Ronald Reagan entered office, the American economy faced the highest rate of inflation since 1947 (11. Reaganomics (a portmanteau of "Reagan" and "economics" refers to the Economic policies promoted by United States President Ronald In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time 83% in January of 1981), as well as double-digit unemployment. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. Those, along with high interest rates, were considered the nation's principal economic problems, referred to as "stagflation. Interest is a fee paid on borrowed capital Assets lent include Money, Shares, Consumer goods through Hire purchase, major assets Stagflation is an economic situation in which Inflation and Economic stagnation occur simultaneously and remain unchecked for a period of time " Reagan introduced new economic policies, partially based on supply-side economics, focused on reviving the economy. Supply-side economics is an arguably heterodox school of Macroeconomic thought that argues that economic growth can be most effectively created using incentives for The policies sought to stimulate the economy with large, across-the-board tax cuts[11][12] and aimed to reduce the growth of domestic government spending, regulation, and inflation. A tax cut is a reduction in taxes. Economic stimulus via tax cuts along with interest rate intervention and deficit spending are one of the central tenets of Keynesian economics [13] Reagan's approach was a departure from his predecessors,[13] The expansionary fiscal policies soon became known as "Reaganomics",[11] and were considered by some to be the most serious attempt to change the course of U. Reaganomics (a portmanteau of "Reagan" and "economics" refers to the Economic policies promoted by United States President Ronald S. economic policy of any administration since the New Deal. The New Deal was the name that United States President Franklin D [13]
Under Reagan, income tax rates were lowered significantly, with the top personal tax bracket dropping from 70% to 28% in 7 years. [14] Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth recovered strongly after the 1982 recession, growing at an annual rate of 3. 4% per year. [15][16] Unemployment peaked at over 11 percent in 1982, then dropped steadily,[12] and inflation significantly decreased, falling from 13. 6% in 1980 (President Carter's final year in office) to 4. 1% by 1988. [16] The net effect of all Reagan-era tax bills resulted in a 1% decrease of government revenues, with the revenue-shrinking effects of the 1981 tax cut (-3% of GDP) and the revenue-gaining effects of the 1982 tax hike (~+1% of GDP), while subsequent bills were more revenue-neutral. The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (also known as ERTA or the Kemp-Roth Tax Cut) was "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to encourage economic The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA a United States federal law, rescinded some of the effects of the Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA colloquially [17]
The policies were criticized as "Trickle-down economics,"[18] due to the large budget deficits,[19] the U. " Trickle-down economics " and " trickle-down theory," is the economic-political argument that the increases in the earnings of the rich are good for the poor S. trade deficit expansion,[19] and their contributions to the Savings and Loan crisis. The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s (commonly referred to as the S&L crisis) was the failure of 747 Savings and loan associations (S&Ls in the [20] In order to cover new federal budget deficits, the United States borrowed heavily both domestically and abroad, raising the national debt from $700 billion to $3 trillion. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [21] Reagan described the new debt as the "greatest disappointment" of his presidency. [21]
Some economists argue that Reagan's tax policies invigorated America's economy, such as Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, who wrote that the Reagan tax cuts were "one of the most important factors in the boom of the 1990s. The Nobel Prize (Nobelpriset (Nobelprisen is a Swedish prize established in the 1895 will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel; it was first awarded in Peace, Literature Milton Friedman (July 31 1912 November 16 2006 was an American Nobel Laureate Economist and Public intellectual. " Similarly, fellow Nobel Prize winning economist Robert A. Mundell wrote that the tax cuts "made the U. Robert Alexander Mundell CC (born October 24, 1932) is a professor of economics at Columbia University. S. economy the motor for the world economy in the 1990s, on which the great revolution in information technology was able to feed. "[22] Other economists argue that the deficits slowed economic growth during the following administration[23] and was the reason that Reagan's successor, George H.W. Bush, reneged on a campaign promise and raised taxes. George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 " Read my lips no new taxes " is a now-famous phrase spoken by former American president and candidate George H Nobel prize winning economist Robert Solow stated, "As for Reagan being responsible [for the 1990s boom], that's far-fetched. Robert Merton Solow (born August 23 1924 is an American Economist particularly known for his work on the theory of Economic growth. What we got in the Reagan years was a deep recession and then half a dozen years of fine growth as we climbed out of the recession, but nothing beyond that. "[22]
Not long after being sworn into office, Reagan declared more militant policies in the "War on Drugs". The War on Drugs is a prohibition campaign undertaken by the United States government with the assistance of participating countries intended to reduce the Illegal [24][25] He promised a "planned, concerted campaign" against all drugs,[26] eventually leading to decreases in adolescent drug use in America. [27][28]
President Reagan signed a large drug enforcement bill into law in 1987; it granted $1. 7 billion to fight drugs, and ensured a mandatory minimum penalty for drug offenses. [29] The bill was criticized for promoting significant racial disparities in the prison population, however, because of the differences in sentencing for crack versus powder cocaine. [29]
Critics also charged that the administration's policies did little to actually reduce the availability of drugs or crime on the street, while resulting in a great financial and human cost for American society. [30] Supporters argued that the numbers for adolsecent drug users declined during Reagan's years in office. [28]
As a part of the administration's effort, Reagan's First Lady, Nancy, made the War on Drugs her main cause as First Lady, by founding the "Just Say No" drug awareness campaign. First Lady of the United States is the unofficial title of the hostess of the White House. " Just Say No " was a Television Advertising campaign part of the US " War on Drugs " and prevalent during the 1980s and Today, there are still hundreds of "Just Say No" clinics and school clubs in operation around the country aimed at helping and rehabilitating children and teenagers with drug problems. [29] The program demonstrated to children various ways of refusing drugs and alcohol.
American peacekeeping forces in Beirut, a part of a multinational force during the Lebanese Civil War, were attacked on October 22, 1983. The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north The Beirut barracks bombing was a major incident on October 23, 1983, during the Lebanese Civil War. Beirut (بيروت Bayrūt) is the Capital and Largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2 The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990 was a multifaceted Civil war whose antecedents can be traced back to the conflicts and political compromises reached after the end Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) The Beirut barracks bombing, in which 241 American servicemen were killed by suicide bombers, was the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States military since the first day of the Tet offensive. The Beirut barracks bombing was a major incident on October 23, 1983, during the Lebanese Civil War. The Battle of Iwo Jima ( February 19, 1945 &ndash March 26, 1945) was the United States capture of the island of Iwo Jima The Tet Offensive was a military campaign conducted between 30 January and 23 September 1968, by forces of the Vietcong, or National Front for Reagan called the attack "despicable," pledged to keep a military force in Lebanon, and planned to target the Sheik Abdullah barracks in Baalbek, Lebanon, which housed Iranian Revolutionary Guards believed to be training Hezbollah fighters. Baalbek (بعلبك is a town in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, altitude 1170 m (3850 ft situated east of the Litani River. Hezbollah (حزب الله, literally " party of God " is a Shi'a Islamic political and Paramilitary organisation [31][32] Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger aborted the mission, however, reportedly because of his concerns that it would harm U. Caspar Willard "Cap" Weinberger ( August 18, 1917 &ndash March 28, 2006) was an American politician and Secretary S. relations with other Arab nations. Besides a few shellings, there was no serious American retaliation, and the Marines were moved offshore where they could not be targeted. On February 7, 1984, President Reagan ordered the Marines to begin withdrawal from Lebanon. Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) This was completed on February 26: the rest of the MNF was withdrawn by April. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed
Three days later, U. S. forces invaded Grenada, where a 1979 coup d’état had established a Marxist-Leninist government aligned with the Soviet Union and Cuba. Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Marxism-Leninism is a Communist ideological stream that emerged as the mainstream tendency amongst the Communist parties in the 1920s as it was adopted The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la The Grenadan government began military expansion and construction of an international airport with Cuban assistance. On October 13, 1983, a faction led by Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard seized power. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Winston Bernard Coard (born August 10, 1944) is a former Grenadian Deputy Prime Minister in the Revolutionary A formal appeal from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) led to the intervention of U. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States ( OECS) created in 1981 is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration protection of S. forces; President Reagan also cited the regional threat posed by a Soviet-Cuban military build-up in the Caribbean and concern for the safety of several hundred American medical students at St. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting George's University as adequate reasons to invade. On October 25, 1983, in the first major operation conducted by the U. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) S. military since the Vietnam War, several days of fighting commenced, and led to U. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia S. victory,[33] with 19 American fatalities and 116 wounded American soldiers. [34] In mid-December, after a new government was appointed by the Governor-General, U. S. forces withdrew. [33]
Among the American people, Time magazine described the Grenadine operation as having "broad popular support. Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and "[35] A congressional study group agreed, and concluded that the invasion of Grenada had been justified. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses [35] However, not all Congressional members agreed with the justification. Congressman Louis Stokes claimed that "Not a single American child nor single American national was in any way placed in danger or placed in a hostage situation prior to the invasion. Louis Stokes (born February 23, 1925 in Cleveland Ohio) is a Democratic politician from Ohio. "[35] Following the operation, Congressman Ted Weiss led seven Democratic congressmen in an attempt to impeach President Reagan. Theodore S "Ted" Weiss ( September 17, 1927 &ndash September 14, 1992) was a Democratic member of the United The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Impeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to forcibly remove a Government official [35]
Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to fill the Supreme Court Justice vacancy left by the retirement of Justice Potter Stewart, as he had promised during his 1980 presidential campaign. Sandra Day O'Connor (born March 26, 1930) is an American Jurist. Potter Stewart ( January 23 1915 &ndash December 7 1985) was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. In 1986, during his second term, the president elevated Justice William Rehnquist to succeed outgoing Chief Justice Warren Burger and named Antonin Scalia to occupy the seat left by Rehnquist. William Hubbs Rehnquist (October 1 1924 – September 3 2005 was an American lawyer, jurist, and a political figure who served as an Associate Justice Warren Earl Burger ( September 17 1907 – June 25 1995) was Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986 (born March 11, 1936) is an American Jurist and the second most senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
In 1987, when Associate Justice Louis Powell retired, Reagan nominated conservative jurist Robert Bork to the high court. Lewis Franklin Powell Jr ( September 19, 1907 &ndash August 25, 1998) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Robert Heron Bork (born March 1, 1927) is a conservative American legal scholar who advocates the judicial philosophy of Originalism. Within 45 minutes of Bork's nomination to the Court, Ted Kennedy (D-MA) took to the Senate floor with a strong condemnation of Bork in a nationally televised speech, declaring,
| “ | Robert Bork's America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens' doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution, writers and artists could be censored at the whim of the Government, and the doors of the Federal courts would be shut on the fingers of millions of citizens. Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy (born February 22 1932 is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic [36] | ” |
The rapid response of Kennedy's "Robert Bork's America" speech stunned the Reagan White House; though conservatives considered Kennedy's accusations slanderous ideological smears on a well qualified candidate for the bench[37], the attacks went unanswered for two and a half months. [38] Bork refused to withdraw himself and his nomination was rejected 58-42[39]. Anthony Kennedy was eventually confirmed in his place. Anthony McLeod Kennedy (born July 23, 1936) has been an Associate Justice of the U [40]
Reagan also nominated a large number of judges to the United States district court and United States court of appeals benches; most of these nominations were not controversial, although a handful of candidates were singled out for criticism by civil rights advocates and other liberal critics, resulting in occasional confirmation fights. The United States district courts are the general Trial courts of the United States federal court system. The United States courts of appeals (or circuit courts) are the intermediate appellate courts Both his Supreme Court nominations and his lower court appointments were in line with Reagan's express philosophy that judges should interpret law as enacted and not "legislate from the bench. " By the end of the 1980s, a conservative majority on the Supreme Court had put an end to the perceived "activist" trend begun under the leadership of Chief Justice Earl Warren. Earl Warren ( March 19, 1891 July 9, 1974) was the 14th Chief Justice of the United States and the only person ever elected thrice Some argued that the conservatives justices were equally activist, but that their sympathies with corporate America. However, general adherence to the principle of stare decisis along with minority support, left most of the major landmark case decisions (such as Brown, Miranda, and Roe v. Wade) of the previous three decades still standing as binding precedent.
Reagan appointed many leading conservative academics to the intermediate United States Courts of Appeals, including Bork, Ralph K. Winter, Jr., Richard Posner, and Frank Easterbrook. Judge Ralph K Winter Jr (born 1935 in Waterbury Connecticut) is a Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Richard Allen Posner (born January 11 1939 in New York City) is currently a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago Frank Hoover Easterbrook (born 1948 is Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Reagan accepted the Republican nomination in Dallas, Texas, on a wave of positive feeling bolstered by the recovering economy and the dominating performance by the U. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D S. athletes at the Los Angeles Olympics that summer. The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, [41]
Former Vice President Walter Mondale challenged Reagan for the presidency in 1984. Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (born January 5, 1928) is an American politician and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party With questions about Reagan's age, and a weak performance in the first presidential debate, it was questioned whether the president was up to the task of being president for another term. [42] Reagan confronted questions about his age during the second debate, famously quipping, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience," which generated applause and laughter from members of the audience. [43]
That November, Reagan was re-elected over Mondale in a landslide, winning 49 of 50 states. The president's victory saw Mondale carry only his home state of Minnesota (by 3800 votes) and the District of Columbia. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Reagan received nearly 60 percent of the popular vote as well. [44]
Reagan was sworn in as President for the second time on January 20, 1985, in a private swearing in at the White House. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence He was sworn in publicly in the Capitol Rotunda the next day, because January 20 fell on a Sunday, and thus no public celebration was held. The rotunda is the central rotunda of the United States Capitol, below the Capitol dome. January 21 was one of the coldest days on record in Washington, D.C., thus due to the low temperatures, inaugural celebrations were held inside the Capitol. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D
On July 13, 1985, Reagan underwent surgery to remove polyps from his colon, causing the first-ever invocation of the Acting President clause of the 25th Amendment,[45] and on January 5, 1987, Reagan underwent surgery for prostate cancer which caused further worries about his health. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) At this time, the President was 76 years old.
In 1985, Reagan visited a German military cemetery in Bitburg, Germany to lay a wreath with West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, but it was found that the cemetery held the graves of 49 members of the Waffen-SS. Bitburg (ˈbɪtbʊʁk is a city in Germany, capital of the district Bitburg-Prüm, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Helmut Josef Michael Kohl (born 3 April 1930 is a German conservative politician and statesman The Waffen-SS ( German for "Armed SS" literally "Weapons SS" was the Combat arm of the Schutzstaffel ("Protective Squadron" In advance of the visit, many prominent U. S. government officials, veterans, Jewish leaders, Holocaust survivors, 95 Republican and 215 Democratic members of Congress, even First Lady Nancy Reagan protested and called on Reagan to cancel the visit;[46] Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel pleaded with Reagan not to go, stating, "May I, Mr. The Holocaust (from the Greek el ''ὁλόκαυστον'' (el-Latn holókauston holos, "completely" and kaustos, "burnt" also known as Elie Wiesel (born Eliezer Wiesel on September 30 1928 in Sighetu Marmaţiei, Romania) is a Jewish writer professor political activist President, if it is possible at all, implore you to do something else, to find a way, to find another way, another site. "[47] The president argued that it would be wrong to back down on a promise he had made to Chancellor Kohl. Reagan issued a statement that called the Nazi soldiers buried in that cemetery "victims" and some say equated them with victims of the Holocaust, but Pat Buchanan, Director of Communications under Reagan, argues: "President Reagan never equated SS troops and camp victims. Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan (born November 2 1938 is an American Political commentator, Author, syndicated Columnist He equated the teenage boys Hitler put in uniform and sent to certain death at war's end with concentration camp victims. "[48] In the end, Reagan attended the ceremony where two military generals laid the wreath, as was customary. [49] In 1983, he told prominent Jews — notably Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir of Israel, Simon Wiesenthal, and Rabbi Marvin Hier of Los Angeles — of his personal experience vis-à-vis the Holocaust, saying "I was there," and that he had assisted at the liberation of Nazi death camps. (יִצְחָק שָׁמִיר born Icchak Jaziernicki on 15 October 1915 was Prime Minister of Israel from 1983 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1992 Simon Wiesenthal ( Buczacz, December 31, 1908 &ndash Vienna, September 20, 2005) was an Austrian Jewish Rabbi Marvin Hier (b 1939 in New York) is the dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, its Museum of Tolerance and of Moriah the Center's Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The Holocaust (from the Greek el ''ὁλόκαυστον'' (el-Latn holókauston holos, "completely" and kaustos, "burnt" also known as In reality, he was in a film unit in Hollywood that processed raw footage it received from Europe for newsreels, but was not in Europe during the war. [50]
Perhaps the greatest criticism surrounds Regan's silence about the AIDS epidemic spreading in the 1980s. Although AIDS was first identified in 1981, Reagan did not mention it publicly for several more years, notably during a press conference in 1985 and several speeches in 1987. During the press conference in 1985 Reagan expressed skepticism in allowing children with AIDS to continue in school stating:
It is true that some medical sources had said that [HIV] cannot be communicated in any way other than the ones we already know and which would not involve a child being in the school. And yet medicine has not come forth unequivocally and said, 'This we know for a fact, that it is safe. ' And until they do, I think we just have to do the best we can with this problem.
The CDC had previously issued a report stating that "casual person-to-person contact as would occur among schoolchildren appears to pose no risk. "[51] During his 1987 speeches Reagan supported modest educational funding on AIDS[52], increased AIDS testing for marriage licenses and mandatory testing for high risk groups. [53][54]
Even with the death from AIDS of his friend Rock Hudson, Reagan was widely criticized for not supporting more active measures to contain the spread of AIDS. Rock Hudson (November 17 1925 &ndash October 2 1985 was an American Film and Television Actor, recognised as a romantic leading man during Until celebrity Elizabeth Taylor spoke out publicly about the monumental amount of people quickly dying from this new disease, most public officials and celebrities were too afraid of dealing with this subject. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress
Possibly in deference to the views of the powerful religious right, which saw AIDS as a disease limited to the gay male community and spread by "immoral" behavior, Reagan prevented his Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, from speaking out about the epidemic. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Overview The Surgeon General is nominated by the US President and confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. Vice Admiral Charles Everett Koop (born October 14 1916) is an American Physician who gained recognition as a pediatric surgeon at the Children's When in 1986 Reagan was highly encouraged by many other public officials to authorize Koop to issue a report on the epidemic, he expected it to be in line with conservative policies; instead, Koop's Surgeon General's Report on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome greatly emphasized the importance of a comprehensive AIDS education strategy, including widespread distribution of condoms, and rejected mandatory testing. A condom is a device most commonly used during Sexual intercourse. This approach brought Koop into conflict with other administration officials such as Education Secretary William Bennett. William John Bennett (born July 3, 1943) is an American Neoconservative Pundit, Politician, and Political
Social action groups such as ACT UP worked to raise awareness of the AIDS problem. ACT UP, or the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, "is a diverse non-partisan group of individuals. Because of ACT UP, in 1987, Reagan responded by appointing the Watkins Commission on AIDS, which was succeeded by a permanent advisory council, and subsequently (under the administration of President Clinton) by the "AIDS czar". The President’s Commission on the HIV Epidemic was a commission formed by then-President Ronald Reagan in 1987 to investigate the AIDS epidemic
Many socially conservative commentators saw Reagan's handling of the AIDS crisis as a common sense approach to a problem they believed was caused by social immorality. Social conservatism is a political or moral ideology that affirms the government's role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors in the belief that these are what Morality (from the Latin la moralitas "manner character proper behavior" has three principal meanings Members of the gay and lesbian and African American communities saw his policies as anything from politically motivated willful blindness to allow a national holocaust to occur in silence with outright contempt for groups affected by the disease. Gay community or LGBT community is a term used to describe the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender subculture African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa
In 1986, the Reagan Administration was found to have illegally sold arms to Iran to fund the Contras in Nicaragua. The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal which was revealed in November 1986 as a result of earlier events during the Reagan administration. During the presidency of Ronald Reagan in the United States, multiple scandals developed which resulted in a number of administration staffers being convicted For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua 's FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional Sandinista Junta of National [55] The Iran-Contra affair became the largest political scandal in the United States during the 1980s. The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal which was revealed in November 1986 as a result of earlier events during the Reagan administration. This article provides a list of major political scandals of the United States. [56] President Reagan professed ignorance of the plot's existence and quickly called for an Independent Counsel to investigate. It is rumored that while the arms sales and hostage releases were occurring, Reagan allegedly signed a finding authorizing the actions after they had already begun,[57] but this has not been proven. [58] The International Court of Justice, whose jurisdiction to decide the case was disputed,[59] ruled that the U. S. had violated international law in Nicaragua due to its treaty obligations and the customary obligations of international law not to intervene in the affairs of other states. [60]
Reagan appointed two Republicans and one Democrat (John Tower, Brent Scowcroft and Edmund Muskie, known as the "Tower Commission") to investigate the scandal. John Goodwin Tower ( September 29, 1925 – April 5, 1991) was the first Republican United States senator from Texas Brent Scowcroft (born March 19 1925 in Ogden Utah) was the United States National Security Advisor under Presidents Gerald Ford and Edmund Sixtus "Ed" Muskie ( March 28, 1914 – March 26, 1996) was an American Democratic Politician The commission could not find direct evidence that Reagan had prior knowledge of the program, but criticized him heavily for his disengagement from managing his staff, thus making the diversion of funds to the Contras possible. [61] A separate report by Congress concluded that "If the president did not know what his national security advisers were doing, he should have. "[61] Reagan's popularity declined from 67 percent to 46 percent in less than a week, the greatest and quickest decline ever for a president. [62]
Fourteen individuals who were directly involved in the illegal activity were indicted, resulting in eleven convictions (both plea agreements and trial convictions). [63] Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger was indicted for perjury, but received a pardon from then-President George H. The United States Secretary of Defense ( SECDEF) is the head of the U Caspar Willard "Cap" Weinberger ( August 18, 1917 &ndash March 28, 2006) was an American politician and Secretary W. Bush during the last month of his presidency. At the same time, President Bush pardoned five others, four of whom had already pleaded guilty or had been convicted. [64] In 2006, a survey of 37 presidential historians ranked "Ronald Reagan’s involvement in the Iran-Contra affair" as the ninth worst mistake by a U. S. president. [65][66] Critics further objected to his comparison of the Contras to the Founding Fathers and the French Resistance.
Many Central Americans criticize Reagan for his support of the Contras, saying he was an anti-communist zealot, blinded to human rights abuses, while many others say he "saved Central America". [67] Daniel Ortega, Sandinistan president of Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, said that he hoped God would forgive Reagan for his "dirty war against Nicaragua". José Daniel Ortega Saavedra (xoˈse ðanjεl ɔrteγa saˈβeðra(born 11 November 1945 is the current President of Nicaragua. The Sandinista National Liberation Front ( Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional) is a socialist Nicaraguan Political party. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America [67]
Reagan escalated the Cold War, accelerating a reversal from the policy of détente which began in 1979 following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the Détente is a French term meaning a relaxing or easing the term has been used in international politics since the early 1970s The Soviet war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet-Afghan War or just the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, was a nine-year conflict involving [68]The Reagan Administration implemented new policies towards the Soviet Union: reviving the B-1 bomber program that had been canceled by the Carter administration, and producing the MX "Peacekeeper" missile. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 [69] In response to Soviet deployment of the SS-20, Reagan oversaw NATO's deployment of the Pershing II missile in West Germany. [70]
One of Reagan's more controversial proposals was the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI, a defense project. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI was a proposal by US President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect [71] The program would use ground- and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. [72] Reagan believed that this defense shield could make nuclear war impossible,[71][73] but the unlikelihood that the technology could ever work led opponents to dub SDI "Star Wars," and argue that the technological objective was unattainable. [71]The Soviets became concerned about the possible effects SDI would have,[74] and leader Yuri Andropov considered the possibility that Reagan was pushing to win the Cold War,[75] saying it put "the entire world in jeopardy. Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov (Ю́рий Влади́мирович Андро́пов Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov) ( &ndash 9 February 1984 was a Soviet politician "[75]
In a famous address on June 8, 1982 to the British Parliament, Reagan called the Soviet Union an "Evil Empire. Events 68 - The Roman Senate accepts emperor Galba. 536 - St Silverius becomes Pope (probable Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories The phrase evil empire was applied to the Soviet Union by US President Ronald Reagan and American conservatives, who took an aggressive " Reagan further declared that Marxism-Leninism would ultimately be consigned to the "ash heap of history. Marxism-Leninism is a Communist ideological stream that emerged as the mainstream tendency amongst the Communist parties in the 1920s as it was adopted " On March 3, 1983, Reagan predicted that Communism would collapse, stating, "communism is another sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages even now are being written. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) "[76] After Soviet fighters downed Korean Airlines Flight 007 on September 1, 1983, Reagan labeled the act a "massacre" and declared that the Soviets had turned "against the world and the moral precepts which guide human relations among people everywhere. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) "[77] The Reagan administration responded to the incident by suspending all Soviet passenger air service to the United States, and dropped several agreements being negotiated with the Soviets, hurting them financially. [77]
Reagan's foreign policies were criticized variously as aggressive, imperialistic, and were derided as "warmongering". [74] All this was before a reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev, rose to power in the Soviet Union in 1985. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ( Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov;; born 2 March 1931 in Privolnoye Stavropol Krai) is a Russian politician To confront the Soviet Union's serious economic problems, Gorbachev implemented bold new policies for openness and reform called glasnost and perestroika. (Гла́сность)is literally defined as publicity and sometimes figuratively interpreted as "tipping a vase to let someone see into the vase but not the bottom of the vase" (Перестройка) is the Russian term (now used in English for the economic reforms introduced in June 1987 by the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev
By the late years of the Cold War, Moscow had built up a military which surpassed that of the United States. [78]In the past, the United States had relied on the qualitative superiority of its weapons to essentially frighten the Soviets, but with Soviet technological advances in the 1980s, the gap between the two nations was narrowed. [78] With the military buildup came large budget deficits, and as a result, Gorbachev offered major concessions to the United States on the levels of conventional forces, nuclear weapons, and policy in Eastern Europe. [79]
Ronald Reagan recognized the change in the direction of the Soviet leadership with Gorbachev, and shifted to diplomacy, with a view to encourage the Soviet Leader to go further with his reforms. The Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer was a physical barrier separating West Berlin from the German Democratic Republic (GDR ( East Germany) including Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ( Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov;; born 2 March 1931 in Privolnoye Stavropol Krai) is a Russian politician " Tear down this wall! " was the famous challenge from United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy Gorbachev agreed to meet Reagan in four summit conferences around the world: the first in Geneva, Switzerland, the second in Reykjavík, Iceland, the third held in Washington, D.C., along with the fourth summit in Moscow, Russia. Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation For the Greater Reykjavík Area see the Greater Reykjavík Area. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending [80] Reagan believed that if he could persuade the Soviets to look at the prosperous American economy, they would embrace free markets and a free society. Gorbachev, facing severe economic problems at home, was swayed. [79]
Speaking at the Berlin Wall, on June 12, 1987, Reagan challenged Gorbachev to go further:
| “ | General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. The Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer was a physical barrier separating West Berlin from the German Democratic Republic (GDR ( East Germany) including Events 1381 - Peasants' Revolt: in England, rebels arrive at Blackheath. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! | ” |
When Gorbachev visited Washington, D. " Tear down this wall! " was the famous challenge from United States President Ronald Reagan to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to destroy C. for the third summit in 1987, he and Reagan signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty at the White House (they finalized it a year later), which eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty ( INF) was a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. See also Executive Office of the President of the United States The White House, formerly known as the Executive Mansion, is the Official residence [81]
When Reagan visited Moscow for the fourth summit in 1988, he was viewed as a celebrity by Russians. Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of A journalist asked the president if he still considered the Soviet Union the evil empire. "No," he replied, "I was talking about another time, another era. "[82] At Gorbachev’s request, Reagan gave a speech on free markets at Moscow University. [83]
In his autobiography An American Life, Reagan expressed his optimism about the new direction that they charted, his warm feelings for Gorbachev, and his concern for Gorbachev's safety because Gorbachev pushed reforms so hard: "I was concerned for his safety," Reagan wrote. "I've still worried about him. How hard and fast can he push reforms without risking his life?"[84] Events would unravel far beyond what Gorbachev originally intended. In 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn down. The Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer was a physical barrier separating West Berlin from the German Democratic Republic (GDR ( East Germany) including A year later, the Soviet Union officially collapsed.
In 1988, Reagan's Vice President, George H. W. Bush, was elected to succeed Reagan as President of the United States. George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 On January 11, 1989, Reagan addressed the nation for the last time on television from the Oval Office, nine days before handing over the presidency to Bush. Events 1055 - Theodora is crowned Empress of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) | |-| |-| |- | |-| |-| |-| |-| |} The Oval Office is the official office of the President of the United States. On the morning of January 20, 1989, Ronald and Nancy Reagan met with the Bushes for coffee at the White House before escorting them to the Capitol Building, where Bush took the Oath of Office. Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) An oath of office is an Oath or Affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an Office, usually a position in government or within a religious The Reagans then boarded a Presidential helicopter, and flew to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Andrews Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. There, they boarded the Presidential Jet (in this instance, it was not called Air Force One), and flew home to California—to their new home in the wealthy suburb of Bel Air in Los Angeles. The Boeing VC-137C is the designation of two United States Air Force passenger transportation aircraft a military version of the Boeing 707. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Bel Air is a wealthy and prominent faux-gated residential community in the Westside of the city of Los Angeles California, United States. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Reagan was the oldest president to serve (at 77), surpassing Dwight Eisenhower, who was 70 when he left office in 1961. Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general
During his Presidency, Ronald Reagan pursued policies that reflected his optimism in individual freedom, expanded the American economy, and contributed to the end of the Cold War. The Economy of the United States is the largest national economy in the world Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the [85] The "Reagan Revolution", as it came to be known, aimed to reinvigorate American morale, and reduce the people's reliance upon government. [85] As President, Reagan kept a series of leather bound diaries, in which he talked about daily occurrences of his presidency, commented on current issues around the world (expressing his point of view on most of them), and frequently mentioned his wife, Nancy. Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6 1921 is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential The diaries were recently published into the bestselling book, The Reagan Diaries. The Reagan Diaries is an edited version of diaries written by President Ronald Reagan while in the White House. [86]
As a politician and as President, Ronald Reagan portrayed himself as being a conservative, anti-communist, in favor of tax cuts, in favor of smaller government (with the exclusion of the military), and in favor of removing regulations on corporations. Conservatism in the United States includes a variety of political ideologies including Fiscal conservatism, Supply-side economics, Social conservatism Anti-communism refers to opposition to Communism. Historically the word "communism" has been used to refer to several types of communal social organization and A corporation is a separate legal entity usually used to conduct business Ronald Reagan is credited with increasing spending on national defense and diplomacy which contributed to the end of the Cold War, deploying U. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the S. Pershing II missiles in West Germany in response to the Soviet stationing of SS-20 missiles near Europe, negotiating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) to substantially reduce nuclear arms and initiating negotiations with the Soviet Union for the treaty that would later be known as START I, proposing the Strategic Defense Initiative, a controversial plan to develop a missile defense system, re-appointing monetarists Paul Volcker and (later) Alan Greenspan to be chairmen of the Federal Reserve, ending the high inflation that damaged the economy under his predecessors Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, lowering tax rates significantly (under Reagan, the top personal tax bracket dropped from 70% to 28% in 7 years [3]) and leading a major reform of the tax system, providing arms and other support to anti-communist groups such as the Contras and the mujahideen, selling arms to foreign allies such as Taiwan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq (see Iran-Iraq War), greatly escalating the "war on drugs" with his policies and Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign, ordering the April 14, 1986 bombing of Tripoli and Benghazi in retaliation for an April 5 bombing of a West Berlin nightclub frequented by U. Pershing was a family of solid-fueled two-stage Medium-range ballistic missiles designed and built by Martin Marietta to replace the Redstone missile as West Germany ( Inf German: Westdeutschland or West-Deutschland) was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany ( The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty ( INF) was a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 START (for St rategic A rms R eduction T reaty is a Treaty between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI was a proposal by US President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect Monetarism is a school of economic thought concerning the determination of national income and monetary Economics. Paul Adolph Volcker (born September 5, 1927 in Cape May New Jersey) is an American Economist Alan Greenspan (born March 6 1926 in New York City) is an American Economist and was from 1987 to 2006 the Chairman of the Federal Reserve of In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr (July 14 1913 December 26 2006 was the thirty-eighth President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977 and the fortieth Vice President The Contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua 's FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional Sandinista Junta of National A Mujahid (Arabic ar مجاهد, literally "struggler" is a Muslim involved in a Jihad, id est fighting in a war or REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. The War on Drugs is a prohibition campaign undertaken by the United States government with the assistance of participating countries intended to reduce the Illegal Nancy Davis Reagan (born Anne Frances Robbins on July 6 1921 is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and served as an influential " Just Say No " was a Television Advertising campaign part of the US " War on Drugs " and prevalent during the 1980s and Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The United States bombing of Libya (code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon) comprised the joint United States Air Force, Navy and Tripolis ( Arabic: طرابلس Ṭarābulus - also طرابلس الغرب Ṭarā-bu-lus al-Gharb Libyan vernacular: Benghazi or Bengasi ( Arabic بنغازي, transliterated Banġāzī,) is the second largest city in Libya and the Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop The Berlin discotheque bombing of April 5, 1986 was a terrorist attack on the La Belle discotheque West Berlin, Germany, that was West Berlin was the name given to the western part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990 S. servicemen, in which the Libyan government was deemed complicit, and signing the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which compensated victims of the Japanese American Internment during World War II. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 ( title I August 10, 1988,, et seq Japanese American internment refers to the forcible relocation and Internment of approximately 110000 Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans to housing World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
As Ronald and Nancy Reagan were both former actors and he had served as president of the Screen Actor's Guild, via a 1982 Executive Order, President Reagan established the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. During the presidency of Ronald Reagan in the United States, multiple scandals developed which resulted in a number of administration staffers being convicted An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works The Screen Actors Guild ( SAG) is an American labor union representing over 120000 Film and television principal performers and background executive order in the United States is a Directive issued by the President, the head of the executive branch of the federal government The President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities was established in Washington DC in 1982 by an Executive Order from President Ronald Reagan. In each year of his presidency, Reagan increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA is a United States federally funded and donation assisted program that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence In a 1983 speech he declared, "We support the National Endowment for the Arts to stimulate excellence and make art more available to more of our people. " [4]
Although Reagan's second term was mostly noteworthy for matters related to foreign affairs, he supported significant pieces of legislation on domestic matters. In 1982, Reagan signed legislation reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 for another 25 years, even though he had opposed such an extension during the 1980 campaign. Background See also [[Disfranchisement after the Civil War]] The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865 after the Civil War, abolished and prohibited [87] This extension added protections for blind, disabled, and illiterate voters.
Other significant legislation included the overhaul of the Internal Revenue Code in 1986, as well as the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 which compensated victims of the Japanese-American internment during World War II. The US Congress passed the Tax Reform Act (TRA of 1986 ( to simplify the Income tax code broaden the tax base and eliminate many Tax shelters The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 ( title I August 10, 1988,, et seq Japanese American internment refers to the forcible relocation and Internment of approximately 110000 Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans to housing As well as those, Reagan signed legislation authorizing the death penalty for offenses involving murder in the context of large-scale drug trafficking; wholesale reinstatement of the federal death penalty did not occur until the presidency of Bill Clinton. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global Black market consisting of the cultivation manufacture distribution and sale of illegal Drugs William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States
Reagan's position on gay rights has been a subject of controversy. LGBT (also GLBT) is an initialism referring collectively to Lesbian, Gay, bisexual, and Transgender / transsexual In the late 1970s he wrote a private response to the organization backing the California Briggs Initiative, stating that he opposed the proposed ban on gay public school teachers or anyone who supported gay rights. California Proposition 6 or Proposition 6, more commonly known as The Briggs Initiative, was an initiative on the California State ballot in 1978. He opposed efforts to repeal the criminal laws against homosexuality and generally opposed gay rights legislation as eroding traditional moral values. Yet his daughter, Patti Davis, wrote in article in the New York Times where she recalled her father talking about Rock Hudson's homosexuality in an accepting and tolerate manner. Patti Davis (born Patricia Ann Reagan on October 21, 1952 in Los Angeles California) is the daughter of former President of the United Rock Hudson (November 17 1925 &ndash October 2 1985 was an American Film and Television Actor, recognised as a romantic leading man during [88]
As Reagan was the oldest person to be inaugurated as president (age 69), and also the oldest person to hold the office (age 77), his health, although generally good, became a concern at times during his presidency. His age even became a topic of concern during his re-election campaign. In a debate on October 21, 1984 between Reagan and his opponent Walter Mondale, panelist Henry Trewhitt brought up how President Kennedy had to go for days on end without sleep during the Cuban Missile crisis. Events 1512 - Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale (born January 5, 1928) is an American politician and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party He then asked the President if he had any doubts about if or how he could function in a time of crisis, given his age. Reagan remarked, "I am not going to make age an issue of this campaign I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience," generating applause and laughter from the audience. Mondale (who was 56 at the time) said years later in an interview that he knew at that moment he had lost the election.
On July 13, 1985, Reagan underwent surgery to remove polyps from his colon, causing the first-ever invocation of the Acting President clause of the 25th Amendment. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) A polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue ( Tumor) projecting from a Mucous membrane. The colon is a storage tube for solid wastes The main function of the colon appears to be extraction of Water and salts from Feces. Acting President of the United States is a reference to a person who is legitimately exercising the Presidential powers even though that person does not hold the office of the President The Twenty-fifth Amendment ( Amendment XXV) to the United States Constitution partially replaced the ambiguous wording of Article II Section 1 Clause On January 5, 1987, Reagan underwent surgery for prostate cancer which caused further worries about his health, but which significantly raised the public awareness of this "silent killer. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) "