Harper APUSH



APUSH Lecture – The Presidency of Ronald ReaganBiographical Information:1911 Born in Tampico, Illinois1928 Graduated from Eureka College with a BA in Economics1932-37 Radio announcer in Iowa1937-57 Stars in 52 Hollywood movies1937 Joins the Screen Actors Guild Union and is president of SAG from 1947-52 (strong opposition to communist influence in Hollywood and will in 1953 become a secret informant for the FBI)1947 testifies before the House Un-American Affairs Committee (HUAC)1953-62 Spokesman for the General Electric Theater TV show (Travels around the country speaking at GE plants)1964 Campaigns for Barry Goldwater and delivers the famous “A Time for Choosing Speech”, which makes him a national political figure1967-75 Governor of California1976 fails in his bid to win the GOP primary from incumbent President FordElection 1980DemocratsPresident Carter faced challenge from Senator Edward Kennedy from Massachusetts.State of the economy #1 issue, Carter in trouble with: high inflation, continued energy crisis, rising unemployment, and high interest rates. When coupled with the on-going Iranian hostage crisis, Carter looked weak and ineffective to many Americans.Carter defended his record and charged that Reagan was a warmonger who might provoke a nuclear war.RepublicansCalifornia Governor Ronald Reagan easily won the GOP nomination and tapped George H.W. Bush to be his running mate.Reagan called for reductions in government spending, tax cuts, a shift in power from the federal government to the states, and advocated for traditional American values – family, religion, hard work, and patriotism.Reagan advocated a hard line with the Soviet Union and vowed to rebuild the military, which had been neglected since the end of the Vietnam War.Reagan denounced the activist government and failed “social engineering” of the 1960s. He frequently promised to the get the government off the people’s back.Reagan received the vigorous support of the “New Right” including evangelical Christian groups like Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority. The New Right denounced abortion, pornography, homosexuality, the ERA, and affirmative action. They championed prayer in schools and tougher penalties for criminals.Presidential DebateThe two candidates met for two televised debates the second of which was just days before the election. In itReagan got off two now famous lines: “There you go again” in response to an attack by Carter, and in his closingremarks asked the American people, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”Election Results – “The Reagan Revolution”Electoral College: Reagan 489, Carter 49Popular Vote: Reagan 51% (43.8 million); Carter 41% (35.4 million); Anderson 7% (5.7 million)Republicans gain control of the Senate for the first time in 25 years, House of Reps still controlled by DemocratsAssassination AttemptTwo months after taking office Reagan survived an assassination attempt in Washington DC. He was seriouslywounded and had to undergo emergency surgery.“Reaganomics” – Supply Side EconomicsThe basic concept of supply side economics (referred to as “trickle down economics” by critics) is that if the people could keep more of their money, they would invest back into the economy the results being expanded production, more jobs, and greater prosperity. If this happened, government revenues from more people/businesses paying taxes would increase despite lower tax rates.To this end, Congress passed and Reagan signed the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, which called for significant tax cuts over 3 years.Reagan made large budget cuts to domestic programs like education, food stamps, public housing, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.The Defense budget was increased by $12 billion.After suffering a brief recession in 1982, the economy began to respond to Reaganomics with the longest sustained economic expansion since WWII – 92 months. (Inflation went from 13% in 1981, to 2% in 1986)The downside to Reaganomics included: higher state tax rates in some cases to offset the federal programming cuts, and ballooning budget deficits, which contributed to the growing national debt.Reagan was unable to control spending as much as he wanted because of opposition from the Democratically controlled House of Representatives.DeregulationWhile Reagan was responsible for deregulating many industries, including the Savings & Loan industry whichwould later require a $100 billion bailout, he is most remembered for his firing of 11,400 civilian air trafficcontrollers that were on strike after negotiations – which had been going on since the Carter administration – broke down. The PATCO union was destroyed. (Both Carter and Clinton deregulated more industries than Reagan)Supreme Court Appointments1981 Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman to sit on the SCOTUS1986 Associate Justice William Rehnquist was elevated to Chief Justice after the retirement of Warren Burger1986 Antonin Scalia 1988 Anthony KennedyElection 1984RepublicansReagan – Bush were renominated by the GOPDemocratsNominated Carter’s Vice President, Walter Mondale of Minnesota. In a historic move, Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro of New York was tapped as his running mate.Mondale criticized Reagan’s budget deficits and cuts to social spending.Ferraro was distracted with a financial scandal involving her husband.Election ResultsElectoral College: Reagan 525, Mondale 13 (Reagan won 49 states!)Popular Vote: Reagan 60% (54.2 million); Mondale 40% (37.4 million)Second Term Domestic HighlightsTax Reform Act of 1986, which lowered taxes, changing the highest rate on personal income from 50% to 28% and substantially lowering corporate taxes. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, attempted to deal with the problem of illegal immigration by escalating penalties on employers hiring undocumented workers and increasing the resources of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to enforce the law. In a controversial move many called amnesty, offered resident alien status to any individual who proved they had been living in the US continually since 1982.REAGAN’S FOREIGN POLICYThe Reagan DoctrineThe “Two Reagan’s:First Term: hard-line, aggressiveSecond Term: continue pressure, but diplomatically engageUnder the Reagan Doctrine, the United States?provided overt and covert aid?to?anti-communist?guerrillas?and?resistance movements?in an effort to "roll back" Soviet-backed?communist?governments in?Africa,?Asia, and?Latin America. The doctrine was designed to diminish Soviet influence in these regions as part of the administration's overall Cold War strategy. The Reagan Doctrine was especially significant because it represented a substantial shift in the post–World War II foreign policy of the United States beyond containment.Reagan’s Cold War StrategyUS military buildup to force arms reductions with the SovietsRegime change in the USSREmphasize the ideological argumentEngage the USSR – arms control, regional conflict, human rights, cultural/commercial exchangeMiddle East ChallengesLebanon – Reagan deployed 800 US Marines to Lebanon as part of a multinational force (along with Syria and Israel) attempting to resolve a long, bloody civil war that threatened to destabilize the region. On April 18, 1983, a car bomb detonated outside the US Embassy killing 17 Americans. Six months later, on October 23, 1983, a suicide bomber drove a truck full of explosives into the Marine Barracks killing 241 servicemen. Reagan soon announced a withdraw of US forces from Lebanon.Libya - After a series of terrorist attacks in Western Europe were linked to Libya and aggressive Libyan military moves in the Mediterranean Sea , Reagan orders an attack by F-111 strike bombers on the capital – Tripoli.Iran-Iraq War – The US supported the Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussein as the US and Iran had become bitter enemies since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and Iranian Hostage crisis. Between 1987-88, the US and Iran fight a quasi-war in the Persian Gulf while the US escorts oil tankers through the Straits of Hormuz.Challenges Closer to HomeNicaragua – In 1979, the Sandinistas, a socialist revolutionary movement backed by Cuba, took control of Nicaragua. In keeping with his “roll back” strategy, Reagan sent covert aid and the CIA to support the Contras, or “Counterrevolutionaries”, which he called “freedom fighters”. From bases in neighboring Honduras, the Contras will conduct operations in Nicaragua in this brutal, atrocity laden conflict.Iran-Contra Affair - As part of the Reagan’s effort to “roll-back” communism, the Reagan Doctrine (using the CIA to train/equip forces fighting communism) was used to support the Contras Rebels in Nicaragua. Reagan was especially sympathetic to the Contras calling them “the moral equivalent to the Founding Fathers.” To insure Congressional oversight in the administration of the Reagan Doctrine, the Democratically controlled Congress passed the Boland Amendment, which restricted the aid the CIA and Dept of Defense could give the Contras. Reagan ordered his National Security Advisor to secretly continue aid to the Contras. To fund this aid, a secret arms deal with Iran (at war with Iraq and listed as a state sponsor of international terrorism) was negotiated. In addition to the monies generated by the arms sales, Reagan hoped to improve US relations with Iran and secure the release of American hostages in Lebanon. In the end: the weapons went to Iran, some of the hostages were released, and $18 million dollars were directed to the Contras. Once public, an 8-year investigation of the so-called “Arms-for-Hostages” deal ensued in which some officials resigned, few were convicted, and a handful of high-profile Reagan officials were ultimately pardoned. While Reagan’s image was briefly tarnished, most historians agree that no major damage was done to his legacy.El Salvador – Reagan sent military advisors to support the pro-US government of El Salvador as well as gaining congressional approval for $5 billion in aid. Public opinion soured after news of government “death squads” eliminating thousands of the opposition.Grenada – In 1983, Reagan ordered 6,000 US troops to the Caribbean Island of Grenada where a military coup had brought a Marxist regime to power. In addition to allowing the Cubans to build a air base capable of accommodating large military aircraft, there was grave concern for the hundreds of American medical students studying on the island. US forces quickly took over the island.Soviet Relations 1981-85Unlike Nixon’s efforts at détente for a peaceful coexistence; Reagan refused to give up the “moral high ground” to the communists. Reagan said it best, “We win. They lose.” Reagan made the Cold War an ideological struggle against communism.After US intelligence reports indicate that the USSR is near economic collapse attempting to maintain support for their military, Reagan launches a low-level economic war to put additional pressure on the struggling Soviet economy.Tensions in Poland mount led by the first non-communist union, Solidarity, who received millions in secret financial support from the US. (Poland is also under pressure from another front, the new Polish pope, John Paul II.)KAL Flight 007 - The Soviets shot down a Korean Air Lines jumbo jet after straying into Soviet airspace. Hundreds were killed including an American congressman.US breaks off all arms control negotiations in response.Reagan refers to the Soviet Union as “the Evil Empire” in a speech to Evangelical Christians to justify his military buildup.US medium range Pershing and cruise missiles to Western Europe.Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) – “Star Wars”In 1983, Reagan announced his intention to develop and deploy a high-tech missile defense system based partially in space.Reagan claimed that that SDI would provide an umbrella over American cities.Diplomatically, Reagan used the threat of SDI to scare the Soviets. He was also very aware that his dramatic increases in defense spending could not be matched by the USSR. While SDI was never deployed, Reagan used the threat of SDI to great success in his negotiations with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev.Emergence of Mikhail GorbachevIn 1985, Gorbachev becomes the Soviet Premier and immediately demonstrated is reform minded agenda: expanded free speech, capitalist reforms, and limited democracy. Demonstrates a willingness to discuss reducing nuclear weapons in Europe.GENEVA: The first meeting between President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev took place in Geneva, Switzerland in November 1985. Reagan and Gorbachev discussed all areas of U.S.-Soviet relations. Overall, the two leaders used the meetings to feel out each other’s positions. Although no significant agreements were made, the two leaders agreed to meet again. The Geneva Summit is seen today as a success as Reagan and Gorbachev were able to start the process that led to a thawing of Cold War tensions, and the eventual signing of the INF Treaty in 1987.REYKJAVIK: Arms control negotiations between the Soviet Union and the United States stalled following the Geneva Summit. General Secretary Gorbachev proposed to President Reagan in September 1986 that the two leaders meet the next month to inject urgency into the stalled arms control negotiations. President Reagan immediately agreed.? Over two-days of meetings in October 1986 failed to produce any arms control agreements. General Secretary Gorbachev and Reagan, however, seemed on the verge of agreeing to a sweeping arms control agreement that would in principle work towards the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. President Reagan would say that he could not agree to the deal because General Secretary Gorbachev insisted that any agreement incorporate limits on testing of the Strategic Defense Initiative. General Secretary Gorbachev left believing that no agreement was reached because President Reagan did not come to the meeting prepared to reach any agreement. ?The Reykjavik Summit is now seen as significant turning point in arms control negotiations. Although no agreement was reached at the time, Reagan and Gorbachev in principle agreed on the need to reduce their nuclear arsenals. Gorbachev also recognized that Reagan would not negotiate SDI. Over the next couple of months Gorbachev dropped his insistence that SDI be linked to any arms control agreement, and when Reagan and Gorbachev met again in Washington in December 1987, all they had to do were sign the documents agreeing to eliminate their intermediate range nuclear weapons (The INF Treaty), the most sweeping arms control reductions treaty ever signed by that time.?WASHINGTON: General Secretary Gorbachev came to Washington in December 1987 to sign the INF Treaty documents and to persuade President Reagan to agree a further arms control agreement, a START agreement. The START negotiations started from the principle that both sides would eliminate 50% of their offensive ballistic missiles. To accomplish this goal, however, General Secretary Gorbachev insisted that Reagan agree to delay deployment of SDI until both sides had eliminated their offensive weapons. This way, Gorbachev argued, one side would not have an advantage over the other. Reagan, however, insisted that SDI could not be part of any arms control negotiations. After the Washington Summit Reagan encouraged his advisers to continue to seek a START agreement, but that he would not make any agreement limiting SDI.?MOSCOW: President Reagan traveled to Moscow in May 1988. General Secretary Gorbachev was hoping to use the Summit as an opportunity for Reagan and Gorbachev to agree to the START Treaty, but soon after Reagan arrived it became very clear that Reagan was not interested in further arms control agreements. Reagan spent most of the Summit, instead, talking about human rights. The Summit is probably best remembered for Reagan's statement to reporters, outside the Kremlin, declaring that he no longer thought of the Soviet Union as an "evil empire.”NEW YORK: Reagan and Gorbachev had a short visit in December 1988 on Governor's Island, right outside Manhattan in New York City. President-elect George H.W. Bush was also present. No substantive issues were discussed, and President-elect Bush interesting chose to observe. The meeting is probably most significant for President-elect Bush's lack of participation. Although Bush had been involved with most of President Reagan's most important foreign policy decisions, he would upon taking office immediately signal that he was freezing negotiations ?between the United States and Soviet Union until he had a chance to develop his own approach. Bush, it seems, unlike Reagan was not convinced that the Soviet Union was no longer an "evil empire." It took over three years for Bush and Gorbachev to sign the START Treaty, which was reached in 1991.?Reagan’s Legacy:He had the gift of taking complicated ideas and making them easy for voters to understand (frequently through anecdote), which made for broader appeal.Loved America and didn’t like to divide Americans. (Didn’t come across and mean spirited like Goldwater)Refused to compromise on communism. Reagan’s Cold War policies directly led to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. ................
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