To What Extent Did Ronald To What Extent Did Ronald Reagan End the Cold War?Reagan End the Cold War?

Emily WolfeEmily Wolfe

Election of 1980Election of 1980

• The former California governor decided to The former California governor decided to run for the presidency with running mate, run for the presidency with running mate, George Bush, after being denied the George Bush, after being denied the nomination in 1976nomination in 1976

• Reagan was elected 489-49 electoral Reagan was elected 489-49 electoral votes and immediately began drastic tax votes and immediately began drastic tax cuts to try to spur the economycuts to try to spur the economy

Ways in Which Reagan Helped Ways in Which Reagan Helped Win the Cold WarWin the Cold War

• Revitalizing American ConfidenceRevitalizing American Confidence

• Reagan DoctrineReagan Doctrine

• Buildup of the MilitaryBuildup of the Military

• Understanding the Weaknesses Understanding the Weaknesses of the Soviet Unionof the Soviet Union

Revitalizing American ConfidenceRevitalizing American Confidence

• Reagan’s goal was to return to the Reagan’s goal was to return to the American optimistic spirit for the futureAmerican optimistic spirit for the future

• Public opinion shifted in favor of Reagan Public opinion shifted in favor of Reagan and his policiesand his policies

• Reagan’s strong opinions about the Reagan’s strong opinions about the weaknesses of the USSR aided in the weaknesses of the USSR aided in the start of more aggressive actions towards start of more aggressive actions towards the USSRthe USSR

• If more action was taken, then logically, If more action was taken, then logically, more pressure was applied and the USSR more pressure was applied and the USSR would not be able to withstandwould not be able to withstand

Reagan DoctrineReagan Doctrine

• Administration declared it would aid any Administration declared it would aid any Third World country under threat from Third World country under threat from Marxist forcesMarxist forces

• Came into play in the countries of El Came into play in the countries of El Salvador, Nicaragua, and AfghanistanSalvador, Nicaragua, and Afghanistan

• Afghanistan – only conflict when USSR Afghanistan – only conflict when USSR sent their military (caused Soviet spending sent their military (caused Soviet spending to increase, possibly accelerating the fall)to increase, possibly accelerating the fall)

Buildup of the MilitaryBuildup of the Military

• Economic sideEconomic side– Believed increase in military spending would Believed increase in military spending would

pose threat to Soviet economypose threat to Soviet economy

• Technological sideTechnological side– Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) increased Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) increased

America’s technology advantageAmerica’s technology advantage

Buildup of the Military (cont.)Buildup of the Military (cont.)

– SDI – “The long-term promise provided by this SDI – “The long-term promise provided by this research is the possibility of aggression, research is the possibility of aggression, strengthening stability, and increasing the strengthening stability, and increasing the security of the United States and our allies – security of the United States and our allies – and doing so through the increased and doing so through the increased contribution of defensive systems that contribution of defensive systems that threaten no one.” threaten no one.”

– – Ronald Reagan in a letter to Senate Ronald Reagan in a letter to Senate Majority Leader, Bob DoleMajority Leader, Bob Dole

Understanding the Weaknesses of Understanding the Weaknesses of the Soviet Unionthe Soviet Union

• For the most part, prior to Reagan, both For the most part, prior to Reagan, both political parties believed that the Soviet political parties believed that the Soviet Union would sustain through the Union would sustain through the foreseeable futureforeseeable future

• Reagan was different because he believed Reagan was different because he believed the Soviets could be defeatedthe Soviets could be defeated

• Saw the Soviet economy as weak and Saw the Soviet economy as weak and believed, if pushed, it would collapsebelieved, if pushed, it would collapse

Understanding the Weaknesses of Understanding the Weaknesses of the Soviet Union (cont.)the Soviet Union (cont.)

• Reagan was correct in his beliefs Reagan was correct in his beliefs – ““We will be pulled into an arms race that is We will be pulled into an arms race that is

beyond our capabilities, and we will lose it beyond our capabilities, and we will lose it because we are at the limit of our capabilities. because we are at the limit of our capabilities. …If the new round begins, the pressures on …If the new round begins, the pressures on our economy will be unbelievable.”our economy will be unbelievable.”

- Mikhail Gorbachev at a session of Poliburo- Mikhail Gorbachev at a session of Poliburo

Berlin Wall SpeechBerlin Wall Speech• Reagan traveled to the Brandenburg Gate Reagan traveled to the Brandenburg Gate

on June 12, 1987on June 12, 1987• Gave a famous speech challenging Gave a famous speech challenging

Gorbachev to prove his commitment to Gorbachev to prove his commitment to openness by tearing down the Berlin Wallopenness by tearing down the Berlin Wall

““General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”-Ronald Reagan-Ronald Reagan

Berlin Wall Speech (cont.)Berlin Wall Speech (cont.)

• His speech applied further pressure on His speech applied further pressure on Gorbachev to continue with his reform Gorbachev to continue with his reform policies and progress furtherpolicies and progress further

So…Did Reagan End the Cold So…Did Reagan End the Cold War?War?

• Technically speaking, the Bush Technically speaking, the Bush administration finalized the end of the Cold administration finalized the end of the Cold WarWar

• However, in the transition between However, in the transition between Reagan and the succeeding president, Reagan and the succeeding president, George Bush, some advances that had George Bush, some advances that had been made were lostbeen made were lost

So…Did Reagan End the Cold So…Did Reagan End the Cold War?War?

• The cooperation and established The cooperation and established relationship between Reagan and relationship between Reagan and Gorbachev in fact ended the Cold WarGorbachev in fact ended the Cold War

• Reagan’s policies, however, led to the Reagan’s policies, however, led to the eventual collapse of the Berlin Wall and, eventual collapse of the Berlin Wall and, later, the economy and Soviet Unionlater, the economy and Soviet Union

BibliographyBibliography

• D’Souza, Dinesh. “How Reagan Won the Cold War.” D’Souza, Dinesh. “How Reagan Won the Cold War.” National ReviewNational Review. 24 November 1997.. 24 November 1997.

• Kaplan, Fred. “Ron and Mikhail’s Excellent Adventure.” Kaplan, Fred. “Ron and Mikhail’s Excellent Adventure.” Slate: War Stories.Slate: War Stories.

<http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=<http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2102081>2102081>

• Knopf, Jeffrey W. “Did Reagan Win the Cold War?” Knopf, Jeffrey W. “Did Reagan Win the Cold War?” Strategic InsightsStrategic Insights. Volume III Issue 8 (August 2004).. Volume III Issue 8 (August 2004).

Bibliography (cont.)Bibliography (cont.)

• Kaiser, Robert G. “Gorbachev: ‘We All Lost Cold War’.” Kaiser, Robert G. “Gorbachev: ‘We All Lost Cold War’.” Washington PostWashington Post. p. A01. 11 June 2004.. p. A01. 11 June 2004.

• ““Ronald Reagan and End of the Cold Ronald Reagan and End of the Cold War.” War.” Eagleton Eagleton Digital Archive of American PoliticsDigital Archive of American Politics. Rutgers . Rutgers

University. <http://www.eagleton.rutgers.edu/e-University. <http://www.eagleton.rutgers.edu/e- gov/e-gov/e-politicalarchive-ReaganCW2.htm>politicalarchive-ReaganCW2.htm>