Help Paraphrase assignment: The Cold War During Reagan Administration
Running head: RESEARCH FIRST DRAFT 1
2
RESEARCH FIRST DRAFT
Research First Draft
HIS-495
May 2, 2019
The Cold War During Reagan Administration
During the twentieth century brought thrilling developments in military weapons, giving the countries in possession of them the power to kill millions in a single move. In fact, it was the dawn of nuclear weapons and nuclear warfare. Furthermore, this imparted fear all over the world over how these powerful weapons would be used and against who. Afterward World War II ended in 1945, tensions between the United States of America and the Soviet Union were high. Also, both powerful nations had nuclear weapons stationed around the world in locations the other found threatening, but neither wanted to be the first to give in and move their troops.
At this time, waiting for the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, both countries were at a sort of competition with each other over who had a stronger military, better technology and more power and influence in the world. Even though there was no direct military conflict, the world was in fear of another war erupting with the United States and the Soviet Union in the middle of it. Furthermore, in the 1980, President Ronald Reagan was elected president to the United States and was determined to end this period of strain between the two nations. In fact, the letter stated, “The Reagan administration believe the Soviet Union threatened U.S. security in two distinct but related ways. The conflict of the capitalist, the U.S.S.R continue to remain powerful and dangerous of all social democratic leaders (Long Telegram Cold War, 2015).
Meanwhile, the Reagan administration’s Cold War strategy started to get intense with difficulties of interpretation. Although, some see Reagan in terms of symbolism or as an agent in the politics of decline. Meanwhile, others see him as incompetent, wayward, and partial by Nancy Reagan. Also, there are those who celebrate his revival of American values and strength, and those who revile his politics as chauvinism and his economics as exploitative capitalism. Some people view as an effective statesman because of his pragmatism, others because of an aggressive agenda dictated by his right-wing ideology (Dobson, Alan P., 2005). Also, the fight against communism throughout the whole world was a main priority for President Reagan.
Meanwhile, before Reagan was sworn into office, the United States had long been interfering in international affairs, but under the right circumstances. In fact, as the time the United States got involved in fighting against communist government for its people or aiding countries fighting for independence. During 1903, the United States backed Panama when they were fighting for Independence from Columbia and in 1909 the United States supported rebels fighting against President Jose Santos Zelaya in Nicaragua. Furthermore, when President Reagan took U.S. office, he was not afraid to show the same attitude and support causes that he believed in, but at this point no nation that had fallen to communism had switched from communism back to democracy, something Reagan was strongminded to change. Nevertheless, this was in part due to the Brezhnev Doctrine which “stated simply that once a country went communist, it would stay communist.
Although, the Soviet Union would continue to gain territory. American troops was given orders by Ronald Reagan to invade Grenada and liberate the island from its Marxist Dictator the liberation of Grenada was a historic event about thirty years ago, because it signaled the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine and inaugurated a sequence of events that brought down the Soviet Empire itself (D’Souza, Dinesh. 2003). In fact, the time of tension considered the Cold War, the United States was involved in over 10 Proxy Wars, including the Vietnam War and the Salvadoran Civil War. Even though, the United States worked by taking away funding from countries that fell to communism and provided financial and military aid in addition to training to countries fighting against communism and rebels or militias fighting their own communist governments.
The sole entitlement of Freedom is a chosen few; it is the universal right of all God’s children (Dobson, Alan P., 2005). As matter of fact, President Reagan used these powerful words to commence his 1985 State of the Union Address. Throughout this address, President Reagan announced his foreign policies plans and ideas, a large part of which were concerning the United States fight against communism and the rising tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. In fact, Reagan thought that he could convince the Soviet leaders that it was in their own interest to come to an accommodation with the west and many of his advisers disagreed, arguing that the Soviet system was so unbending that it was incapable of change.
Also, during in 1987, the Berlin Wall was a sign of oppression due to a Communist government in Germany. Furthermore, President Reagan gave a speech at this wall in 1987 for the city of Berlin’s 750th anniversary. Knowing the possible opportunity at hand, President Reagan used this time in the spotlight to present a speech to summarize his administration’s policies on intermediate nuclear weapons in Europe, on negotiations with the Soviet leadership, and on the changes that were developing in the Soviet Union under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev. Although, the first Reagan administration accepted, planned, and successfully implemented an integrated set of policies, strategies, and tactics specifically directed toward the eventual destruction without war of the Soviet Empire and the successful ending of the Cold War with victory for the West (Dobson, Alan P., 2005).
Also, during his second term as President that Reagan switched from a combative approach to a more cooperative approach. Furthermore, Mikhail Gorbachev took power in the Soviet Union in 1985 and looked be a leader that was much more open to changing relations and working with other nations to come to common ground. “Confrontation to negotiation and collaboration in the relations with the west during his time was facilitated by the precarious position the Soviet Union had in this period with regard to the foreign affairs” (Gorun, Hadrian, 2014). As soon as, President Reagan first took office, he did not want to follow in the Nixon administration’s footsteps on their approach to fighting communism and combating the Soviet Union.
As matter of fact, Reagan wanted to be able to bridge the gap between the two power nations and create an equally beneficial sense of friendship. Furthermore, the President even went so far as to send a letter to Soviet Leader Leonid Brezhnev, asking for “a meaningful and constructive dialogue which will assist us in fulfilling our joint obligation to find lasting peace” (Matlock, Jack F., Jr., 2010). Also, upon receiving a response to his letter from Brezhnev, President Reagan’s viewpoint towards the Soviet Union and the Soviets government had completely changed. For instance, Brezhnev responded not as enthusiastic about creating good relations between the two nations and Reagan was ready to play hard ball. In a speech concerning the Soviet Union, President Reagan even referred to the nation as an “evil empire” (Matlock, Superpower Illusions). Obviously, it upset the Soviet leaders, who were accustomed to launching verbal attacks on Western, especially American, leaders. Also, Reagan’s detractors and the Soviet leaders at the time ignored several salient evidences such as:
1. Reagan’s description of the Soviet Union and the habits of its leaders were essentially accurate; Soviet personal attacks on American society and its presidents were basically imprecise.
2. Although, Reagan never attacked the Soviet leaders by name, even though he was subject to almost daily vilification in the Soviet media as a warmonger planning to start a nuclear war. For instance, Reagan never accused the Soviet leaders of planning an attack on the United States, but rather of trying to derive political advantages from superiority of arms.
3. Next, Reagan accompanied his criticism with assurances that “we share the planet’ and must find a way to deal with each other in peace” (Matlock, Jack F., Jr., 2010).
In addition, Soviet leaders before Gorbachev held such a dogmatic view of the world, making it hard to come to deals with. “Meanwhile, Soviet leaders before Gorbachev were locked mentally in a vicious ideological circle that prohibited their perceiving that Soviet policies were not serving the real interests of the Soviet Union” (Matlock, Superpower Illusions). Also, Reagan played debatably the biggest role in ending the Cold War, there were other key players that contributed and get recognition.
Beside, one of those players being Margaret Thatcher, Thatcher was voted Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1979 as a part of the Conservative Party. As a result, one of her focuses was creating a “real detente” type of relationship with communist countries. Thatcher wanted to ease strains between nations to create a more peaceful and coexisting world. “We stress the fact that there has always been a convergence of opinions between Ronald Reagan and the ‘Iron Lady’ of the British politics, the only small difference being determined by USA’s decision to act unilaterally” (Gorun, Hadrian. 2014).
Furthermore, Jimmy Carter Preceded Ronald Reagan as the 39th President of the United States and had influence over the Cold War during his time as president. Since, the beginning of his presidency, Carter ended the Nixon administration’s detente policy and changed the momentum of things. Some people helped in their own way and aided President Reagan through inspiration.
Motivated by the American idealism represented by Woodrow Wilson, former President of the US during the First World War, Reagan thought that the ideological difference and divergences were not impossible to overcome, that the Soviet intransigence was generated by ignorance and not by will (Gorun, Hadrian. 2014) Next, President Reagan was 41st President of the United States George Bush, being sworn into office just at the tail end of the Cold War but having been involved for years as Reagan’s Vice President. After following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Bush held the same attitude as President Reagan did at the end of his Presidency. Nevertheless, on July 31st, 1991, President Bush signed the START I Treaty in Moscow, with both nations agreeing to majorly reduce their nuclear arsenal. In fact, all these people aided in keeping the Cold War military action-free, but the policies, ideas and speeches that President Reagan had all created snowball effects to create real change and a want for long lasting peace throughout the world.
In addition, Reagan stated in his speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987, “In the 1960’s, Khrushchev predicted, ‘We will bury you.’ But in the West today, we see a free world that has achieved a level of wealth and well - being unprecedented in all human history. In fact, the Communist world, we see disappointment. For instance, technological backwardness. Decreasing standards of health. Also, The Soviet Union still cannot feed itself. Furthermore, East Germany has many paces, but at harvest time the news announcers still speak, to use the well-known phrase, of ‘the battle to bring in the crop, there stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity, peace, and well – being ( Films Media Group, 2008).
In this speech, Reagan reminds not only the people of Berlin, but the people of Germany, America, Eastern Europe and even Western Europe that when it comes to fighting communism, if you just keep pushing back, fighting, and not giving in to temptation, then as all people of free nations, winning is the only option. Nevertheless, most people cannot deny the important parts that Margaret Thatcher, Jimmy Carter and George Bush played in the decay of the international organization specific to the Cold War. But the one that exercised decisive pressure upon the Soviet Union System was Ronald Reagan.” (Gorun, Hadrian. 2014). Furthermore, the Cold War was fought over many decades throughout many presidents and many different nations.
Although, Ronald Reagan was not the only world leader making moves towards the destruction of communism and the Soviet Union, but his moves created an increase effect of events that helped lead to his main goal as President of the United States. “Even some who had been skeptical of Reagan were forced to admit that his policies had been thoroughly vindicated. Reagan’s had opponent, Henry Kissinger, observed that while it was George H. W. Bush who chaired ended the final disintegration of the Soviet empire, it was Ronald Reagan’s Presidency which marked the turning point” (D’Souza, Dinesh. 2003). As matter of fact, not only did Reagan make the most important moves in the Cold War, but he was able to change strategies when the time sought it. Also, President Ronald Reagan was able to hold his ground against the Soviet Union when it was deemed necessary but made the change to want to work with the communist country when it became part of the United States best interest.
In conclusion, in a speech to address the National Association of Evangelicals in 1983, President Reagan stated, “This doesn’t mean that we should isolate ourselves and refuse to seek an understanding with them at the same time however, they must be made to understand that we will never compromise our principles and standards” (Films Media Group, 2008). Of course, this means that we should never give away our freedom and continue to search for peace. The communism is another depressed, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages even now are being written. Also, it is important to remember all the events, not only the ones including President Reagan, when looking back throughout the entire Cold War to be able to identify where mistakes were made and what policies or ideas worked to keep peace between nations of the world and keep unfair communist regimes at inlet.
References
Dobson, Alan P. 2005. “The Reagan Administration, Economic Warfare, and Starting to Close Down the Cold War.” Diplomatic History 29 (3): 531.
Gorun, Hadrian. 2014. “A Few Considerations on the Role of the President Ronald Reagan in the
Collapse of the Communism and the End of the Cold War.” Sfera Political, Vol XXII, Is 2 (178),
Pp 16-22 (2014), no. 2 (178): 16. https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.4b1b083b549e4bb59105b42ecacb749c&site=eds-live&scope=site .
Matlock, Jack F., Jr, 2010. Superpower Illusions: How Myths and False Ideologies Led America Astray: And How to Return to Reality. New Haven: Yale University Press. Accessed January 28, 2019. ProQuest E-book Central.
Matlock, Superpower Illusions: How Myths and False Ideologies Led America Astray: And How to Return to Reality.
President Reagan’s Speech at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, 1987. New York, N.Y. : Films Media Group, [2012], 2008. https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01182a&AN=gcu.247805&site=eds-live&scope=site .
D’Souza, Dinesh. 2003. “How the East Was Won: A Senior Reagan White House Policy Analyst Looks Back on Why Ronald Reagan Won the Cold War: With Dogged Determination and Keen Vision Informed by His Unwavering Sense of Good and Evil, Right and Wrong, Ronald Reagan Stuck to His Guns and His Complex and Often Counterintuitive Strategy to Win the Cold War without Firing a Shot.” American History, no. 4: 36. https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.106861201&site=eds-live&scope=site .