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Ronald Reagan Strategic Defense Initiative Essay

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Ronald Reagan (40th President, 1981-1989)
Ronald Reagan's presidency from 1981 to 1989 was marked by a visionary approach that transformed American politics and foreign policy. With staunch conservatism at the forefront, he played an instrumental role in navigating America through a crucial period of the Cold War. At home, he advocated for limited government and free-market principles while pursuing significant initiatives such as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and military expansion. The INF Treaty signing was among notable events during his tenure alongside major controversies stemming from Iran-Contra Affair controversy outbursts. Reagan's legacy will forever be remembered due to his resolute determination which helped reshape both …show more content…

His administration adopted a tough stance towards the Soviet Union and called it the "evil empire," advocating for significant military expansion. The resulting Cold War escalation heightened tensions between these superpowers and laid the groundwork for more confrontational tactics. One critical proposition was Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), commonly known as “Star Wars,” which focused on creating missile defense to shield against nuclear strikes. While SDI remained unfulfilled, its proposal carried extensive ramifications concerning U.S.-Soviet ties. Reagan’s negotiation with Mikhail Gorbachev over Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty helped them eliminate intermediate-range nuclear weapons while also taking steps toward arms control - another noteworthy occurrence during his tenure. However, controversy surfaced when Iran-Contra Affair revealed how his government illegally sold weaponries in Iran & diverted funds into anti-Sandinista forces in Nicaragua leading heavy criticism at home front …show more content…

foreign relations and impacted the Cold War. His tactics consisted of boosting military spending while applying pressure on the Soviet Union to confront and scale back their influence - which led to a more aggressive approach during this era because coupled with his anti-communist rhetoric was evident in several key events. One such event includes The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), proposed by Reagan aimed at developing missile defense systems as protection against potential nuclear attacks even though it wasn't entirely realized; its effects altered interactions between U.S.-Soviet relationships influencing debates about practicality/implications for subsequence actions. Furthermore, arms control negotiations yielded results under negotiation resulting in INF Treaty signing eliminating intermediate-range nuclear weapons marking significant relaxation towards curbing armaments & improving connections among nations. However, supporting Afghanistan rebels fought against Soviets' impact negatively affected state affairs following incidents related to Iran-Contra Affair- illegal weapons sale/breach diverting funds designed primarily for aiding pro-Sandinista insurgents created political instability leaving negative marks throughout Obama's administration years after enactment thereof heightened emotional turmoil still lingering today

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