...Running head: THE OVERRATED RONALD REAGAN The Overrated Ronald Reagan Kirston Gardner University of Phoenix Carole Lormand September 28, 2013 The Overrated Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th president is one of the most overrated men in history. Americans did not forget all the broken promises and dishonesty they dealt with while Reagan was in office. For many reasons he would be considered a good President but there are many more reasons that he would not. Reagan’s ratings were higher than the averages of his three immediate predecessors, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon (Frank Newport, 2004). When rating Reagan, many factors show that he is indeed overrated, not only as a president but an individual as well. During Reagan’s term in office Americans faced recession, debt, high unemployment, questionable foreign policy and wasteful spending among other things. As Reagan was sworn, one of the first incidents, which were the release of the 51 hostages from the American Embassy in Tehran, occurred. It seemed as if the Iranians feared the win of future President Ronald Reagan. However, there were a few incidents that occurred prior to the inauguration of Reagan that actually set the stage for the emanate release of the hostages (United States History). The Shah of Iran died right before the presidential rae was over. Shah’s return, one of the requests in negotiations with the Iranians, was neutralized. The negotiations were now closer to closure...
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...Ronald Reagan’s influence in the collapse of the Soviet Union I. Economic Policy Economic Recovery Plan After the U.S celebrated the victory and end of WWII, two of the world’s greatest superpowers would compete to be the biggest and the greatest of all time. It would prove to be the greatest struggle of political, social, economic, and ideological polices and plans, between the U.S and the USSR, the world had ever seen. This would soon be known as the inevitable Cold War. Amongst the major struggles of the war, one man would prove to have a great influence in collapsing the Soviet empire, Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan directly contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union through his economic, political, and military polices. (Dobson, 2005, p. 4). During Reagan’s administration, the Soviet Union was facing serious economic growth and policy issues. One of the more major issues the Soviets had was in economic manufacturing. The Soviet Union dictated how many factories people could own, as well as...
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...Running head: THE OVERRATED RONALD REAGAN The Overrated Ronald Reagan University of Phoenix Carole Lormand September 28, 2013 The Overrated Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th president is one of the most overrated men in history. Americans did not forget all the broken promises and dishonesty they dealt with while Reagan was in office. For many reasons he would be considered a good President but there are many more reasons that he would not. Reagan’s ratings were higher than the averages of his three immediate predecessors, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon (Frank Newport, 2004). When rating Reagan, many factors show that he is indeed overrated, not only as a president but an individual as well. During Reagan’s term in office Americans faced recession, debt, high unemployment, questionable foreign policy and wasteful spending among other things. As Reagan was sworn, one of the first incidents, which were the release of the 51 hostages from the American Embassy in Tehran, occurred. It seemed as if the Iranians feared the win of future President Ronald Reagan. However, there were a few incidents that occurred prior to the inauguration of Reagan that actually set the stage for the emanate release of the hostages (United States History). The Shah of Iran died right before the presidential rae was over. Shah’s return, one of the requests in negotiations with the Iranians, was neutralized. The negotiations were now closer to closure. Iraq then invaded...
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...Ronald Wilson Reagan, born February 6, 1911, served the United States as the 40th president from 1981 to 1989. Reagan was the first and only movie actor elected to office. During his two-terms in office, Reagan had many accomplishments; cutting taxes, strengthened and increased national defense spending, and through foreign policy pursued “peace through strength.” (Freidel & Sidey, 2006). The primary strength Reagan possessed in office was his oratory skills, in which he was dubbed “The Great Communicator”. The presidency of Ronald Reagan corresponded with a “long period of dramatic economic growth and the beginning of a momentous change in international relations.” (Brinkley, 2002). Through legislation, Reagan stimulated the economic growth, curbed inflation, and increased U.S. employment. By cutting taxes and Government expenditures Reagan overhauled the income tax code. By which, he removed many deductions and made exempt millions of low-income people. As the end of his term neared, our nation enjoyed “its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.” (Freidel & Sidey, 2006). Another achievement of Reagan was his plan, Supply Side Economics. In a plan, he felt in order to improve the economy, the industries needed to be built up through “entrepreneurial skills” and the corporate wealth would “trickle down to the people.” (The 40th US President - Ronald Reagan). Raised in the small town of Dixon, Illinois, his parents Jack...
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...Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States of America. He served two terms in office from 1981-1989. He was also a well known actor when he was younger. Reagan was born on February 6th 1911 and he died on June 5th 2004. Ronald Reagan is one of the most popular presidents in U.S. history and you will learn about him and what he did for America throughout this paper. Reagan was a complex man with complex thoughts. Reagan was historically an opponent of all government supported health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid He wanted to help the people and find a health care program that would help that idea. Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign platform included abolishing the federal Department of Education. However,...
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...During the time of Ronald Reagan’s presidency was almost like a time of a roller coaster; a lot of up and downs. While admired by most some deeply despised Reagan, so much that there was an attempt of assassinating the 40th president. Many would agree that he benefited the United States significantly by the actions he put in to place. It is still widely practiced today it shows how beneficiary Reagan was to the country. Now was President Reagan a good or bad president? By looking at Reagan’s Economic Policies, Supply-side economics, and the attempted assassination of Reagan will determine to be called a good president. The policies that Reagan implemented in to our government had so many significant changes to the tax system of the United States. On January 28, 1981 President Reagan had lifted the remaining domestic petroleum price and allocation controls. Not only that but Reagan also lowered the oil windfall profits tax in 1988 which proved to be significant in prices. Then he followed with ending the oil windfall profits tax in 1988 proving to be a persistent president with taxes. Early in President Reagan’s presidency he followed his 1981 tax cuts with the tax reform act of 1986. What President Reagan was looking for through that act was to eliminate deductions, lower marginal rates for the wealthy, and significantly raise taxes on people earning less than $50,000. Through the tax reform act democrats Bill Bradley and Dick Gephardt offered a proposal. It was supposed to...
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...the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” - Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States. He was President from 1981 to 1989. He played a major role in ending the Cold war. He strengthened the military. To defeat the Communists he used force where as many former presidents had used appeasement. One of his speeches helped influence the destruction of the Berlin Wall. Through his domestic affairs he stimulated the economy. He enacted many tax and budget cuts. Unemployment also dropped. Both Ronald and Nancy Reagan started an anti-drug campaign. This led Ronald Reagan to pass an act with tight enforcement on drug laws that backfired. The...
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...Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States. Ronald Reagan lost the republican nomination to Gerald Ford in 1976. Reagan won the 1980 nomination and chose George H. W. Bush. Reagan and Bush ran against Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale. He was so great people began to ask if there was enough room for another face on Mount Rushmore. In 1985, the Iran-Contra Affair supplied weapons to a sworn enemy. The transactions that took place in the Iran-Contra Scandal were contrary to the legislation of the Democratic-dominated Congress and contrary to official Reagan administration policy. In 1985 Iran and Iraq were at war, Iran made a secret request to buy weapons from the United States. The scandal was almost the undoing of the Teflon President. Despite the damage to Reagan’s image, the president got off very easily. President Reagan came to the White House promising a major shift to conservative economic policies. His program included a supply-side revolution, a scaling down of wasteful government activity, lower taxes and less interference with the market economy. As a result, it was expected, the US economy would become more efficient, with faster growth and minimal inflation. Tax reductions would pay for themselves so that the budget would soon return to balance. Financial expansion did help bring down unemployment, but the administration soon learned that tax cuts led to trade and budget deficits. Though early dreams remain unfulfilled, the Reagan period...
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...On Friday October 16, 1981, President Ronald Reagan wrote in his personal diary, “Central America is really the world’s next hotspot. Nicaragua is an armed camp supplied by Cuba and threatening a communist takeover of all of Central America.” (The Reagan Diaries, 2007) For the next eight years as Commander-in-Chief, this mindset would shape his perspective on the small Third World country about the size of North Carolina. The Administration’s policies, actions, and attitudes toward Nicaragua and other perceived hostile nations became known as “Reagan Doctrine.” The defeat of the Nicaraguan Revolution became the “cornerstone of the Reagan Central American policy and the test case of Reagan Doctrine.” (U.S. Intervention in the Nicaraguan Elections and American Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era, 1992) Reagan Doctrine was not a label coined by President Reagan or his administration. It was a term used later by his critics to define his foreign policy strategy for countries around the world. The Reagan Doctrine was a strategy to aid anti-communist, or more specifically, anti-Soviet insurgencies in the Third World during Reagan’s two terms as president from 1981-1989. The primary goal was to overthrow Marxist regimes and/or prevent Marxist regimes from becoming established. Reagan wasted no time getting started in the implementation of his foreign policy. The Administration’s first comprehensive “U.S. National Security Strategy,” which was a document approved by the President...
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...service or government agency. STRATEGY RESEARCH PROJECT •» BE THE REAGAN WAY: USING LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR STRATEGIC SUCCESS BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM E. COBURN United States Air Force Reserve DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for Public Release. Distribution is Unlimited. USAWC CLASS OF 2000 U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE, CARLISLE BARRACKS, PA 17013-5050 " ■ "■"" "" 20000320 086 USAWC STRATEGY RESEARCH PROJECT THE REAGAN WAY: USING LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR STRATEGIC SUCCESS by Lieutenant Colonel William E. Coburn U. S. Air Force Reserve Dr. Robert Murphy Project Advisor The views expressed in this academic research paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or any of its agencies. U.S. Army War College CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA 17013 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited. ABSTRACT AUTHOR: TITLE: FORMAT: DATE: William E. Coburn The Reagan Way: Using Leadership Skills for Strategic Success Strategy Research Project 10 April 2000 PAGES: 22 CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified In spite of many critics who belittled his style and his presidency, Ronald Reagan is increasingly viewed as a heroic President who fulfilled his vision of restoring peace and prosperity at home and freedom abroad. The thesis of this paper is that Reagan used certain key leadership skills to succeed as President that may be...
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...Who Is Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan is the former governor of California, a former Hollywood actor, but he will most be remembered as the 40th President of the United States of America. Ronald Reagan is the most underrated President in the history of this great country. His contributions to the growth of the United States economy throughout his two terms in office are un-matched. He successfully curbed inflation and reduced government spending, ended the Cold War, fought hard against the war on drugs, and successfully survived several assassination attempts. Ending the Cold War The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in the Western Bloc and powers in the Eastern Bloc. The cold was started in 1947 and lasted until its official ending in 1991. It was referred to as the “Cold War” because instead of using actual weapons the two sides used verbal weapons in the form of information and threats. Enter Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States. Reagan was determined to end the Cold War and therefore introduced what would become known as the Reagan Doctrine. The Reagan Doctrine took the United States cold war plan into Third World Countries and provided military and economic support to various dictatorships in these countries to help aid the resistance of any revolutionary movement. He also armed oppositional armies so that they may rise up against any pro-Soviet government. The outcome of all of Reagan’s efforts...
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...Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. Reagan was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981-1989. His time in office saw a restoration of prosperity at home, with a goal of achieving peace through strength abroad. Ronald Wilson Reagan was born to Nelle and John Reagan. He went to a nearby high school in Dixon, Illinois. He then worked his way through Eureka College where he studied Economics and Sociology, played on the football team, and acted in school plays. Once he graduated, he became a radio sports announcer. An acting test in 1937 won him a contract in Hollywood. During his next 20 years appeared in 53 films. His first marriage...
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...Essay #5 – Reagan Administration POL 313 August 12, 2015 Former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th president of the United States at the ripe old of 69 in a time when both, the popularity and the faith among the American people in the office of the president was greatly impaired. Reagan’s predecessor, Jimmy Carter`s tenure concluded with many unsolved domestic and international issues that in turn presented a great opportunity for Ronald Reagan to establish himself as a transformative president who shall restore the power to the presidency. In fact it would not be incorrect to state that, Reagan capitalized on America`s desperate desire to change the status quo during his presidency. 1970s was a chaotic decade for the United States of America; stagflation, unemployment, stubborn bureaucracy, ineffective congress, and most importantly, soviet expansion and loss of Vietnam war had demoralized the public. Nixon` Watergate scandal and the overall weakening of America`s image on the international platform only added more to America`s misfortune. By the beginning of the 1980s the government was almost entirely non functional before the eyes of the public; some go as far as to say that, Carter administration was a perfect example of how America could function without a president (Milkins, 2013). It is evident that in the beginning of 1980s America mainly needed three things; reclaim its title as a powerful nation in the world, a sense of...
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...Reagan Analysis Paper Reagan Analysis Paper Introduction Ronald Wilson Reagan was the fortieth president of the United States. A two term president, he served from 1981-1989. President Reagan won a landslide victory over Jimmy Carter running on a political platform consisting of jump starting the economy and bringing inflation down. This was to be accomplished through lowering taxes and cutting government spending. Many people consider Reagan an outstanding president but this paper contends he was an overrated president. This is based on the management of three issues facing his presidency. These are: economic policies, ending the Cold War, and the Iran-Contra affair. Economic Policies Throughout Reagan’s campaign he assaulted the Carter administration’s free-spending (Moss & Thomas, 2013, pp-208-210). He made promises to cut spending, but ultimately spent more. The most common misconception is that Reagan saved our economy with his famous Reaganomics. This of course included the modern trickle-down theory or supply-side economics, which included major tax decreases, specifically on the wealthy. These tax decreases, coupled with high military spending, created a massive debt and led the country into one of the worst depressions since the Great Depression. When Reagan entered the presidency in 1981 the national debt was at $900 billion. By the time he left it had over tripled to $2.8 trillion. To top it off, many of the military projects the money was used...
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...AT WHAT PRICE VICTORY The Intra-Contra scandal was a political scandal that took place during the second term of Ronald Reagan. The involved government officials facilitated the sale of arms to Iran with the hope of releasing the American hostages held in Lebanon by a group of Hezbollah terrorists. Ronal Reagan was in support of the cause though what initially began as a strategic opening to Iran was reduced to a trade of arms for hostages. The hostages was eventually reduced and it was not until 1986 that the word had gotten out about the secret transactions. The foreign policy of the Reagan administration resulted to The Soviet Union being brought down. Reagan depressed the value of Soviet commodities, hence intensifying economic pressure, he decreased soviet access to high technology and also diminished their resources. When Mikhail Gorbechev became leader, he reformed both political and economic factors, therefore easing the tension between the Soviet Union and the US. He agreed to withdraw most of the nuclear arsenals and troops to withdraw from Afghanistan and Reagan abandoned hi Strategic Defense Initiative plans. This reforms led to Soviet Union collapsing and disintegrated into individual states. This effectively ended the world war. Advantages that US draws for Reagan’s policies, is that the Soviet Union went down and the cold war also ended. The US military was also reformed and there was a massive build up. During this time, Americans feared that the Strategic Defense...
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