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Ronald Reagan

In: People

Submitted By ibnuttz214
Words 462
Pages 2
Kimberly L. Hansen

03/17/2014

HIS/135

Carol Jordan

Political Commentary Interview

Week 7

My interview regarding Ronald Reagan was with my father Dennis Smith.

I asked him the following questions and these were his responses.

“When you think of Ronald Reagan and the policies under the New Right during

his time as President how effective do you think they were?”

D. Smith: “ If I remember correctly his attempt at cutting government spending as well as his attempt at downsizing the government didn't work out as planned. As a matter of fact the national debt tripled during his time in office and the government downsizing that he had in mind mainly dealt with social security and medicare cuts.” I think Reagan's intentions were on the right track but you are right his actions

helped steer us toward the recession of the 1990's.

D. Smith “That is true, Reagan was definitely a for the people president and he had a way with words, he was able to reach out to people everywhere.”

How important of a role did President Reagan play in the Cold War finally coming

to an end?

D. Smith “It is true that some of the ground work was laid out by previous presidents but Reagan was instrumental in the end of the cold war. Reagan spoke to people everywhere, proclaiming independence and freedom from communism.” D. Smith “After all he was the one that finally people to understand how important taking down the Berlin Wall was.”

What are your thoughts on supply side economics?

D. Smith “That it didn't work out so well. His original plan was that by putting in to place certain tax breaks for the wealthy they would use that money to expand businesses, in turn

creating new jobs for more Americans. That wasn't exactly the case.”

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