Questions about Reagan

[LBJ Revivalist]

1) Who were the most important figures in Reagan's administration and/or most influencial?

2) While Reagan's relationship with Gorbachev is well known--''Tear down this wall'', and their various summits, I am curious--What was Reagan's relationship or foreign policy toward the USSR during from 1981-1985, basically his relationship with Breznev, Andropov and Chernenko ?

3) I've often heard it mentioned that Reagan seriously considered making fmr. President Gerald Ford his running mate in 1980--any truth to this? If it's true do you think it would've effected the election's outcome in any major way?

4) Why did Reagan continue to keep a generally friendly relationship with China, even though they were communist?

5) An opinion question--Do any of you think George H.W. Bush was a bad pick for Vice President, and if so who in your opinion would've been a better pick?

6) Can someone give me a general overview of his/actions/foreign policy/domestic policy during his first term? It seems that while his second term is well known, because of his ending of the Cold War, his first term is much less discussed.

Just curious..Reagan's presidency fascinates me as there really isn't any true objective sources on it--It's either from the point of view of those who HATE him or those who LOVE him. I'm not ''asking for help with homework''--I am generally curious as to some facts of Reagan's presidency.

[Bo]

1. Some important figures were Bush Sr., Howard Baker, James Baker, Donald Regan, Colin Powell, and David Stockman. There must be some I am missing, but all those were pretty important.

2. Reagan's relationship with Brezhnev, Andropov, and Chernenko was strained, mostly due to Reagan's rhetoric (such as calling the U.S.S.R. "the Evil Empire" or predicting the collapse of Communism in 10 years in a speech to the British Parliament in 1982) and due to Reagan's increased defense spending and Star Wars (missile defense shield) idea.

3. There is truth to this statement. The reason Reagan did not pick Ford was because Ford wanted Cabinet posts for Henry Kissinger and some other allies of his and because Ford wanted to have a large amount of governing power as VP (essentially a co-presidency). If Reagan would have picked Ford, it would not have impacted the election in any way and Reagan would still win in a massive landslide.

4. Reagan continued being friendly to China because they were Communist in name only and because he was very close and supportive of big business. China's economy was already capitalist at this time and big businesses wanted to invest in China, and thus Reagan strove to maintain good relations with China. Also Reagan was friendly to China since he wanted to use China as a counterweight to Soviet power and influence in Asia.

5. I think Bush Sr. was a decent pick for VP. He didn't really have any downsides, other than being uncharismatic, but Reagan's charisma more than compensated for this. However, I think Gerald Ford, Bob Dole, or Howard Baker would have been a better pick.

6. Reagan cut taxes for everybody (including the rich) in his first term. In foreign policy, he proposed Star Wars and also funded anti-Communist groups in Afghanistan, Nicaragua, and several other countries. Also, Reagan invaded Grenada in 1983 since their new govt. was pro-Soviet and wanted to allow the Soviet Union to build an airport there (Reagan feared a repeat of the Cuban Missile Crisis) as well as because there were many American students stuck in Grenada. BTW, Reagan did not end the Cold War, which did not even end under his watch. The Cold War ended in either late 1989 or late 1991 depending on which way you look at it. Reagan was already out of office by both of those dates.

Hope this information helps.

[WillK]

1)  Bush Sr., William Casey, Don Reagan, James Baker

2)  Confrontational.  He increased defense spending particularly on projects targeted at the USSR such as deploying new missiles in Europe and pushing for the development of "Star Wars".  This increased tensions with the soviets. 

3) Dont think it would have changed the election but might have changed the dynamic of the administration. 

4) It was a continuation of the Nixon approach -- take advantage of the split between China and USSR.

5) Not sure how to answer, since it depends on what you mean by 'bad'.  He was influential in the Reagan administration and it set him up to become president.  But in my opinion he was a bad president. 


6)

Domestic: 
- In the first year of the term, Reagan was shot;
- Country went through severe recession during most of his first term -- worst US recession of post World War II until the most recent one; by half way into his term, opinion polls put his popularity at 35%;
- Reagan pushed legislation through congress to cut taxes and increase defense spending leading to chronic structural deficits.


Foreign: 
- Confrontational attitude with the USSR
- Intervened in Lebanon resulting in deaths of US marines from terrorist attacks and decision to withdrawal
- In effort to distract from embarrassment of Lebanon, he invaded Grenada.
- Provided  support to insurgents in Nicaragua and supported various other right wing military forces in central and south america, including putting Manuel Noreiga on the CIA payroll
- Provided aid and support to the anti-USSR fighters in Afghanistan, helping get the Taliban started.
- Sent the Navy to patrol the coast of Libya, leading to confrontations. 
- Terrorism was an issue -- several planes were hijakced during this time as well as embassy and nightclub bombings in Europe and the Middle East.  Claimed he would not negotiate with terrorists then went and negotiated with terrorists.

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He didnt end the Cold War.

1) Who were the most important figures in Reagan's administration and/or most influencial?

2) While Reagan's relationship with Gorbachev is well known--''Tear down this wall'', and their various summits, I am curious--What was Reagan's relationship or foreign policy toward the USSR during from 1981-1985, basically his relationship with Breznev, Andropov and Chernenko ?

3) I've often heard it mentioned that Reagan seriously considered making fmr. President Gerald Ford his running mate in 1980--any truth to this? If it's true do you think it would've effected the election's outcome in any major way?

4) Why did Reagan continue to keep a generally friendly relationship with China, even though they were communist?

5) An opinion question--Do any of you think George H.W. Bush was a bad pick for Vice President, and if so who in your opinion would've been a better pick?

6) Can someone give me a general overview of his/actions/foreign policy/domestic policy during his first term? It seems that while his second term is well known, because of his ending of the Cold War, his first term is much less discussed.

Just curious..Reagan's presidency fascinates me as there really isn't any true objective sources on it--It's either from the point of view of those who HATE him or those who LOVE him. I'm not ''asking for help with homework''--I am generally curious as to some facts of Reagan's presidency.

[WillK]

Both GPORTER and Angela Merkel brought up Grenada but not Lebanon.   The way I remember it, Lebanon was a bigger deal.

[Bo]

Both GPORTER and Angela Merkel brought up Grenada but not Lebanon.   The way I remember it, Lebanon was a bigger deal.

The reason I mentioned Grenada but not Lebanon is because Reagan actually invaded Grenada while just sending peacekeepers to Lebanon. However, since you were alive in the 1980s (unlike me), I will trust your word about Lebanon being a bigger deal back then.

[WillK]

Both GPORTER and Angela Merkel brought up Grenada but not Lebanon.   The way I remember it, Lebanon was a bigger deal.

The reason I mentioned Grenada but not Lebanon is because Reagan actually invaded Grenada while just sending peacekeepers to Lebanon. However, since you were alive in the 1980s (unlike me), I will trust your word about Lebanon being a bigger deal back then.

I remember Grenada as being quick and uneventful.  There were few casualties, it last like 2 weeks, and there wasnt much controvery.  The reasons for it seemed flimsy; but it worked so well, so no one really cared, and it happened so fast there wasnt much time for any political opposition.

Lebanon was almost the exact opposite -- it seems to go one longer than it should and was tragic in events and results.  The conflict between Israel and the PLO was in news a lot so we were aware of the situation in Lebanon; US got involved and Marines were sent in, and the navy bombarded parts of Lebanon from off shore. But  the goal of the mission was unclear.  The embassy got bombed at some point but the big moment was when trucks full of bombs were driven into the Marine barracks.  The number of Marines killed in one attack shocked the country and to became an issue for the democrats in congress to go after Reagan.  The total number of marines in Lebanon was never very big, but that seemed part of the problem -- there were enough to make them vulnerable to bomb attacks but not enough to really do anything.  In Grenada the US had gone in with a large force and quickly taken out all opposition.  In Lebanon they didn't seemed to be doing anything except sitting as targets for suicide bombers.