Blog 9- Reagan's Diplomacy
Reagan's Diplomacy
During the time Reagan gave the “Evil Empire” speech, he was making the Cold War relationship worse by acting aggressively toward the Soviet Union; hinting that they were evil communists without God. He also criticized the Soviet Union for its use of military and how it can’t afford to keep using weapons. Reagan’s Evil Empire Speech states, “By late 1991, the Iron Curtain fell, and the Soviet Union ceased to exist. While experts continue to debate Reagan's role in ending the cold war his foreign policy was undoubtedly bold and innovative” (Document 12 1). This evidence states that even though the Soviet Union stopped, it was hard to decide whether the President’s approach was well thought out or not.
The Iran-Contra affair was a “secret plan to sell anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Iran in exchange for Iran’s assistance in arranging the release of Americans being held by Islamic terrorists in Lebanon” (The Iran-Contra Affair 1). Even though this plan was to help release Americans, it was wrong for many reasons. First, it “contradicted the administration’s publicly stated policies of refusing to negotiate with terrorists” (The Iran-Contra Affair 1). Secondly, this plan was hidden from the Government and president which broke many laws.
The Brandenburg Gate speech that was given by Reagan in Berlin is thought to have provoked the Soviet Union. The main message of this speech was to remind the USSR to keep its promise of allowing the German people to have freedom. “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate” (Remark on East-West Relations at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin 3).
In conclusion, during Reagan’s reign of presidency, he got caught up in many scandals. Did Reagan help or hinder U.S Foreign Policy in the 1980s?
If former president Reagans effect on foreign policy was good or bad, is not a simple yes or no. While he had a negative impact, such as with the Soviet Union, he also had a positive impact like with his Brandenburg Gate speech. With the Soviet Union, he didn’t help relations as he was constantly attacking them- such as his “Evil Empire” speech. “The Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the
ReplyDeleteonly morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution.” Reagen, Evil Empire Speech. However, as mentioned before, he also helped US foreign relations by denouncing the Berlin wall, “But I must confess, we're drawn here by other things as well: by the feeling of history
in this city, more than 500 years older than our own nation; by the beauty of the Grunewald and
the Tiergarten; most of all, by your courage and determination.” Reagan, Brandenburg Gate speech.
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DeleteFormer president Ronald Reagan had a harmful effect on U.S. Foreign Policy during the 1980’s. From the beginning, Reagan was never in the market for making friends with the Soviet Union and other communist nations. He fervently stated in his “Evil Empire” speech that the USSR would be “on the ash heap of history” (YAMP 29). Reagan would also launch several campaigns against Communist countries such as El Salvidor and Nicaragua by funding militant groups wanting to remove their governments. This would lead to several atrocities by the gorilla forces such as one instance which caused “the slaughter of almost one thousand civilians at the village of El Mozote” (YAMP 29). Overall, President Reagan had a negative effect on many countries, and as a result, hindered U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1980’s.
ReplyDeletePresident Reagan hindered U.S foreign policy in the 1980’s because of his inability to befriend with the Soviet Union. Reagan focused on reversing the spread of communism, even if communism was under control by the Soviet Union. The “Evil Empire” speech was a way of him showing his disapproving towards the Soviet Union. “I would agree to a freeze if only we could freeze the Soviets’ global desires” (Reagan, the Evil Empire speech). All this leads to to Reagan having negative effects on not only with the Soviet Union, but many other countries.
ReplyDeleteBy calling the Soviet Union an "evil empire", Reagan negatively affected U.S. Foreign Policy. “His militant anticommunism and Soviet aggression markedly increased Cold War tensions” later creating the largest military build-up in U.S. history (Reagan, the Evil Empire Speech). He had authorized the deployment of nuclear missiles in five NATO countries leading to an increase in terrorist attacks. During his second term, Reagan came to terms with the Soviet Union abolishing half of their nuclear weapons and later selling weapons to Iran in return for U.S. hostages (Reagan, the Evil Empire). The Iran-Contra money funded military aid to the Contras to conquer communist countries. All of these actions contradicted the U.S. Foreign Policy.
ReplyDeleteFormer President, Ronald Reagan had a negative effect in the U.S. Foreign Policy. Reagan Did not try to befriend the Soviet Union. In Reagan's speech the "Evil Empire" he states "I ask you to resist the attempts of those who would have you withhold your support for our efforts, this administration’ efforts, to keep America strong and free"(Reagan, the Evil Empire.) Reagan is saying resist the soviet's idea to keep America free and strong. With President Reagan in a scandal against the Soviets Union the U.S. Foreign Policy was hindered with the disagreement between the US and the Soviet Union.
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