1980 Election

Reagan Revolution  Proactive alternative to 1970s malaise 1970s malaise  Optimistic & confident  Skillful orator (actor)  Reenergized America  Answer for stagflation…

B.) The Reagan Background  Hollywood Actor in 1937; made 53 films  Although Reagan began his political life as a Democrat, by 1962 he found his home in the Republican Party.  In 1966 he became the governor of California.  Had trouble meeting his goals for cutting the size of government  After two terms as governor, he wanted to run for the presidency  Reagan was the hero of a growing movement called the New Right.  His powerful personality, optimism, and acting skills drew many Americans—even Democrats—to his side.  Reagan’s wife, Nancy Reagan, was one of his greatest allies.

“New Right” Conservative Shift…  Scope of government should be as small as possible; “necessary evil” 1.Free market economy; minimal regulation and intervention 2.Reduce taxes; eliminate wasteful social programs 3.Cold warrior “hawks”; defense spending  Emphasize traditional moral values and Christian religion

Reaganomics  Reagan’s plan for tax and spending cuts  Two goals  Reduce taxes to stimulate economic growth  Cut the federal budget  Based on supply-side economics  A theory that says breaks for businesses will increase supply of goods and services, aiding the economy

Reaganomics  25% income tax cuts for individuals and businesses  Reduce government spending; cut social welfare programs  Deregulate private business  Raise interest rates (and limit amount of the money in circulation) to reduce inflation Initial recession then growth; Initial recession then growth; budget deficits and disparity of wealth budget deficits and disparity of wealth “Freed from the burden of heavy taxes and government regulation, American capitalism would surge to new heights.” RESULTS:

Unemployment

Income Tax Rate How does income tax rate effect the governments budget? How does this effect government spending?

Peace Via Strength  Defense spending  Bankrupt the Soviets  Massive military build-up  Challenge communism everywhere “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you that today I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes.”

Strategic Defense Initiative  Announced March  a/k/a “Star Wars”  Sought to develop a system to destroy incoming missiles

Latin America & Middle East Policy Latin America & Middle East Policy Violent civil war between Marxist guerrillas and government troops supported by armed extremist groups Reagan administration supported José Napoleón Duarte—a moderate leader who won the 1984 election. El Salvador U.S-backed Anastasio Somoza Debayle was ousted by the Sandinistas—a Marxist group. Reagan cut off aid to Nicaragua saying that the Sandinistas were backed by the USSR. Reagan then allowed the CIA to equip and train a Sandinista opposition group called the Contras. Boland Amendment: Congress banned all further direct or indirect U.S. support of the Contras Nicaragua

Island was tied to Communist Cuba Reagan sent 2,000 troops in 1983 to overthrow the pro-Cuban government 18 U.S. soldiers die Grenada Muslim and Christian groups waged a civil war. Israel invaded Lebanon to expel the PLO. U.S. sent 800 peacekeepers. A suicide bomber killed 241 marines. Reagan withdrew the troops. Lebanon

Iran-Contra Affair  1979: Nicaraguan civil war  1984: Congress banned aid Contras  US covertly sells arms to Iran; seek US hostages released in Lebanon Violated Reagan’s policy against negotiations  1987: Profits used to fund Contras; hoped to overthrow Sandinistas  How much did Reagan know? Ordered support for Contras Knew about arms-for-hostages deal Unaware of Contra funding  11 convicted & 6 pardoned by President H.W. Bush NSC Director Col. Oliver North takes the blame

Changes in the Soviet Union  Mikhail Gorbachev: General Secretary of the Communist Party,  Sought better relations with the West  Pursued internal reforms (perestroїka, glasnost).

Cold War Ends…  Causes: Mikhail Gorbachev, Afghanistan, E. Europe demands for change, massive U.S. military build-up  1987 – Reagan’s Speech at Berlin wall Speech at Berlin wallSpeech at Berlin wall  1989 – Fall of the Berlin Wall  1989 – Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Romania  1991 – USSR dissolves

George H.W. Bush Presidency Objective: Explicitly assess the George H.W. Bush presidency and draw conclusions as to his legacy

Rocky Balboa's speech after defeating Ivan Drago Rocky Balboa's speech after defeating Ivan Drago How the Cold War Really Ends

1988 Presidential Election

Keys to Victory  Reagan’s popularity benefited Bush  Reagan’s VP  Offered “kinder, gentler nation”  “No new taxes” pledge  Foreign Policy experience  Former CIA Director  Former UN Ambassador

Post-Cold War World…  “War on Drugs” intensifies  $2.5 trillion spent since 1973  Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign  Partnership for a Drug-Free America PSA "This is Your Brain on Drugs" "This is Your Brain on Drugs" "This is Your Brain on Drugs"  Emphasis on incarceration  25% increase in marijuana-related arrests; 6% decline in use  1989 invasion of Panama; arrest of Noriega  Critics argue “whack-a-mole” effect  Medellin/Cali Colombian cartels replaced by Sinaloa/Juarez cartels  Illicit drug users have increased to 19.9 million Americans Manuel Noriega convicted of drug trafficking & sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Post-Cold War World…  Pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square crushed  Tank Man Tank Man Tank Man  Thousands arrested & killed  Condemned by Bush

Post-Cold War World…  Apartheid ended in South Africa  Nelson Mandela freed; elected in 1994  Operation “Restore Hope” in Somalia

More trouble in the Persian Gulf  August 2, 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait.  Kuwait “annexed” Saddam Hussein, Aug. 8.  Aug. 5: Bush declares will wage war to restore Kuwaiti independence if necessary.

Larger dangers  Unchallenged Iraqi occupation of Kuwait threatened:  Saudi Arabia  Other regional Arab regimes  Israel  Oil interests  Iraq also possessed chemical and biological weapons.

Operation DESERT SHIELD  Goal: Protect Saudi Arabia  Begins August 7,  Thousands of troops transported by air  Millions of tons of equipment and fuel transported by sea.

Diplomacy  Bush Administration builds a coalition of 24 nations to confront Iraq:  23 countries provide naval forces; 22 ground troops; 12 provide air units  Other counties also help pay the bills:  U.S. costs about $60-70 billion – foreign contributions covered $50 billion (not counting services in kind).

The Role of the United Nations  Bush Administration uses the UN as a forum to build and maintain the coalition against Iraq.  Gets UN to impose various sanctions upon Iraq between August and November  UN Security Council authorized use of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991.

Persian Gulf War  Operation Desert Storm launched January 16, 1991 Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Storm  January 17: air operations began  February 24: ground campaign launched  February 28: ceasefire and coalition victory.

Scud Attacks  Iraq launches missiles at Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.  Coalition responds with “Great Scud Hunt,” sending planes and special operations units to locate and destroy these weapons.

“The 100-hour War”  Coalition ground forces blast through Iraqi defenses.  Highly effective artillery and air support.  Iraqi forces not as numerous or tough as anticipated.  Failure: Republican Guard divisions escape.

Assessment  Casualties:  US – 613: 146 killed, 467 wounded.  Coalition – 410: 92 killed, 318 wounded.  Iraqi – 12,000 killed, about 86,000 surrendered.  Kuwaiti independence restored.  Iraqi strategic military capability devastated.  “We’ve kicked the Vietnam Syndrome”

Problems for the future  Saddam Hussein remains in power in Iraq.