Reagan Administration

Headed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989, the Reagan Administration was conservative, steadfastly anti-Communist and in favor of tax cuts and smaller government. It also liked to think of itself as supportive of business interests and being tough on crime. During its two term tenure, it saw the release of American hostages in Tehran, an attempted assassination, economic recovery, increases in military spending to fight the Cold War, and a tripling of the national debt. The administration declared a renewed war on drugs, but was criticized for being slow to respond to the AIDS epidemic. One of Reagan's most controversial early moves was to fire most of the nation's air traffic controllers who took part in an illegal strike.

Related Topics:
Ronald Reagan - 1981 - 1989 - Conservative - Anti-Communist - Tax - Business - Crime - Tehran - Assassin - Cold War - National debt - War on drugs - AIDS - Air traffic controller

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Instead of détente, the administration confronted the Soviet Union through arms reduction treaties, increased military spending, and supporting anti-communist rebel groups. Proposed programs, such as the Strategic Defense Initiative sought to outspend the USSR. Many Reagan supporters credit the Reagan administration with winning the Cold War, although critics claim the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union may have been due to internal problems as well.

Related Topics:
Détente - Soviet Union - Strategic Defense Initiative

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Some foreign interventions, such as the one in Lebanon, ended in failure, while others, such as the invasion of Grenada, were successful. Involvement in the Iran-Iraq War at times favored Iraq, believing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was less dangerous. The Administration also engaged in covert arms sales to Iran in order to fund anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The resulting Iran-Contra Affair became a scandal to which Reagan professed ignorance. A significant number of officials in the Reagan Administration were either convicted or forced to resign as a result of the scandal.

Related Topics:
Lebanon - Grenada - Iran-Iraq War - Iraq - Saddam Hussein - Iran - Contra - Nicaragua - Iran-Contra Affair

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However, by the end of the Reagan Presidency, strong approval (64% of the nation) indicated that the administration had indeed recovered its image among the American public. As time grew, the reputation of the administration only continued to climb so much so, that most Americans today (mainly conservatives and moderates and to a lesser extent liberals) cite the Reagan years as a glorious time.

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