'Politics of the 1980s Essay\r'

'The 1980s were marked by the election of Ronald Reagan to the presidential office. The re manan Party had succeeded in gaining control of the Senate for the first time since 1954 (Spartacus Educational, 2007). Conservatism, the ideals and goals of the new Republican president, began to change politics, religion, and the economy of the get together States. Reagan had many visions that appea conduct super to mixer conservatives. This paper will discuss the political issues during the Reagan administration.\r\nDuring the presidential campaign of 1980, a highly captious event was occurring under chairwoman James Carter. In the conflict between Iran and Iraq, several Americans had been move outn surety by Iran. President Carter was attempting to negotiate the release of the hostages. Is successful, this remove could prove dangerous to Reagan’s campaign. After Iraq invaded Iran in September 1980, Carter proposed a deal with Iran that would provide much needed parts and equipment in exchange for the American hostages. Because of the large amount of media coverage, President Carter was unsuccessful in this attempt.\r\nRonald Reagan, however, was able to promise Iran that they would receive the parts and equipment, provided that the hostages were released. Reagan win the election against Carter. The hostages were released after Reagan was sworn into office. Reagan gained the public’s confidence by being successful where Carter could non be: getting the hostages released and returned home. William Casey, appointed by Reagan as CIA director, arranged delivery of the equipment and parts to Iran. All the promises that were make to Iran, by Reagan, had been fulfil take. Unfortunately, Iran now had the means to make attacks against the United States (Spartacus, 2007).\r\nReagan’s political goals appealed to the social conservatives of the nation. Unfortunately, Reagan’s social goals did not gain as much general attention as his stinting and military goals. Regan seek to cut taxes and increase military spending (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nReagan’s main goal was to weaken big brass by using a supply-side economic theory. By implementing a huge tax cut, the economy would be stimulated enough to enter tax revenues. Critics argued that economic expansion would be slowed greatly. Reagan chose higher employment and weakened unions as methods to combat inflation (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nReagonomics, the term utilise to describe Reagan’s economic policies, eventually led to a ceding back (Davidson et al, 2002). Big corporations had to unwillingly flag regarding wages and work conditions. Ultimately, the interactions between the aspects of Reagan’s policies caused conflict. Weidenbaum (1997) express:\r\nâ€Å"M onenesstary restraint was the key to unwinding inflation, as well as precipitating sharp recession. Recession, in turn, delay the beneficial effects of the tax cuts on enthronement and pushed the budget deficit to unprecedented heights…Ironically, it was the principle of tax cuts unmatched by spending cuts that fright the Fed into a tighter monetary insurance policy. The subsequent recession caused serious budgetary imbalance.”\r\nIn addressing his military goals, Reagan chose to raise the spending budget. Reagan’s desire was to create a force that could act against threats of Communism world-wide, on its own. This was a task not easily carried out previously (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nThe largest increases of the military spending budget were allotted for expensive nuclear weapons system. The defense planners of the Reagan administration brought back the antinuclear peace treaty movements with Europe and America. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) had the shoot for of establishing a projectile defense system that was to be based in space.\r\nEven though the economic aspects of Reagan’s political goals were conflicting with each other, the public’s confidence was still concentrated. Reagan’s promotion was so sound that it seemed impenetrable. Reagan easily won the 1984 presidential election (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nReagan adopted the same attitudes toward foreign policy as the rest of his political agenda. Reagan was a strong believer that the United States should stand tall and proud. Unfortunately, increase problems overseas proved that maintaining order was quite problematic.\r\nReagan, in trying to help a war torn region gain peace, sent American members of the Marines to Lebanon. The American peacekeepers were soon forced into the centerfield of a elegant war. Terrorists blew up a U.S. military barrack, killing 241 people. The President ordered the troops to leave immediately (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\n maturement problems in other nations were occurring as well. By the middle of 1985, there were two major problems that demanded immediate a ttention. â€Å"First, intercourse had forbidden support of the Contras in Nicaragua. And second, Iranian-backed terrorists continued to compass American hostages in Lebanon” (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nControversy soon took control. Reagan had put in a way to negotiate the release of the hostages in Lebanon. If the U.S. sold Iran a few weapons, they might, in turn, behave Lebanon to release the hostages. In a year’s time, there had been four mysterious shipments of weapons to Iran. Only one hostage was released. This exchange of weapons for hostages was not only a failure, but completely contradictory to the President’s solemn promise to never pay a ransom to terrorists (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nMeanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and NSA Advisor Robert McFarlane had ascertained a way to secretly aid the Nicaraguan Contras. McFarlane was able to convince Saudi Arabia to deposit a large amount of money into a nest egg account where it could indeed be laundered. Oliver North then spent the money on weapons that were sent by Central America (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nBecause information of the two secret operations had been leaked, there were hearings held. The scandal had been named â€Å"Irongate,” comparing it to Richard Nixon’s scandal. The hearings soon ended. Reagan’s improving relations with the Soviets helped to make confidence once again (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nIn 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev entered the Kremlin. In December 1987, Reagan met with Gorbachev to sign the Intermediate Nuclear force back treaty, in which both sides would destroy any intermediate-range nuclear missiles with ranges of 600 to 3400 miles. Both sides agreed to on-site inspections of any missile bases (Davidson et al, 2002).\r\nWith the presidential election of 1988 growing near, Reagan could now take credit for the positive results of relations with the Soviets. George H.W. Bush, the Vice President, seemed to be the rightful Republican heir. â€Å"Bush vowed a continuation of Reagan’s policies and in foreign affairs he was as aggressive as his predecessor” (capital of South Carolina Encyclopedia, sixth edition; 2007).\r\nAs a conclusion, Lawrence Kudlow (1997) stated:\r\nâ€Å"It was Ronald Reagan who led this Revolution, who established this new higher ground, who provided us with the spirit, the vision, and the pass map which is today still being followed by the most successful politicians on the world scene.”\r\nReferences\r\nColumbia Encyclopedia, 6th edition. (2007). â€Å"United States.” New York: Columbia University press out; 52958 pgs.\r\nDavidson et al. (2002) Nations of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American Republic, third edition, Vol. 2.\r\nKudlow, L. (1997). â€Å"Reagonomics: What Worked? What Didn’t?” Keynote Address delivered to the Center of the American Experiment. [electronic] Accessed at http://www.kudlow.com/pdfs/ Reagonomics.pdf\r\nSpartacus Educational. (2008). â€Å"Ronald Reagan.” Accessed at http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAreagan.htm\r\nWeidenbaum, M. (1997) â€Å"Reagonomics †Its Remarkable Results.” Christian cognizance Monitor, December 18, 1997. Accessed at http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/1997/12/18/opin/opin.2.html\r\n'