Ronald Reagan left office after directing tremendous economic growth and the collapse
of the Soviet Union. The policies of the Reagan Administration expedited the decline and downfall
of the Soviet Communist empire.
Under Jimmy Carter, America suffered demilitarization and demoralization. US military forces were inferior and according to one CIA official, "We couldn't have run a covert operation against the corner 7-11." Meanwhile, the Soviet Union continued to intensify its forces.
The Reagan administration had three main goals regarding the Soviet Union. 1st, wage an economic war that would decrease Soviet access to high technology and diminish their resources. 2nd, increase American defense expenditures so the US could negotiate on equal terms, as well as force the Soviets to devote more of their dwindling assets to defense. And 3rd, roll back Soviet power by supporting anti-Soviet factions around the world.
Western technology was critical to the survival of the Soviet Union and they did anything to get it, saving billions of dollars through espionage. Reagan restricted access to technology that the Soviets needed by signing NSDD-66 which initiated an economic 'war' between the US and USSR. Over the next 4 years the percentage of US high tech goods sold to them dropped 700%.
Two key means in reducing Soviet GNP was to decrease the price of oil and stall work on a Soviet natural gas pipeline. For every 1 dollar rise in the price of oil, the Soviets made $1 billion. To keep prices down; help the American economy, and cripple the Soviet's; America sucked up to the country with most of the world's oil, Saudi Arabia. They received AWACs planes, fighter planes, Stinger missiles, and an intensified US Rapid Deployment Force to protect them from an attack. In return, Saudi Arabia boosted production 4 fold and the price per barrel plummeted. As a result, the Soviet trade balance with the West dropped from a $700 million surplus to a $1.4 billion deficit.
The Soviet natural gas pipeline, if completed in full would have made Europe dependent on the USSR for natural gas while generating billions of dollars, to finance their military and infrastructure. Reagan was committed to block its construction, and as a result, the pipeline was a virtual failure, completed 2 years late and ½ its intended size.
In 1980, the Soviet Union occupied or influenced the red areas on this map and the US challenged them in each area. In 1982, Reagan signed NSDD-32 which became known as the Reagan Doctrine of supporting anti-Marxist regimes. In Poland the democratic, Solidarity movement was aided. In Cambodia, Vietnam, Angola, Nicaragua, Grenada and Cuba, US funds were used to oppose communism. Most importantly, the US supported the mujahdin, fighting against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Reagan was determined to turn Afghanistan into a 'Vietnam' for the Soviets by supplying the mujahdin with arms, training, and CIA intelligence. It was extremely successful and ended in an embarrassing Soviet defeat.
Reagan orchestrated a technologically intense military buildup that drove the cash-strapped Soviets into bankruptcy. Seeking a safer alternative to the Mutually Assured Destruction policy, Reagan's calling for, and steadfast support for funding of the Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI, and MX missile, had the Soviets peeing their pants. If successful, it would've rendered the Soviet arsenal nil. The mere suggestion of SDI alarmed the Soviets.
US officials worked to propagandize the Soviets into believing Reagan was a wild cowboy who wasn't afraid of 'pushing the button.' As a result, Soviet officials were afraid of Reagan. The Soviets tested him by stationing SS-20 nuclear weapons near Europe. However, Reagan stood up to their intimidation by deploying US Pershing II missiles in Germany. The Soviets flinched and removed their missiles.
Reagan's goal was to destroy the 'evil empire' of the Soviet Union and did so by: 1, decreasing Soviet technology and money; 2, investing in and restructuring the now superior US military and; 3, by reducing Soviet influence.
One KGB general said it best when he stated, "American policy in the 1980s was a catalyst for the collapse of the Soviet Union."
Revisionist historians have tried to give credit for ending the Cold War to the policies of defeated Soviet leader Gorbachev. Such credit is ironic. To the vanquished, Gorbachev, has gone the glory and to the victor, Reagan, has gone unjust criticism.
TIME:4:07 (4:41)....
WORDS: 717
PRELUDE: (Pre-Reagan)
POSTLUDE:
Irony is that to the vanquished (Gorby) goes the glory and to the victor (Reagan) goes the criticism.
REAGAN economic growth, collapse USSR
under Carter: unprepared
3 goals: econo-war. US military. Roll back
¯tech. nsdd-66. 4 years, 700%
Oil, pipeline. $1/$1B. Saudi Arabia, $700m to $1.4B
pipeline
MAP. Nsdd-32
Afghanatan = Vietnam, failure
oppose MAD.
SDI, MX
Reagan Image, USSR scared
SS-20s in Europe. Pershing IIs
Evil Empire. 1. 2. 3.
KGB General
glory / criticism
VISUAL AIDS
Thesis: The policies and socio-eco-political effects of the Reagan Administration expedited
the decline and downfall of the Soviet Communist empire.
Outline stating goals of Reagan:
1. Roll back Soviet power
2. Economic War. Decrease Soviet access to high technology, decreases money flow
3. Increase military expenditures, "Peace through Strength"
Map showing extent of Soviet Empire, 1980 & 1990
Picture of Reagan
