Putting a Leash on Your Friend and Walking Him - Essay Example

Ronald Reagan Introduction Was Reagan the greatest president? Ronald Reagan was born to Nelle and John Reagan on 6th February 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. He attended high school near Dixon after which he joined Eureka College where he studied Economics and Sociology. Soon after graduation, he became a radio sports journalists. In the year 1937 he won a Hollywood acting contract. The next two decades saw Reagan developed from a mere assistant actor to a famous actor in Hollywood. He appeared in not less than 53 films (Garrison, 14). Reagan had two marriages. The first was with actress Jane Wyman. They had two children, Maureen, and Michael. His second marriage was to another actress Nancy Davis, where they also had two children in the name of Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott. In the year 1966 he was elected the 33rd governor of California, he retained his office in the subsequent election of 1970 (Garrison, 23). Reagan was nominated by the Republicans as their presidential candidate in the elections of 1980. With the aid of his running mate George Bush, he stormed into the White House. It is worth noting that barely 69 days after he took the oath of office, he faced an assassination attempt. Luckily he recovered and assumed duty soon after. He served as the 40th President of the USA between the year 1981 and 1989 (Garrison, 33). CONTENT Over his tenure at the White House he made many achievements as evidenced by the many economic indexes. Reagan inherited a country that was in an imbalance as per its tax policies, unemployment, and inflation and price fluctuations. Among his most effective policies was what was to be later known as Reaganomics (Paul and Larry, 18). Reaganomics involved a mix of cross-sector tax cuts, deregulation, and domestic spending restraint. This created an economic boom that lasted more than two decades. This was characterized by a long-term and short-term effect of creating 16 million jobs. No any other president has achieved this milestone during the reign of Reagan (Paul and Larry, 19). When Reagan assumed office, the military had been downsized by the previous regimes. Under him, the military was revitalized. He created the peace through strength philosophy. Reagan re -commissioned the B-1 bomber that had been abolished by the Jimmy Carter administration. Production of the Mx missile was at its maximum production capabilities (Sheehan & Sheehan, 15). United States status as a world leader in warfare technology was affirmed by his administration when he increased troop’s level and production of the much-needed space parts. In his reign, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty was signed (Garrison, 51). The signatories were him and the then president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. This enabled the abolishment of many stockpiles of nuclear weapons hence averting the imminent outbreak of a nuclear war. Even though, this was met with a lot of resistance and demonstrations from across Europe. This treaty created the guidelines for future dealings in nuclear weapons on a global scale (Sheehan & Sheehan, 19). Reagan managed in forming a formidable coalition between fiscal conservatives, family-values voters, blue-collar Reagan Democrats, and neo-conservative intellectuals (Sheehan & Sheehan, 43). He had set the tone for future voters and coalitions. His philosophy on free-market, pro-liberty and small government resonates up to today. Many politicians of today invoke this philosophy in their manifestos, agendas, and campaigns. He helped a lot in building the political landscape, especially so for the conservative candidates. The social strata witnessed a lot of positive changes in the mid to late 80s.Voice was given to the values that had helped create America. This is thrift, hard work and important of all patriotism. Social upheavals in the 1960s and 70s that created a vice filled society were reversed by Reagan’s policies on family values and pro-life advocacies (Sheehan & Sheehan, 57). It is hard to mention Reagan without touching his influence on the cold war. This was a war that had raged for decades with many causalities especially in Vietnam. A lot of financial resources had been pumped into this cold war. It was taking its toll on the National budget. He rode to power in the midst of a bitter cold war with The Soviet Union. At the end of his time in office, the war was over. Many a historians and scholars are attributing this to his influence during his time in power (Norquist, 9). His battles against communism can be traced back to his time in Hollywood, where he was the head of screen writer’s guild. He fought, albeit successfully against a forceful takeover of the writer’s guild by communist backed individuals. At the center of his policies was a complex effort to exploit the Soviet’s weaknesses. These included: financing ,facilitating and aiding the Afghanistan resistance, reducing foreign exchange earnings by driving down oil prices and reducing gas supply to the rest of Europe by forming covert alliance with the Saudis, curtailing the Soviet’s access to western cutting-edge technology, fueling a campaign of miss-information to distract the Russian economy and political power, a massive defense spending so as to add strain to the Soviet’ dwindling economic resources, financial and infrastructural support to anti-communist states in the third world e.g. Nicaragua (Sheehan & Sheehan, 76). In the year 1982 and 1983 Reagan Instituted directives that heralded the beginning of Economic and political war against Moscow. Its target was the Kremlin’s iron grip on the satellite empire. The stage was set for the ultimate collapse of the U.S.S.R (Sheehan & Sheehan, 79). On the backdrop of these strategies, it can be seen that Reagan contributed to a larger extent to abolishing of the iron curtain. He achieved this through statesmanship, skillful diplomacy, and ingenious policies. This can be attributed to his long battles with communism, from the1940s through to the 60s radical counter-culture he opposed as California governor to the 80s as he battled against cold war as the most powerful man on earth (Garrison, 77). Mid through the 1980s America was in its biggest scandal after Watergate. On November 25, 1986 Reagan told a packed audience at the white house that proceeds from arms deals with Tehran, Iran had been channeled to buy arms for the U.S backed Contra rebels of Nicaragua to continue wedging war against the leftist government (Sheehan & Sheehan, 87). This was the exposure of Iran- contra arms deal. It was first brought to light by a Lebanese newspaper. Classified Letters sent by Oliver North to National Security Advisor John Poindexter support this claim. In 1985, Iraq was embroiled in a bitter war with Iran. The Iranians secretly approached the Americans for the supply of arms in exchange for captured American citizens who were in Lebanon and Iran (Norquist, 47). This was against an embargo restricting sale of arms to Iran. CIA director William Casey and Security Adviser Robert McFarlane were at the center of the scandal (Sheehan & Sheehan, 89). They later explained to Reagan that the sale of arms would improve relations with Iran and Lebanon which would have given America a grip on the volatile Middle East. Those who were opposed to the plans were Secretary of State George Shultz and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. With the backing of the president the deal proceeded. Part of the deal was that, they would swap 508 anti-tanks for the safe release of Reverend Benjamin Weir. After the successful dealings, the Israelis offered 500 surface to air missiles in exchange for the remaining hostages. They were being held by Hezbollah, who was loyal to Ayatollah el Khameni (Garrison, 89). The Iranian spiritual leader.1500 missiles had changed hands by the time the sales were uncovered. Soon after the expose, Reagan denied that there was such an arms deal between the countries. Seven days later he withdrew his statement and apologized (Sheehan & Sheehan, 111). He insisted that it was not an arms for hostage deal. His popularity slid downwards soon after, even after defending the dealings insisting that it was appropriate, and for the interest of the American people. In 1987, court hearings were instituted. After a protracted court case, it was found that national security advisor Poindexter authorized diversion of arms money to the Nicaraguan contra. The CIA’s Casey played a part in the scandal. He died during the proceedings His Waterloo was government debt. Numbers blew through the roof under his reign. Foreign aid more than doubled from $10b billion to $22 billion. Borrowing exceeded what Congress was able and willing to spend (Sheehan & Sheehan, 67). His supposed cuts were not necessarily on current spending but projected future spending. Its sum outcome was exponential government increase in debt. From $900 billion, it moved three-fold to $2.7 trillion (Sheehan & Sheehan, 68). This occurred over a very short time span of 8 years as compared to Carter and Ford combined who needed 31 years to triple government debt. This can be attributed to Reagan policies on the fiscal programs. In the run up to the election Reagan’s popularity rose due to his promise to cut personal income tax and business tax. On assuming office things changed. The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 changed the tax landscape of the United States. It was supposed to leverage the amount of tax upwards by $214.1 billion over a period of 5 years (Sheehan & Sheehan, 70). Prior to this, the president had backed a five-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax on the tracking industry. This shot up tax revenues by $5.5 billion per year. In 1986, the Tax Reform act was introduced. It shifted $ 120 billion from personal income tax to invisible business tax over a period of 5 years. Tax increases from 1982 through to 1989 catapulted by a cumulative figure of $1.5 trillion. This is against the expected reduction of revenues by $1.48 trillion had the tax cut policy been enacted in the year 1981 (Sheehan & Sheehan, 70). One of the greatest political contributions of Reagan was ensuring Peace through Strength. The military was weakened in the Carter years. However, Reagan reversed that by the transformation the armed forces. Reagan’s Peace through Strength philosophy was established by his revitalizing the B-1 bomber that Carter disregarded. He started production of the MX missile and asserting NATO to set up Pershing missiles in the regions around the region of West Germany. He augmented defense expenditure by over 40%, improved troop levels; moreover, he got much-needed space shares into the pipeline. Those exertions made sure that America continued as the military world superpower. Furthermore, Strategic Defense Initiative initiated by Reagan’s was disparaged by his adversaries as being technically impracticable. Nonetheless, the mere intimidation of the U.S. construction of the system was influential in the Soviet Union’s downfall. The efficient use of Patriot missile runs in the leading Gulf War attested to the opponents wrong, and the ammunition protection system that supervened reduced the intimidation of airborne weapons. In addition, Reagan facilitated the Ending the Cold War. The Cold War had exploded since the second world war and the well-known communism‘s pursuit for world command continued an existential danger to the American States as Reagan became the US president. Reagan upturned the rule of rapprochement and stood steadfast against the Soviet Union. He termed it as the Evil Territory. He told the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev to do away with the communist wall in the in Berlin. Reagan was persistent in asserting his Strategic Defense Initiative. Additionally, President Reagan assisted the rebels fighting Soviet-backed Marxists who were from Nicaragua to Angola. Those determinations were dire in the eventual breakdown of the Soviet empire and fundamentally concluded the Cold War. Moreover, Reagan’s efforts towards Nuclear weapons cuts were very instrumental in American history. Even as huge protests were held in Europe against Reagan’s belligerent position on nuclear armaments, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) agreement that Reagan signed with the leader of Soviet by the name Mikhail Gorbachev removed a whole class of atomic weaponry. Reagan also laid the outline with the Soviet leader for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that cut down both states’ arsenals of nuclear missiles. During the early stages of Reagan’s government, associates of the federal air traffic controllers union (PATCO) organized a protest that desecrated the regulations of the Federation. Announcing the slowdown a “peril to national safety,” he provided the employees an ultimatum. He reacted by ending up sacking over eleven thousands of the supervisors. That sent a resilient indication that union employees needn’t be overprotected Additionally, on the overseas matters front, President Reagan sent eight hundred U.S. Marines to Lebanon. That was in a bid to take part of a universal peacekeeping force. It was after Israel invaded that country in the year 1982. In October 1983, perverse murderers confronted the nautical quarters located in Beirut. They managed to murder two hundred and forty-one Americans. The very month, U.S president, Reagan commanded U.S. forces to lead an assault on Grenada. Grenada is one of the islands that is situated in the Caribbean. Reagan did that after Marxist mutineers ousted the government. In addition to the difficulties in Lebanon and Grenada, the administration of Reagan had to pack with a continuing combative connection between the United States and Muammar al-Gaddafi, the then Libyan leader. Leaders have different ways of managing their tenures. A good example is presidents. They follow different forms of managerial skills. Ronald Reagan is no exemption. He employed a combination of different forms, styles and skills to manage his presidency. He was a very good communicator. He was perceived as charismatic. The rankings put him among the best three in the charisma charts of the twentieth century as per the acceptance speech he gave on the assumption of office. He went beyond human imagination in his use of metaphors and symbolism thereby creating a better understanding to the points he was putting forward. Two clear examples is when he called the U.S.S.R the “evil empire" (Garrison, 91). Years later he told Gorbachev to “tear down the wall”. The evil Empire created a moral superiority of the Americas over the Soviets. Reagan knew how to appeal to the sentimental sides of his audiences. A managerial skill that was dear to his heart was the vision. Reagan was ideally a conservatism with a bright vision for the Americans. An ideology that he clearly championed for. He advocated for small government, the morality of the Americans, low tax, and individual freedom to every citizen, strong national economy and at the core of it all a strong national defense program. He built his leadership on the backdrop of failed policies by the Carter administration. He promised and eventually delivered change. (Paul and Larry, 51) He perfected the art of being humorous. He knew that smile and humor combined was the shortest way into anybody’s inner feeling. He used humor to deflect contentious questions and win difficult arguments. At one time he attacked the national Congress for not passing his bills in time by saying ‘I wonder how the Ten Commandments would look like if Moses had passed through the U.S Congress’ some of his humor underlined how he didn’t at times take matters of the state seriously (Paul and Larry, 73). A great leader is one who strikes a balance between his/her personal weaknesses and strengths, that of the nation and the organization that he is leading. A classic example is Ronald Reagan. Upon the death of 240 American soldiers in Lebanon in a failed interventionist policy he ordered the immediate withdrawal of soldiers (Paul and Larry, 93). Another president who is more hardline and with more ego would have scaled that into a full-fledged war. Reagan being the diplomat that he always was admitted his failures and abolished the mission in Lebanon. This saved American from more casualties and further budgetary spending (Paul and Larry, 121). The importance of trust between any two parties or entities cannot be overemphasized. Political obligations and mandates are built on nothing but trust. Public trust was able to be captured by Reagan’s form of leadership (Stephen, 89). He said it as it was; he was honest and straight. This endeared him to the American population. He took personal full responsibility for the bungled up, and corruption ridden contra aid controversy. This returned trust that the Americans had bestowed upon him. This was exemplified when he retired having the highest approval rating decades after the highest ever by Roosevelt. In a nutshell, Reagan’s style of leadership was different in a good way to those employed by presidents who preceded him. He was more open to the public on state matters as shown by the Contra controversy. This helped him to govern efficiently and avoid international problems (Paul and Larry, 158). Soon after Reagan’s inauguration hostages who had been held captive for 444 days were set free. They had been captured after an overthrow of the American-backed Shah of Iran by revolutionaries. The historian is of the opinion that the Iranians released hostages due to supposed peace by strength policy that was to be employed by the new president’s regime. This was viewed as a harsh policy (Norquist, 89). Other scholars are of the opinion that Reagan basked in the glory that was brought forth by negotiations and diplomatic pressure of the Carter administration in its sunset days. Conspiracy theorist is of another opinion. They believe that Reagan’s campaign staff gave Ayatollah Khomeini an irresistible offer. Arms and spare parts that he could use in his ravaging war with Iraq in exchange of the captured hostages, who could only be released after his ascent to power. True to their agreement Ayatollah released the captives to Reagan but not to Carter. Realize of hostages before the Election Day would have bolstered the approval ratings of Carter (Norquist, 98). Reagan did everything within his power to delay the freeing of hostages up to the day of the election. He made sure that a rescue operation was out of the plans by setting military officers both in service and retired to set such activities to the media. Conclusion Reagan is arguably the greatest president that has graced the white house. His high ratings at the end of his tenure strengthen this fact. Of utmost importance is his contribution to ending the cold war. He increased the influence of capitalism on the world stage at the expense of communism. His foreign policy gave the U.S many achievements on the international stage. He influenced the Middle East through his policies, military and financial support its allies. Under his tenure was the contra controversy (Norquist, 175). That coupled with the substantial increase in government debt were the two low points to his administration. However, he regained popularity and public trust in his second term through his unique style of leadership. One that combined vision, charismatic communication, flexibility and strength for peace. References Garrison, J. A covenant with all mankind: Ronald Reagans idyllic vision of America in the world, (2008). Humanitas (10667210), 21(1/2), 34-63. Norquist, G. Reagan betrayed. (cover story). Policy Review, (1997), (84), 16. Norquist, G. Reagan betrayed. (Cover story). Policy Review, (84), 16. Assessing leadership qualities. Journal of Social Studies Research, (1997), 30(1), 9-14 Paul Krugman and Larry Summers. "Inflation during the 1983 Recovery," U.S. Government Memorandum. Significantly, 1982. Sheehan, J. J., & Sheehan, O. The American presidency: Categorizing and Sloan, J. W. (1996). Meeting the leadership challenges of the modern presidency: The political skills and leadership of Ronald Reagan. Presidential Studies Quarterly, (2006), 26795-804. Stephen Moore, "Doomsday Delayed: Americas Surprisingly Bright Natural Resource Future," Report no. 118, August 1992. Lewisville, Texas: Institute for Policy Innovation. Read More