Reagan, Russia, and the cold war (Includes some citations)The cold war was a post-World War II struggle between the United States and itsallies and the group of nations led by the Soviet Union. Direct military conflict did notoccur between the two superpowers, but intense economic and diplomatic struggleserupted. Different interests led to mutual suspicion and hostility in a rising philosophy. The United States played a major role in the ending of the cold war. President Ronald Reagan ended the cold war with his strategic defense policies. The downfall of the cold war started when Ronald Reagan came into office in 19 ...view middle of the document...
The soviets could clearly see that when Reagan said he wanted a 'margin of safety', he meant that the United States should be superior to Russia. Moscow would not let this happen. They wanted equality.Reagan also believed that military power and respect for America abroad wereinseparable from economic strength. However, Reagan's defense policy resulted in thedoubling of the debt of the United States. He used the money for new strategic programsand for expensive conventional programs such as expanding the navy from four hundredto six hundred ships. Reagan also received increases for the CIA and other intelligenceagencies so they could aid anti-Russian forces in Afghanistan and other Third-Worldcountries.The United States of America played a huge role in the ending of the cold war. Though we made relations worse, we also helped end it. Reagan's policies made Russians very nervous.· Sources:· New Cold War documentary"In the Face of Evil: Reagan's War in Word and Deed provides a provocative look at America's final victory over Soviet communism in East Europe. Beginning ..."VFW Magazine, 1/1/05 · 1 page · More from publication· What did the cold war teach us?Nichols, Thomas M. Winning the World: Lessons for America's Future from the Cold War. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2002. 254pp. In the late 1940s ...Naval War College Review, 9/22/04 by James M. Goldgeier · 1 page · More from publication