https://www.veritaswiki.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ronald_ReaganRonald Reagan - Revision history2026-10-19T19:51:09ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.3https://www.veritaswiki.org/index.php?title=Ronald_Reagan&diff=690&oldid=prevHuhu: New encyclopedia entry (batch upload)2026-10-06T06:59:08Z<p>New encyclopedia entry (batch upload)</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>'''Ronald Reagan''' was an American statesman and actor who served as President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He pursued a programme of tax cuts, of deregulation, and of military strength, and he played a central part in the end of the Cold War.<br />
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== Early Life and Acting Career ==<br />
Reagan was born in 1911 in Tampico, Illinois, and grew up in modest circumstances. He worked as a radio announcer and then as a film actor in Hollywood.<br />
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He appeared in more than fifty films and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild. He was a liberal Democrat in his early years and became a conservative after the Second World War.<br />
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He entered politics and was elected Governor of California in 1966. He served two terms and gained a national reputation as a conservative spokesman.<br />
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== The Presidency ==<br />
Reagan was elected President in 1980 and took office in 1981. He was shot in an assassination attempt within months of his inauguration, and he recovered fully.<br />
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He introduced a programme of supply-side economics, with large tax cuts and increased military spending. The programme was called Reaganomics.<br />
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He appointed Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, the first woman to serve on it. He also appointed a number of conservative judges and sought to reduce the size of the federal government.<br />
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== The Cold War ==<br />
Reagan took a firm line against the Soviet Union, which he called the evil empire. He increased defence spending and deployed intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe.<br />
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He proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, a system of defence against ballistic missiles. The programme was criticised as unrealistic, and it contributed to the pressure on the Soviet economy.<br />
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He later negotiated with Mikhail Gorbachev and signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987. The treaty eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons.<br />
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== Iran-Contra and Later Years ==<br />
The Iran-Contra affair involved the secret sale of arms to Iran and the diversion of the proceeds to the Contras in Nicaragua. The affair damaged his presidency.<br />
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He left office in 1989 with high approval ratings. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994 and died in 2004.<br />
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He was the oldest person to serve as president until the election of Joe Biden. His wife, Nancy Reagan, was a close adviser and a champion of the campaign against drug abuse.<br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
Reagan is credited with restoring confidence in the American economy and with the revival of the conservative movement. His economic policies are debated by economists.<br />
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His role in the end of the Cold War is a matter of debate among historians. He is regarded as an effective communicator and as a symbol of American optimism.<br />
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He was known as the Great Communicator. His speeches and his personality shaped the politics of the 1980s.<br />
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== The Early Political Career ==<br />
Reagan was elected Governor of California in 1966 and served two terms. He dealt with student protests, with welfare reform, and with the state budget.<br />
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He ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1976 and narrowly lost to Gerald Ford. He won the nomination in 1980 and defeated Jimmy Carter in the general election.<br />
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His campaign emphasised economic growth, a strong defence, and the reduction of government. He promised to restore American confidence at home and abroad.<br />
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== The Economic Programme ==<br />
The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 reduced income tax rates and indexed them to inflation. The programme was based on the theory that lower taxes would stimulate growth.<br />
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The inflation rate fell sharply, but the budget deficit increased because of the tax cuts and the defence buildup. The national debt rose substantially.<br />
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The Federal Reserve, under Paul Volcker, had already begun to bring inflation under control through high interest rates. The combination produced a severe recession and then a strong recovery.<br />
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== The Cold War and Arms Control ==<br />
Reagan increased defence spending and deployed Pershing missiles in Europe. He called for the abolition of nuclear weapons and proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative.<br />
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His first term was marked by tension with the Soviet Union, which he described as the focus of evil in the modern world. After the accession of Mikhail Gorbachev, he engaged in a series of summits.<br />
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The Reykjavik summit of 1986 came close to an agreement on deep cuts in nuclear arsenals. The INF Treaty of 1987 eliminated intermediate-range missiles.<br />
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== Iran-Contra ==<br />
The Iran-Contra affair involved the sale of arms to Iran and the diversion of proceeds to the Contras in Nicaragua. The operation violated the prohibition on funding the Contras.<br />
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The president denied knowledge of the diversion, and an independent counsel investigated the matter. Several officials were convicted, and some convictions were later overturned.<br />
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The affair damaged the administration but did not destroy the president's popularity. He apologised to the nation and promised to restore the integrity of his office.<br />
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== Assessment ==<br />
Reagan is credited with the revival of the American economy and with the restoration of national confidence. His policies are debated by economists.<br />
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His role in the end of the Cold War is disputed. Some argue that his policies accelerated the Soviet collapse, while others emphasise the internal weaknesses of the Soviet system.<br />
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He is remembered as a highly effective communicator and as a symbol of American optimism. His name is associated with the revival of conservatism.<br />
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== See also ==<br />
* Reaganomics<br />
* Cold War<br />
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== References ==<br />
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<ref name="r1">Cannon, Lou. President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.</ref><br />
<ref name="r2">Reagan, Ronald. An American Life. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1990.</ref><br />
<ref name="r3">Brands, H. W. Reagan: The Life. New York: Doubleday, 2015.</ref><br />
<ref name="r4">Meese, Edwin. With Reagan. Washington: Regnery Gateway, 1992.</ref><br />
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[[Category:Politics]]<br />
[[Category:History]]<br />
[[Category:United States]]</div>Huhu