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Reagan's Foreign Policy
Reagan Doctrine
Successful, Reagan provided support to Muslim soldiers in Afghanistan who were fighting the Soviet troops. Reagan dispatched US soldiers after communists seized control of the Caribbean nation of Grenada. Reagan handed power to a social government that had taken control of Nicaragua.
Iran - Contra Affair
Unsuccessful, a failure and damaged Reagan's reputation. To liberate American hostages, US officials sold Iran armaments. The anti-Communist Contras in Nicaragua got money from Iran in secret. Reagan claimed not to be aware of the scheme, but several high-ranking officials resigned when it was revealed.
Glasnost
Successful, promoted honesty with the Soviet society. It caused the Soviet Union to fall apart and made more political freedom possible in the future.
Perestroika
Successful, brought limited free enterprise to the Soviet market. Factory managers were able to determine their production levels and farmers were able to sell their produce to markets. The US can started influencing capitalism in the Soviet Union.
Apartheid
Successful, the great majority of South Africans who are black are separated from white citizens by laws. The US urged businesses to stop investing in South Africa and boycotted South African goods. Due to the nation's isolation, America finally resumed business as usual but put pressure on South Africa to enact reforms.
Bush Sr. Foreign Policy
Panama
Successful, he dispatched US soldiers to capture dictator Manuel Noriega in Panama so that he could be charged with drugs in the US.
Persian Gulf War
Successful, launched soldiers into Kuwait and won the Persian Gulf War against the Iraqi military. For the first time, Bush fails to remove the leader. The US was participating in international cooperation for the first time.
Rate the presidents from most successful to least successful in foreign policy and explain why for each.
Reagan: His desire to engage with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and promote nuclear disarmament and détente played a crucial role in the conclusion of the Cold War.
Bush Sr: Although he did a fair job of handling the end of the Cold War, his foreign policy was marked by a number of major missteps, including how he handled the aftermath of the Gulf War, how he empowered terrorists, and how little he supported Gorbachev's reforms in the Soviet Union.
Opinion question: Based on each President's foreign policy what do you think is America's perception of each president and what do you think is the World's perception of the United States?
Bush was viewed as a capable and experienced leader in America. His foreign policy initiatives won him recognition. Reagan received recognition for his excellent approaches to foreign policy as well. But , because of the Iran-Contra scandal, he might have drawn some hostility. The US may have come under attack from throughout the world for its excessive involvement or for taking a strong democracy.
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