Reagan's Place in History

Composed and posted on March 24, 2016

Tuffy,

Thank you for sending the information regarding the "dark side" of the Reagan presidency.  I suppose one day an enterprising group of students will confront the powers that be and demand that his name also be removed from buildings and airports.  However, I suspect that for most people they will for many years to come simply look up Ronald Reagan at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan

where they read

"Since Reagan left office in 1989, substantial debate has occurred among scholars, historians, and the general public surrounding his legacy.^[331] Supporters have pointed to a more efficient and prosperous economy as a result of Reagan's economic policies,^[332] foreign policy triumphs including a peaceful end to the Cold War,^[333] and a restoration of American pride and morale.^[115] Proponents also argue Reagan restored faith in the American Dream with his unabated and passionate love for the United States,^[334] after a decline in American confidence and self-respect under Jimmy Carter's perceived weak leadership, particularly during the Iranian hostage crisis, as well as his gloomy, dreary outlook for the future of the United States during the 1980 election.^[335] Critics contend that Reagan's economic policies resulted in rising budget deficits,^[151] a wider gap in wealth, and an increase in homelessness^[161] and that the Iran-Contra affair lowered American credibility.^[336]

Opinions of Reagan's legacy among the country's leading policy makers and journalists differ as well. Edwin Feulner, president of The Heritage Foundation, said that Reagan "helped create a safer, freer world" and said of his economic policies: "He took an America suffering from 'malaise'… and made its citizens believe again in their destiny."^[337] However, Mark Weisbrot, co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, contended that Reagan's "economic policies were mostly a failure"^[338] while Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post opined that Reagan was "a far more controversial figure in his time than the largely gushing obits on television would suggest."^[339]

Despite the continuing debate surrounding his legacy, many conservative and liberal scholars agree that Reagan has been the most influential president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, leaving his imprint on American politics, diplomacy, culture, and economics through his effective communication, dedicated patriotism and pragmatic compromising.^[340] Since he left office, historians have reached a consensus,^[341] as summarized by British historian M. J. Heale, who finds that scholars now concur that Reagan rehabilitated conservatism, turned the nation to the right, practiced a considerably pragmatic conservatism that balanced ideology and the constraints of politics, revived faith in the presidency and in American exceptionalism, and contributed to victory in the Cold War.^[342]"

Tuffy, if what you say is accurate (and I believe it is) how then do we account for the somewhat universal assessment that Reagan was the most influential president of the second half of the twentieth century?  Even your negative criticisms would seem to suggest such to be so.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

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I'm very happy to learn that you and Elis will be spending some happy moments together. The mythology of Reagan is tremendous. But when confronted with the facts his grand image crumbles.  The fact is that early in his presidency he triggered a nose dive recession by disregarding the  advice of Paul Volker who was the Chairman of the Federal reserve at the time. Volker stood up to Regan n refusing to  This led to an unemployment rate of nearly 11% up from 7.5% when he took office. Ten when Reagan followed Volker's advice the unemployment rate dropped down. At that point Republicans began crowing about an amazing Reagan recovery which was a recovery from a debacle that he had created - I was amazed to see how they could get away with such rank duplicity.  Reagan also supported the apartheid government of South Africa. The only thing that led to the freeing of Mandela was the intervention of the Cubans in the side o the MPLA faction of the Angolan resistance just as hey were abou to experience defeat in Luanda. The battle of Cuito Canavale  was the pivotal battle that resulted in the retreat of the South African army and the fear that the Cubas would pursue them into south Africa. At that point Reagan's administration  diplomat Chester Crocker negotiated a truce that saved the South African government and Mandela was freed while the wealthy whites kept control over the means of production in that country. Now they are being joined by a smidgen of greedy blacks in plundering the country and ts people. Reagan also blundered in his management of the intervention in the Lebanese civil war. This blunder based on his change in the mission of the marines from a peace keeping force to taking sides led to the death of 220 marines and 21 American service members. The there was the Iran Contra  scandal that led tothe introduction of crack cocaine into black communities. Reagan sponsored the Contras who inflicted great pain upon the people of El Salvador. This kind of intervention is partly responsible for the chaos in central America today. Reagan had no understanding of the complexity of the world. He went from one blunder to another. He was heartless and unsympathetic to the plight of ordinary people favorng he wealyhy classes. He sent a signal to the American white racist segment that he was there man and the southern strategy accelerated on his watch to replenish he ranks of the Republican party.  In the 40s and 50s he was  a snitch for the FBI secretly turning in members of the screen actors guild (SAG) of which he was the president. The US budget became unwound with the unprecedented Reagan deficits. The there was the savings and loan debacle.  Finally in this sampling of many Reagan failures there was his sponsor ship of the forces that enabled Osama  Ben Laden

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2004/06/reagans_osama_connection.html

This is a story on how he spied on the membership of and actors organization that he led.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2004/06/reagans_osama_connection.html

Reagan was an amoral,  despicable and poorly informed character who did much harm to our nation. Many of todays problems can be rotted in his administration.

Tuffy       

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Tuffy,

I plan on commiserating with my friend Ellis when he comes to the Bay Area on his quest and I hope to accompany him and his lovely Yvette when they venture into the confines of AT&T Park and O.Co.  

As for Reagan, he and Nancy created the Imperial Presidency that brought some luster to the office and gave some pride to the nation.  Also, he will always be remembered for telling Gorbachev to bring down the wall and for laying the groundwork to the dismantling of the Soviet Empire.  For those two reasons, he will arguably always have a positive historical assessment. Also, despite his Cowboy image, Reagan did know how to govern and did show some class and restraint ... unlike some contemporary Republican candidates that we have all come to know.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

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I agree Skip and I extend my condolences over your friend Ellis. An objective look at what  Obama accomplished compels a conclusion of greatness. I also think an objective look at Reagan produces the opposite conclusion. I think what Obama represents is the unraveling of the house that Reagan built.

Peace,

Tuffy   

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Today, Brother Barack took a long stride towards justifying that prize for peace that he was awarded once upon a time that now seems like so long ago. His presidential legacy is solidified.  With the financial recovery of the nation complete, American involvement in the Middle East minimized, Obamacare established, a nuclear treaty with Iran negotiated, and relations with Cuba normalized, one can begin to argue that Obama is in the upper tier of presidents going beyond Clinton and perhaps even Reagan.  He has had an amazing run.  And history may well record that for this generation, and perhaps for this century, he was indeed the "One."

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins