Reagan Analysis Paper

Reagan Analysis Paper

HIS/145

November 17, 2014

Julie Snyder

Reagan Analysis Paper

On January 20th, 1981 Ronald Wilson Reagan became the 40th President of the United States. While serving two terms in office President Reagan, the first conservative in office in over 50 years was both loved and hated. For the purpose of this paper, three different topics regarding incidents that took place are discussed. First, the assassination attempt on President Reagan that took place on March 30, 1981 (Sifakis, 2001). Second the Iran-Contra affair that undercut President Reagan’s popularity (Busby, 1999). Lastly, supply-sided economics better known as Reaganomics is discussed. Known as the “Great Communicator” Reagan was loved by many and disliked by few (Sigelman & Whissell, 2002).

Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-contra affair arose out of an attempt to barter the release of U.S. hostages that were being held in the Middle East. The National Security Council (NSC) that was in place under the Reagan administration was attempting to sidestep the congressional limitations that had been implemented to limit aid to the Nicaraguan guerillas (contras). However, the Reagan administration was in favor of supporting the contras due to them being a better alternative to the Marxist Sandinistas. As a result of the passing of the Boland Amendment in 1982 the only aid that was allowed was humanitarian and barred any funding that would aid in the upheaval of the government (Busby, 1999).

The plan was set in motion by both the NSC advisor John Poindexter, and the CIA director William Casey. The plan they presented to President Reagan, as well as his advisors, was thus, through the use of private arms dealers as well as Israel, the U.S. would sell arms to the Iranians above cost. In return for these, the U.S. wanted Iran to pressure the terrorist to free the U.S. hostages. The profits that were made from the sale of the arms would then be secretly sidetracked to the contras to...