Ronald Reagan & His Presidency Rise to prominenceRise to prominence “Reaganomics”“Reaganomics” “Star Wars” and Defense Spending“Star Wars” and Defense Spending Iran Contra AffairIran Contra Affair

Iran-Contra Affair

Ronald Reagan & His Presidency Rise of Mikhail GorbachevRise of Mikhail Gorbachev –Perestroika –Glasnost 1989 – Fall of the Berlin Wall1989 – Fall of the Berlin Wall

Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate, June 12, 1987

Ronald Reagan & His Presidency Major Accomplishments (1) Economic recovery(1) Economic recovery (2) End of the Cold War(2) End of the Cold War

Times of Change (1) End of “Eastern Block”(1) End of “Eastern Block” (2) Expansion of NATO(2) Expansion of NATO

Tiananmen Square Massacre, June 4-5, 1989

According to John Quincy Adams (our 6 th President), nations should not go “… abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.”According to John Quincy Adams (our 6 th President), nations should not go “… abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.”

U.S. Military Intervention / Backings Nicaragua Revolution – Nicaragua Revolution – Invasion of Grenada – Oct., 1983Invasion of Grenada – Oct., 1983 Afghanistan War – 1979 to 1989Afghanistan War – 1979 to 1989 Invasion of Panama – Dec., 1989 – Jan., 1990Invasion of Panama – Dec., 1989 – Jan., 1990

10 Persian Gulf War, Aug. 2,1990 – Feb. 28 Purpose: (1) Push Iraq out of Kuwait (2) Prevent an invasion of Saudi Arabia

Timeline of the War – “The 100 Hour War” Cessation of hostilities declared, 8:01 a.m., Feb. 28 (12:01 a.m. Eastern). Allied ground assault begins, 4 a.m., Feb 24 (Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Eastern time). “Operation Desert Storm” air war phase begins, 3 a.m., Jan. 17, 1991 (Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Eastern time) Initial Air Phase: 38 days Ground Phase: 100 hours 11

Why did we not go on to Baghdad? 12 Trying to eliminate Saddam, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guideline about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in "mission creep," and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs. While we hoped that popular revolt or coup would topple Saddam, neither the U.S. nor the countries of the region wished to see the breakup of the Iraqi state. We were concerned about the long- term balance of power at the head of the Gulf. George H. W. Bush and Brent Scowcroft A World Transformed, 1998 (Chapter 19 )

Why did we not go on to Baghdad? 13 We would have been forced to occupy Baghdad and, in effect, rule Iraq. The coalition would instantly have collapsed, the Arabs deserting it in anger and other allies pulling out as well. Under the circumstances, there was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles. Apprehending him [Saddam Hussein] was probably impossible. We had been unable to find Noriega in Panama, which we knew intimately. George H. W. Bush and Brent Scowcroft A World Transformed, 1998 (Chapter 19 )

Why did we not go on to Baghdad? 14 Furthermore, we had been self-consciously trying to set a pattern for handling aggression in the post-Cold War world. Going in and occupying Iraq, thus unilaterally exceeding the United Nations' mandate, would have destroyed the precedent of international response to aggression that we hoped to establish. Had we gone the invasion route, the United States could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land. It would have been a dramatically different -- perhaps barren – outcome. George H. W. Bush and Brent Scowcroft A World Transformed, 1998 (Chapter 19 )

1992 Presidential Election Economic DownturnEconomic Downturn “New Democrat”“New Democrat”

Bill Clinton & His Presidency “Tech stocks & rise of the Internet”“Tech stocks & rise of the Internet” NAFTA (agreed under George H. W. Bush), implemented under ClintonNAFTA (agreed under George H. W. Bush), implemented under Clinton

Bill Clinton & His Presidency Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993

Bill Clinton & His Presidency Health care effort diesHealth care effort dies Sex scandalsSex scandals –Monica Lewinsky –Paula Jones ImpeachmentImpeachment

2000 Presidential Election One of the most controversial elections in U.S. HistoryOne of the most controversial elections in U.S. History

Infamous Butterfly Ballot