In 1988, George HW Bush was elected. By the end of his singular, caretaker term, the Soviet Union was no more.
Praise was lauded on his and the previous Reagan administration for straining the Soviets with their military build up and bringing about the end of the Red Menace.
Few people in 1988-1991 thought the end was so near. Most saw the strains that the USSR was facing, and thought the end of the Cold War was near. But the total and absolute demise of the USSR was unexpected, especially by the Bush White House, who had been putting all of their eggs in the Gorbachev basket.
The Bush White House attempted to treat the Soviet Union as a new partner on the world stage, the 'New World Order' originally being US-USSR cooperation on international issues.
How would this all differ with Democrats in the White House?
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Would the Reagan Administration still get so much credit?
Would a Democratc support Gorbachev as much as Bush did?
Is there a chance that the New Union Treaty or a different agreement saves some of the structure?
Would NATO be preserved?
Could the fall be used by a Democratic administration to open up to Cuba?