The Cold War ended most unexpectedly in 1989-1990 with a U.S. victory. Many in the U.S.- including an overwhelming majority of the American people- give Ronald Reagan the credit for the
outcome. His strong attacks on the Russians made them realize, it is said, that this time they weren't dealing with a U.S. President who- like Carter- they could push around. Realizing this, they caved. As a British writer put it, "Ronald Reagan was successful in his dealings because he was right all along--- He believed that if the United States put forth its strength- military, material,
& moral- the Soviet Union could not live with it. And he was right."* Others give the credit to
Mikhail Gorbachev & the changes he ushered in to the U.S.S.R. & the Soviet bloc. Although I per-
sonally am in the latter camp, I nonetheless here ask-
Did Reagan(& his tactics)win the Cold War for the U.S.?
*- Godfrey Hodgson, THE WORLD TURNED RIGHT SIDE UP, p. 270 of the 1996, paperback edition.
outcome. His strong attacks on the Russians made them realize, it is said, that this time they weren't dealing with a U.S. President who- like Carter- they could push around. Realizing this, they caved. As a British writer put it, "Ronald Reagan was successful in his dealings because he was right all along--- He believed that if the United States put forth its strength- military, material,
& moral- the Soviet Union could not live with it. And he was right."* Others give the credit to
Mikhail Gorbachev & the changes he ushered in to the U.S.S.R. & the Soviet bloc. Although I per-
sonally am in the latter camp, I nonetheless here ask-
Did Reagan(& his tactics)win the Cold War for the U.S.?
*- Godfrey Hodgson, THE WORLD TURNED RIGHT SIDE UP, p. 270 of the 1996, paperback edition.