While I am not a full supporter of Reagan and especially Reaganomics, I do give him credit for forcing Gorbachev to open up the USSR. The biggest factor, IMO, is information technology. If the USSR tried to maintain its Orwellian control of the people, it would slip into third world status.
He did engage with Gorbachev, true, which is where the credit comes from when he actually abandoned brinkmanship. Although even then, the internal factors with the Soviet Union overrode all. Especially the war in Afghanistan which was a bloody drain on lives and resources.
On another note, what was Kennedy's likeliness for re-election to a second term? I recall reading somewhere that having to appear in Texas meant he was in trouble, but I'm unsure of how accurate that is.
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