Ronald Reagan - The Cold Warrior
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The document discusses President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as "Star Wars", which proposed using ground-based and space-based systems to protect the US from nuclear ballistic missiles. SDI shifted US strategy from mutual assured destruction to strategic defense. Though never fully implemented, SDI research paved the way for modern anti-ballistic missile systems. The Soviets did not pursue their own program but instead pursued arms reduction treaties. Under Reagan, US military spending and the national debt increased substantially.
Ronald Reagan - The Cold Warrior
- 4. Tear down this Wall Under the assumption that the Soviet Union could not outspend the U.S. government in a renewed arms race, Reagan used words and money to escalate the Cold War.
- 6. The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), commonly called Star Wars after the popular science fiction movies, was a system proposed by President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983.
- 7. Strategic Defense Initiative SDI would use ground-based and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles.
- 8. The Death of D辿tente The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the previous strategic offense doctrine of mutual assured destruction.
- 10. The Death of D辿tente Though it was never fully implemented, the research and technologies of SDI paved the way for the Anti-ballistic missile systems of today. The technology required to implement SDI is still being researched in the U.S., and it is currently in testing with stations in Alaska and islands in the Pacific Ocean.
- 12. Arms Reduction The Soviets did not attempt to follow suit with their own program, but instead followed a program of arms reduction treaties.
- 14. 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 1975 1978 1980 1983 1986 1989 in billions Military spending increased under Reagan
- 15. 0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000 1970 1975 1980 1985 1988 The national debt tripled under Reagan