The Legacy of Ronald Reagan

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Ronald Reagan is to this date the oldest serving president, and the effects of his presidency have affected not only the United States of America but most of the world as well. The consensus among historians is that Ronald Reagan left a lasting legacy that was a great one in numerous ways. His Reaganomics improved America’s economy greatly, and secured its future economic prosperity. He also fought communism head on and was able to end it in most parts of the world, but more importantly in Soviet Russia. However, in doing so he got wrapped up in the Iran-Contra Affair, which will forever be tied to his name in a negative regard. Within America, Reagan was able to improve society such as his success in curbing the use of illegal drugs. Ronald Reagan is often times cited as the best president the United States has ever had, due to his relentless attacks on communism and illegal drug use in America, even with his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair.

Ronald Reagan was tremendously successful in his pursuit to end communism around the world, and to stop the “evil empire” that he believed was the Soviet Union (General Article: Reagan Quotes). There are many ways in which Ronald Reagan was able to put a stop to communism. To begin, in 1982 he enacted secret national security directives (NSDDs) that would neutralize Soviet influence and control in the world (Edwards). This was another way to stop communism and even attack it as well. Even more effective, Reagan instituted his famous Strategic Defense Initiative to end the Cold War, but also to curb the influence of communism as well (Edwards). He strongly believed that these defensive missiles would be successful in “making nuclear missiles obsolete” (D’Souza). Reagan’s SDI was not...

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