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While Reagan helped finish the Cold War I would not say Reagan faced a more dangerous period than Ike.
The 50's were far more tenuous. The country lived with nuke drills, fallout shelters, pretty much a heightened state of fear. In spite of that Ike oversaw a period of economic expansion that in many ways Trump wishes we would have.
Unlike Reagan, Ike's presidency was relatively scandal free. Reagan was stained by Iran-Contra.
Both were good presidents, but I think Ike would clearly win based on the sheer number of positive attributes of his presidency.
I thought this would be an interesting exercise, but it is getting more interesting to me as I think about it.
It's as if Ike and Reagan were somehow leading two different political parties.
Ironically if you compare today's far right group, by far the loudest segment of the GOP, Reagans policies would have never flown- he'd be a leftist!
History tidbit- Ike was a close advisor to Reagan from 1965 to 1968. He felt Reagan would be the best person to rebuild the GOP after the Goldwater debacle. He stressed one very important thing- seek the support of all voters.
It was a mentor-protege relationship that was hidden from even Reagans closest friends.
Ironically if you compare today's far right group, by far the loudest segment of the GOP, Reagans policies would have never flown- he'd be a leftist!
Yeah. That is true.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Threerun
History tidbit- Ike was a close advisor to Reagan from 1965 to 1968. He felt Reagan would be the best person to rebuild the GOP after the Goldwater debacle. He stressed one very important thing- seek the support of all voters.
It was a mentor-protege relationship that was hidden from even Reagans closest friends.
While Reagan helped finish the Cold War I would not say Reagan faced a more dangerous period than Ike.
I would. By the time Ike took office the security arrangements for the post war world had been made, mostly. I don't know much about the Suez crisis or what the US did to prevent Castro from taking over. There were the East German and Hungarian revolutions against communism, too. Some say Ike encouraged the latter even though the US was impotent to help it.
He did start the interstate highway system, the last great infrastructure project. He did get the Corona spy satellite system going, maybe his greatest accomplishment. Which showed that there was no missile gap vs. the USSR, a fact which was shared with JFK before his debates with Nixon and which he accused the Republicans of anyway.
By 1980 the US was in a deep hole. The 70's were our darkest decade, save the Civil War. Things were really as bad as Reagan said, at home and in the world. The USSR was on the march everywhere, taking advantage of our abdication of leadership. Our economy had triple digit inflation, unemployment and interest rates at the same time.
But against all odds and against informed opinion (almost as smug as that which now derides President Trump), the West prevailed. Reagan and the other three I mentioned stood against the storm and by their efforts freedom was preserved.
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