By: MICHELLE PARK
Staff Writer
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States and a well-known Republican who had previously been an actor. He implemented Reaganomics, a federal government policy that aimed to stimulate growth through tax cuts, but it reduced Americans’ access to resources and everyday life. Additionally, he proposed measures to increase military spending, cut certain social programs, and deregulate businesses. By 1983, the national economy had begun to recover and continued to flourish during his tenure. However, his policies led to a budget deficit and a significant national debt due to tax cuts, which favored wealthy individuals and exacerbated the gap between rich and poor. Reagan also played a significant role in foreign policy, establishing diplomatic relations with Soviet Union leader and reformist, Mikhail Gorbachev, and signing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987. This agreement eliminated intermediate-range nuclear missiles and helped to prevent the development of more powerful nuclear weapons, ultimately contributing to the end of the Cold War. Overall, Reagan’s political advocacy brought both disruption and prosperity to his people and nation.