I like that people are lauding Teddy Roosevelts diplomacy. He was the past master of arm twisting with a smile. Its too early to grade GWB, but the early results are promising. Of the rest, Ike and Nixon were both good abroad and less good at home. Ike let the witch hunts get out of hand while Nixon mangled the economy. Ditto GHWB. Hoover hand Carter syndrome: overmanged everything. Cooledge was famously morose and terse, plus he was a caretaker. That leaves RR, who has a long list of accomplishments and a couuple of serious flubs.
On the whole I like President Reagan. The Deficit was largely the product of interest rates, opposition spending and the military buildup. Gulf War I showed how important the military buildup was, so grant him that one. He inherited a major mess in the economy, but through Central Banking reforms, in conjunction with Thatcher in GB and others, which resulted in declining interest rates his last six years. The Economy grew at near unprecedented rates for a decade and arguably two decades. Give him a solid B+.
Abroad, he was called the Emperor of the West for a reason. Little more need be said. He was instrumental in the breakup of the old Soviet Bloc and reestablishing the American name and influence. On the other hand he allowed Iran -Contra on his watch, as well as a list of attacks on US Military people and instillations. Give him a B.
Add in some outstanding personal intangibles, and I grade him B+ overall. No one else in the 20th Century can grade out better than C+ except TRwho I give a B-, so RR it is.
J
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When did Gorvachev come to power? 1985!
