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Loper, Brittney Kevin McDonald AP English Language Composition 13R April, 2012 Ronald Regan Ronald Reagan was elected for his second term in 1985. During his term, the cold war had started and the Iran Contra affair happened. Even though he ended the cold war, should he be remembered as the president ending it or admitting to the Iran scandal? His second term cast a dark could on his whole presidency. The scandal began as an operation to free six American troops being held by terrorist. It was planned that Israel would ship weapons Iran and the U.S would resupply Israel and their payment. When the scandal soon surfaced to congress, Reagan admitted the sales. But he issued a finding, which is legal in supporting his case. Reagan decided to issue this finding to override lawful constraints. He decided to reveal his case to congress when it broke out (Baughman, par.3). He was trying to keep this case undercover because he knew that this was wrong. Reagan shouldve been impeached for this because he tried to cheat by issuing this finding legal. He also destroyed the original finding because it would be politically embarrassing to him (Baughman, par.3). Lawrence E. Walsh was the investigator for this far-reaching investigation. He knew every senior cabinet member involved in the foreign policy, which of whom lied to cover up their and the presidents knowledge about that scandal. In his final report, he concluded the officials deliberately lied to congress and to the public about supporting this illegal plan. Reagonomics was his economic plan that he created. The plan was for significant reducing at which individuals and job corporations were to be taxed. It called a 30 percent tax across the board and a ten percent tax per year for three years. He also proposed to cut many of the social programs designed to help the poor, this included welfare for children,

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institutionalization and custodial care for the mentally ill and financial aid for unemployment. The impact of Reaganomics was immediate for the poor people in America. Bread lines and soup kitchens resembling those seen during the great depression of the 1930s began to spring up throughout the country (Shuman, p.20). Many people died from extreme weather due to sleeping in public parks or wherever they could find shelter. In 1986 the Tax Reform act altered the distribution of federal taxes .The top tax was lowered from 50 percent to 20 percent then the bottom rate was simultaneously increased (Fisher, p. 1). Reaganomics made an impact but not so much a good one. During his second term, a sea change was created in foreign policy (Bryne, p. 17). There was little to no doubt that Reagans willingness to engage Gorbachev was a critical step toward an ending to the Cold War (Pach, p.6). Reagan proved a dominant factor in ending the cold war. He was well- liked for though due to his ability to engage to leaders worldwide. In one of his speeches he gave he said We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace (Reagan, p.6). This speech encouraged world peace to them. Reagan will be remembered as ending the cold war. Overall, Reagan has had problems through his presidency, but which president hasnt had problems? But his wrong doings cannot be forgotten. During his time, he shouldve been impeached during the Iran Contra Scandal. Therefore his second term shadowed his time in office.

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Works Cited Bryne, Joseph. Ronald Reagan. The Eighties in America. Ed. Milton Berman. Salem Press, 2008. Salem History Web. 08 Dec. 2011. Fisher, Patrick. Tax Reform Act of 1986. The Eighties in America. Ed. Militon Berman. 3 Vols. Salem Press, 2008. Salem history Web. 09 Dec.2011. Pach, Chester. Reagan, Ronald Americans at War. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 4: 1946-Present. Detroit, 2005. 172-174. Gale Virtual Reference library. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. Ronald Reagan. Remark at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin. Annals of America. Web. 08 Dec. 2011. Shuman, Baird. Reaganomics. The Eighties in America. Ed. Milton Berman. 3 Vols. Salem Press, 2008. Salem History Web. 09 Dec. 2011.