Ronald Wilson Reagan : biography

At the day of Reagan’s funeral, according to the order of president George Bush all government institutions and state departments didn’t work. Exception was made to the Ministry of Defense, governmental department, the Minister of Justice and internal security, which provided “national security, defense and other social aims”.

After the ceremony of mourning the coffin with the 40-th USA president’s body, covered with American flag, was delivered by plane to a military base in California, where on the 12 of June in 2004 at sunset the last mourning actions were held. There was a salute from 21 guns. Nearly 720 members of Reagan’s family and relatives took part in the ceremony. Among them were the former Prime Minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher, a governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor Thom Selleck and a singer Wane Newton. After the mourning a catafalque made a 40 kilometers way to the presidential library, where the body was buried. During this route crowds of people stood on the edge of the road. After the mourning gun and cannon salute and the prayer a national flag, that had been covering the coffin, was rolled with a special way in a triangle and was given to the widow Nancy according to the American tradition.

Heritage

After Reagan left the post of the president in 1989 scientists, historians and public were discussing and arguing about meaning of Reagan’s governing. Former president’s followers pointed on more effective and prosperous economics after Reagan’s politics, triumpths of international politics, one of which was the end of the Cold War, recovering of the American pride and moral. All these things happened after eight years of Reagan’d presidency. Critics claimed, that Reagan’s economic politics led to budget deficit, increase of social inequality, growth of homeless number, undermining of trust to USA. In spite of continuing arguments, according to the results of public opinion poll Reagan takes the first place of popularity among other American presidents.

In spite of continuing arguments about his heritage, many scientists of conservative and liberal trend agree that Reagan was the most influential American president since Franklin Roosevelt’s time. Reagan left his imprint on American politics, diplomacy, culture and economics. Since he left his post, historians have come to an agreement. As s British historian Hill concluded, that historians agree that Reagan restored conservatism, turn the nation to the right wing, led very pragmatic conservative politics on the base of balanced ideology and political limits, revived faith to the president and self-esteem of American people and made contribution to the victory of the Cold War.

The Cold War

The Cold War was the main political and economical effort during more that four decades, but the opposition between two superpowers dramatically lowered by the end of Reagan presidential term. The importance of Reagan’s role in the end of the Cold War causes long and stubborn arguments. Some role of Reagan in the fall of the Soviet Union is admitted, but the level of his participation is continued to be disputed. Many people consider, that Reagan’s defense politics, firm line in negotiations with USSR and communism and meetings on the high level with the general secretary Gorbachov played a considerable role in the end of the war.

Reagan was the most notable in the row of postwar presidents, who ware convinced, that USSR would be sooner defeated than USA would manage to make an agreement. The opinion, that Reagan didn’t play any role in the end of the Cold War or that his role was very little, is being defended with equal arguments. Infernal weakness of communism was obvious, and the Soviet Union would fall independently. The politics of deterrence, which was led by president Truman, is also considered to be the force that led to the fall of the Soviet Union. And intrusion in Afghanistan also undermined soviet system.

The Republican Party

Ronald Reagan gave a new state to the Republican Party, he became a leader of modern conservative movement and changed USA political dynamics. More and more people voted for the Republican Party, which was headed by Reagan, and Reagan himself appealed to religious feelings of electors. As a result of his presidency a new stratum of so-called “Reagan’s democrats” appeared.