How to evaluate Reagan can live up to history?

Former US President Reagan passes away

Ronald Reagan is indeed a legendary president of the United States. He was the president who was the oldest when elected and lived the longest life; he broke down the fatalism saying that "a president who was elected in the 'double 10th' year was bound to die in his position". He created the "Reagan economics" though he had never majored in economics.

During this writer's stay in the United States, the Americans, particularly the Republicans, highly praised Reagan whenever they talked about him, saying that he was an "indicative figure" in Washington. According to traditional Chinese moral standard, the name of the deceased should be regarded as taboo, but realistically speaking, only a comprehensive evaluation of Reagan can live up to history and not let down the futurity.

Reagan vowed to "bury Marxism-Leninism", and undermine "evil empire"

In his foreign policy, Reagan was a "perfect and typical Cold War fighter", he would contribute money and dispatch troops to support whatever was directed against communism, the then Nicaraguan anti-communism guerrilla forces had the financial aid from Reagan in various fields. Westerners admitted that the stains in Reagan's ruling career were what was called the "Iranian Gate" scandal, he was involved in secret and illegal sales of American weapons to Iran in order to financially aid the Nicaraguan anti-communism guerrilla forces.

Reagan took the lead in calling the former Soviet Union as the "evil empire", the "evil center of modern world". George W. Bush later dubbed countries offensive to the Americans' eyes as "the axis of evil" and "evil countries", a mere parroting act. Reagan mobilized all resources of America and even of the West as a whole for "Cold War" against the then Soviet-led socialist camp. Ten months after he stepped down, the Berlin Wall collapsed. Soon afterwards, the Soviet Union was disintegrated. The Americans lauded Reagan as a hero who "successfully pulled down the evil empire".

However, the break-up of the Soviet Union was a nightmare for most Russians, Russia, successor to the Soviet Union, was reduced from a "world superpower" to a second-rate country, the living standards of the general public of Russia experienced a sharp drop. After the death of Reagan, a senior Russian historian pointed out that Russians held contradictory views on Reagan, people said that Reagan was a "man hard to have dealings with", only former Soviet President Gorbachev said Reagan was a "great president". He felt deeply grieved over the passing away of Mr. Reagan.

Reagan was the initiator of "Star War"

After Reagan came to power, he put forward the "Reagan military principle" featuring "multi-level deterrence" and "new flexible reaction", aimed to enhance US military strength. He considerably raised military spending, which boosted US annual budget for national defense to an all-time high of over 1 trillion US dollars, thus opening up a precedent for subsequent high national defense budget of the Republican-led government.

Reagan's body in Washington for state funeral

The highly praiseworthy "Reagan economics" has long been the focus of debate among American scholars. During his term of office, Reagan pressed forward his "economic recovery plan", he advocated reducing the size and power of the government, cutting down tax revenue, lowering inflationary rate and diminishing social welfare. His economic idea was taken as the classics for the Republican Party. Bush energetically imitated Reagan in economic policy. Reagan hoped to reduce the size of the government, but actually at the end of Reagan's term of office, the size of the American government expanded instead of being downsized. US national defense expenditure climbed by 35 percent, and its budgetary deficit rose by nearly 300 percent, reaching a record high of 5 percent in US GDP.

Reagan in Kissinger's writings

Reagan was almost completely ignorant of history, the part he knew was all borrowed from all around to support his firm prejudice. He regarded the major battle between the good and the evil mentioned in the Bible as a prediction to today's world. Many historical anecdotes he often quoted are completely inconsistent with commonly known facts. When you were talking with Reagan, you would sometimes think of this question: why someone suggested that he should serve as governor or even president. But as a historian, he must make clear the following point: why such a man of limited talent and wisdom could govern California for eight years, and later control government affairs in the White House.

Reagan's knowledge about history and international politics was indeed unworthy of compliments, and yet he liked to play on such related subjects. Comments in this regard also often appear in books written by others. A senior advisor to Reagan once said whenever Reagan received foreign leaders or on other international occasions, his followers broke into a sweat with fright for him, fearing that he would give a "shocking remark" and thus make the situation out of hand. Others said the so-called "Star War" program was born of the rich imaginative power of this president who had the experience in Hollywood previously.

Reagan in the eyes of the Arabs

On April 15, 1986, the incident of explosion in a West Berlin disco ballroom led to the deaths of three persons including two American soldiers. The United States confirmed the explosion was done by Libyans. For a reprisal, Reagan ordered US Air Force to bomb Libya. US fighter planes bombed Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli, capital of Libya and another city, which resulted in the deaths of over 40 people, including Gaddafi's adopted daughter of only 15- month old, Gaddafi's two sons and his other relatives were injured. While reporting the news about Reagan's death, Libyan news agency pointed out that Reagan and former British Prime Minister Mrs. Margaret Thatcher jointly launched an "unsuccessful invasion" of Libya.

By People's Daily Online