The Reagan Administration and Revolutions in Central America
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4287997 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Walter Lafeber (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1984 |
| Volume | 99 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 1-25 |
| Publication date | 1984-03-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Political Science Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0032-3195 • E-ISSN: 1538-165X |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/2150256 |
| OpenAlex | W2312952141 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
Recent U.S. presidents have won office less for having proved their talent in governing than for an ability to soothe. These presidents have resembled clergy welcomed by a tragedy-stricken family. Richard Nixon's mysterious plan for peace helped him defeat Vietnam-tarred ticket led by Hubert Humphrey. Jimmy Carter's non-Washington background seemed a welcome relief after chicanery of Watergate and Nixon pardon. Ronald Reagan offered both congeniality (a welcome contrast to Carter's up-tight insecurity) and a soothing traditionalism that promised triumph of nation's past over complexities of its future. In no foreign policy area has Reagan's traditionalism been more apparent than in America. And no area needed more attention. His ambassador to United Nations, Jeane Kirkpatrick, warned in early 1981 that Central America is most important place in world for United States today. Many North Americans seemed to share that view, at least in 1980. Reagan consequently ran on a Republican platform that deplored the Marxist Sandinista takeover of Nicaragua and Marxist attempts to destabilize El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The plank condemned Carter's offer of aid to Nicaraguans. The platform then warned of possible future action: However, we [Republicans] will support efforts of Nicaraguan people to establish a free and independent government.' Arguing that foreign devils and ideologies were to blame for Nicaraguan troubles, these words ignored reality. If
Administration (probate law) · Blame · Economic history · Foreign policy · Government (linguistics) · Humanities · Ideology · Marxist philosophy · Plank · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Traditionalism · Tragedy (event) · Cuban History and Society · History · Law · Philosophy · Politics and Society in Latin America · Public Administration
| Citations per year | 0.11 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1988 - 2023 (36) |
| Highly cited | No |