Reason resurrects the great Glenn Garvin's review of Peter Schweizer's Reagan's War: The Epic Story of His Forty Year Struggle and Final Triumph Over Communism. The review is full of good stuff. Here's a snippet:
In retrospect, Reagan's point that the Soviet economy was on life support seems obvious to the point of banality. In fact, that's one of the arguments his critics use against him: that the Soviet economy would have imploded anyway, even without Reagan's defense buildup. But that's not the way foreign policy intellectuals saw it in 1982.
"It is a vulgar mistake to think that most people in Eastern Europe are miserable," declared economist Lester Thurow, adding that the Soviet Union was "a country whose economic achievements bear comparison with those of the United States." (I wonder if Thurow had ever flown on a Soviet airliner?) John Kenneth Galbraith went further, insisting that in many respects the Soviet economy was superior to ours: "In contrast to the Western industrial economies, it makes full use of its manpower."
Arthur Schlesinger, just back from a trip to Moscow in 1982, said Reagan was delusional. "I found more goods in the shops, more food in the markets, more cars on the street -- more of almost everything," he said, adding his contempt for "those in the U.S. who think the Soviet Union is on the verge of economic and social collapse, ready with one small push to go over the brink."
Few of Reagan's conservative allies thought the Soviet Union was in any danger either.
Posted by Virginia Postrel on June 07, 2004 • Comments
Sean Kinsell blogs from Japan about a Reagan legacy Americans forget. And a friend who grew up in the Philippines writes:
Like many other youngsters I sneered when he was elected to the Presidency, but gradually changed my mind, and turned around definitively after the Wall speech.
But one more testament should be added that isn't often mentioned.
He helped preside over a peaceful transition to democracy in the Philippines. His administration may have supported Marcos as a lesser evil at first. But during the crisis his government helped push out Marcos and helped to convince Marcos not to fire on the protesters. We only need to look at how horribly Tiananmen turned out to realize how fortunate it was for the Philippines that the US was there to negotiate with the Marcoses.
But as with many third world nations -- like Vietnam or Nicaragua -- the chattering classes don't care about their welfare once the US is gone. Or once ideological points have been scored. But that area of the world is safer, more peaceful and more secure for the peaceful downfall of Ferdinand Marcos.
Posted by Virginia Postrel on June 07, 2004 • Comments
The most remarkable thing about Ronald Reagan is how many people who opposed him at the time now appreciate him--not just as a person but as a political figure. Roger Simon's post I never voted for him for Governor or President but... and many of the comments that follow capture this phenomenon well.
Memeorandum has a good roundup of remembrances from blogs and other online sources.
Lou Cannon, whose biographies of Reagan are the most definitive so far, wrote an obituary for the WaPost. No Reaganite himself, Cannon has a deep knowledge of the man and his career and his obituary provides a detailed, nuanced, and fair overview.
I'll post some longer thoughts on Reagan later today.
Posted by Virginia Postrel on June 07, 2004 • Comments
On L.A. Observed, Kevin Roderick writes about the most beautiful part of spring in L.A.--the jacaranda trees in bloom--and some bone-headed local officials who decided now was the time for tree trimming. Kevin wants a photo to link to. Here's one I took today:
For the full-sized version, go here.
Posted by Virginia Postrel on June 01, 2004 • Comments