Turning Points-Actual and Alternate Histories: The Reagan Era from the Iran Crisis to Kosovo

by Rodney P. Carlisle (Editor), J. Geoffrey Golson (Editor)

Overview

This fascinating work is a series of explorations of key events in the adminstrations of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, each of which speculates on what might have happened if events had unfolded differently.

The Reagan Era explores a time that saw the rise of the political conservatism that has dominated U.S. politics in recent years, as well as the end of the Cold War, which drove American foreign policy for nearly a half century.

What if Jimmy Carter had successfully navigated the energy shortage and the Iranian hostage crisis? What if the assassination attempt on Reagan had succeed? What if Iran–Contra had not become a scandal? These are among the specific topics examined in

the book, which looks at 11 crucial events and speculates on the effects of alternative outcomes. By showing how easily the world might be different, The Reagan Era reveals the lasting impact of that era's defining moments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781851098859
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/26/2007
Series:	Turning Points-Actual and Alternate Histories
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Rodney P. Carlisle, PhD, is professor emeritus of history at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, and vice president of History Associates Incorporated, Rockville, MD.

J. Geoffrey Golson is president and editor of Golson Books, Ltd., Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

Table of Contents

Contributors     xi
Introduction     xiii
The 1980 Election     1
Turning Point
What if Jimmy Carter had been more successful in his first term and was reelected in 1980 to a second term?
Introduction     1
Turning Point     7
Actual History     8
Alternate History     16
Discussion Questions     20
Bibliography and Further Reading     21
Reaganomics     23
Turning Point
What if support for supply-side economics had not developed and stagflation had led to a depression in the 1980s?
Introduction     23
Turning Point     28
Actual History     32
Alternate History     36
Discussion Questions     40
Bibliography and Further Reading     41
Euromissiles     43
Turning Point
What if the Soviets had overreacted to U.S. installation of new missiles in Europe?
Introduction     43
Turning Point     50
Actual History     51
Alternate History     55
Discussion Questions     58
Bibliography and Further Reading     58
Shooting of the President     61
Turning Point
What if Reagan hod died from his bullet wound and GeorgeH. W. Bush had become president?
Introduction     61
Turning Point     63
Actual History     67
Alternate History     72
Discussion Questions     75
Bibliography and Further Reading     76
"Tear Down This Wall, Mr. Gorbachev"     77
Turning Point
What if Soviet politics had stopped Gorbachev's reforms and Soviet troops had reinforced hard-line regimes?
Introduction     77
Turning Point     85
Actual History     90
Alternate History     96
Discussion Questions     101
Bibliography and Further Reading     102
The Gorbachev Coup     103
Turning Point
What if the anti-Gorbachev hard-liners had led a successful coup in the Soviet Union?
Introduction     103
Turning Point     108
Actual History     110
Alternate History     116
Discussion Questions     122
Bibliography and Further Reading     123
Iran-Contra Affair     125
Turning Point
What if Oliver North hod succeeded in his arms-hostages deal and used funds for an anti-Castro coup in Cuba?
Introduction     125
Turning Point     132
Actual History     133
Alternate History     138
Discussion Questions     143
Bibliography and Further Reading     143
Roe v. Wade     145
Turning Point
What if Reagan had appointed Supreme Court justices who had unraveled parts of Roe v. Wade?
Introduction     145
Turning Point     152
Actual History     154
Alternate History     157
Discussion Questions     161
Bibliography and Further Reading     162
George H.W. Bush     163
Turning Point
What if George H. W. Bush had been reelected in 1992 and a second Iraq war had been fought in the 1990s?
Introduction     163
Turning Point     169
Actual History     171
Alternate History     176
Discussion Questions     178
Bibliography and Further Reading     179
The Persian Gulf War     181
Turning Point
What if Israel had attacked in retaliation for Scuds launched by the Iraqis?
Would the Arabs have withdrawn from the Coalition?
Introduction     181
Turning Point     185
Actual History     189
Alternate History     194
Discussion Questions     198
Bibliography and Further Reading     199
Kosovo      201
Turning Point
What if Russia had reacted to the U.S./NATO alliance by coming to Serbia's aid?
Introduction     201
Turning Point     211
Actual History     213
Alternate History     214
Discussion Questions     217
Bibliography and Further Reading     217
Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate     219
Iran-Contra: The Underlying Facts     225
Chronology of the Reagan Era     237
Resources     245
Index     249