JACKSON, Tenn. — Oct. 23, 2018 — Cold War historian Melvyn Leffler said Ronald Reagan鈥檚 mastery of friendly diplomacy was his single greatest contribution to ending the Cold War.
Leffler, the Edward Stettinius Professor of American History at the University of Virginia, was the keynote speaker at the 22nd annual Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lecture Oct. 22 at 51社区, speaking on 鈥淩onald Reagan and the End of the Cold War.鈥�
He said some historians and political scholars disagree as to whether or not Reagan had a strategy to end the Cold War or to win it, but most agree that his interactions with the Soviet Union were decisive in bringing the conflict to an end.
鈥淏y seeking to engage the Kremlin and end the Cold War, Reagan helped to win it,鈥� Leffler said.
He said while Reagan can be a personally impenetrable figure, records indicate that he was driven by a desire to avoid Armageddon, and he saw clear, open communication and negotiation with Soviet leaders as a way to end the nuclear arms race.
鈥淣egotiation was more important than intimidation,鈥� Leffler said. 鈥淩eagan鈥檚 emotional intelligence was more important than his military buildup.鈥�
He said Reagan was dealing with a new kind of Soviet leader in Mikhail Gorbachev, but it was to Reagan鈥檚 credit that he realized this. He said Reagan was superb at dealing with people with whom he negotiated, putting them utterly at ease.
鈥淩eagan was Gorbachev鈥檚 indispensable partner, setting the groundwork for the dramatic changes that neither anticipated happening when Reagan left office,鈥� Leffler said.
Leffler answered questions and signed books following the evening lecture. He also gave an afternoon lecture titled 鈥淗arry Truman and the Origins of the Cold War.鈥�
The Carls-Schwerdfeger History Lecture Series brings leading historians to Union each year. This year鈥檚 lecture celebrated the 65th anniversary of Union鈥檚 chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society. The chapter won its 16th straight Best Chapter award this year.