My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

In the last episode of the series, we ask the question of where Reagan fits in today's politics, given that parties have shifted so much since his Presidency. We also summarize the series, and ask new questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting with the Reykjavik Summit of 1986 and a fly on the wall view of the events there, we look at the pro-Reagan and anti-Reagan arguments regarding his role in the ending of the Cold War, and try to capture everything Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A TV show affects Reagan deeply. The question is often asked if Reagan won the Cold War. Usually, the only period examined is Reagan's second term. But if one looks at Reagan's first term, we see a perhaps unproductive stance and an unpopular hawkish stance that terrified many Americans and some allies, and was not helping to thaw the cold. Had the Presidency ended in 4 years, no significant progress could have been claimed. Yet one could aslo say Reagan was building a strategy while his adversaries had aging and sometimes ill leadership, and a few light moves were made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That's the State's Rights amendment, right? Ask just about anyone about the Tenth Amendment and they will say "States." States rights, powers, protections, limits to the Federal government. And they are right. Partially. But the Tenth contains words at the very end reserving powers: to the states or to the people. The last part is hardly ever discussed and has not been significantly litigated. But it seems illogical to ignore it, and understanding it could be the key to applying the amendment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Answering listener questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices