Republicans greatest praise of Ronald Reagan is that he ended the Cold War.

[jberryhill]

6. Yep

I had this one come up in a recent conversation with youngish low-information voter not old enough to remember Reagan. When explaining how Reagan exploded the federal budget, his response was "But he had the Cold War to deal with!"

It was the unwavering course of US policy of containment, detente and constructive engagement where possible, despite excessive blunders, over the course of 50 years, and then the disastrous Soviet adventure in Afghanistan which pateintly chipped away at that system.

But it seems kids are taught that "Reagan brought down the Soviet Union" instead of, as you put it, every president since TRUMAN.

Crediting Reagan is like the rooster taking credit for the sunrise, and really is a disservice to a long, tedious effort over decades.