Reagan’s Strategy, Policies and People

Casey Institute, Hoover Institution Reveal Real Causes of the Evil Empire’s Demise:

Reagan’s Strategy, Policies and People

On 22 February, the William J. Casey Institute of the Center for Security Policy and the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace convened an elegant luncheon and symposium in Washington in response to revisionist misrepresentations like CNN’s "Cold War" series. In contrast to Ted Turner’s multi-million dollar paean to moral equivalence, the Casey-Hoover event showed that the Soviet Union was indeed an Evil Empire and that the extraordinary achievement of bringing about its collapse was neither an accident nor inevitable. Rather it was, in no small measure, the result of a concerted, deliberate and principled strategy to liberate the peoples enslaved by Soviet Communism crafted and executed by President Reagan, his Director of Central Intelligence, Bill Casey, and other principals of the first Reagan Administration’s national security team.

The Casey Papers

The luncheon featured introductory remarks by Herbert Hoover III, Chairman and Board of Overseers at the Hoover Institute. Hon. Edwin Meese III, former Counsellor to President Reagan, Attorney General, and recipient of the Casey "Medal of Honor," then spoke eloquently of the legacy of William J. Casey. Mr. Meese praised Bill Casey’s distinguished service to his country in many capacities, including: one of the leaders of the secret war against Adolf Hitler in the Office of Strategic Services; Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission; Chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank; Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs and, of course, as Ronald Reagan’s Director of Central Intelligence. Mr. Casey’s daughter, Bernadette Casey Smith, then offered a moving tribute to her father, and was joined by Mrs. Sophia Casey, in formally presenting her husband’s personal papers to the Hoover Institution.

The Casey papers constitute a rich collection, documenting half a century of key events in American history, many of which were shaped by this man of unique talents — whether employed on behalf of the national security or on Wall Street. The Casey collection now will become a permanent part of the Hoover Institution Archives — the largest private repository in the world on social, economic, and political change.

The Reagan Role in the Evil Empire’s Collapse

A riveting panel discussion followed the luncheon to consider the topic of "The Fall of the Berlin Wall: Reassessing the Causes and Consequences of the End of the Cold War." Participants — both on the dais and among the more than three hundred scholars, policy practitioners, senior fellows, industry leaders, and members of the press in the audience — included a sizeable number of those who played pivotal roles in securing the successful conclusion of this triumphant "Twilight Struggle."

The afternoon session was moderated by the Institute’s William J. Casey Chair, Hon. Roger W. Robinson, Jr., who also made opening remarks. Mr. Robinson was formerly Senior Director of International Economic Affairs at the Reagan National Security Council, and was a lead participant in formulating the economic dimensions of the comprehensive secret strategy employed by the President and his national security team to defeat and destroy the Soviet Union.

The scene was further set for the discussion that followed by one of the Hoover Institution’s distinguished fellows, Peter Schweizer, who authored Victory, one of the most historically accurate — if "politically incorrect" — studies of the end of the Cold War. Mr. Schweizer described the Reagan plan for denying Moscow Western life support and put fatal stress on its fragile economy.

Another senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Hon. Richard V. Allen, then drew upon his roles as Candidate Reagan’s chief foreign policy advisor and, after the 1980 election, as his first National Security Advisor. Mr. Allen described Mr. Reagan’s philosophy with respect to American power and interests — and the principles and objectives that carried him into the Presidency.

Dr. Fred Iklé, President Reagan’s Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, next delineated two key features of the Reagan strategy for defeating the USSR — his defense build-up and export control initiatives. Dr. Iklé also drew unfavorable comparisons between the U.S. policies that under President Reagan did so much to advance the cause of freedom and those being pursued today. Dr. Iklé is currently a Distinguished Scholar at the Center for International and Strategic Studies.

A particular highlight of this extraordinary program came when Hon. William P. Clark discussed his role as President Reagan’s second National Security Advisor for the first time since he left that office sixteen years ago. Judge Clark was responsible for coordinating the creation and implementation of the key National Security Decision Directives that achieved the roll-back and ultimately the unraveling of the the Evil Empire. In addition to his pivotal role at the White House, this long-time confidant of President Reagan also served as Deputy Secretary of State and Secretary of the Interior.

Hon. Edwin Meese III then drew upon his experiences as Counselor to the President and Attorney General under President Reagan to outline some of the key turning points in challenging and thwarting Soviet predations. Mr. Meese’s remarks were particularly illuminating in contrasting the principled Reagan Administration approach during those times and the fecklessness that has come to characterize U.S. foreign and defense policy under the present administration.

Finally, Frank J. Gaffney Jr., the President of the Center for Security Policy, who acted as Assistant Secretary of Defense during the Reagan Administration, concluded the session’s formal proceedings with a discussion of "Where We Go From Here." Mr. Gaffney argued that the principles which underpinned the Reagan strategy — of peace through strength; commitment to individual freedom and economic opportunity; and steady, competent U.S. leadership in international affairs — must once again serve as a guide for American security policy. He issued a call to arms for those who continue to adhere to these principles to join forces in a concerted effort to ensure the prominence of national security in our public discourse and its effective, competent execution once more for the purpose of safeguarding and advancing vital U.S. interests around the world.