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War and Peace in the Nuclear Age (1987-12-18)
About this film
Robert McFarlane was National Security Advisor to President Reagan from 1983-1985, and a leading architect of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). In the interview he discusses Reagan's strategic modernization program. He notes the president's response to the nuclear freeze movement, and the freeze movement's response to Reagan's proposal for strategic reductions. He moves onto SDI, which he says was designed as a military solution and as a moral alternative to nuclear weapons. He describes the evolution of Soviet-American arms control negotiations, which he credits Reagan with planning from the very beginning. He notes the political ramifications of this shift in tone, and the specific reactions of some of Reagan's cabinet members, especially Caspar Weinberger. He also describes Gorbachev as a politician, and explains his popularity.
Directors & creators
WGBH
Subjects
public broadcasting, AAPB, Robert McFarlane, Ronald Reagan, Caspar Weinberger, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Strategic Defense Initiative, SDI, nuclear freeze movement, INF Treaty, START treaty, Soviet-American relations, nuclear arms control, Cold War diplomacy, Soviet Union, Afghanistan
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