NHD Theme Book 2015 | Page 25

W An American Renewal hile malaise and crisis of confidence was a domestic issue that President Reagan faced upon entering office, it had major implications in the foreign policy arena as well. Intuitively, Reagan knew that without a renewal of American pride, an improvement in self-image and most importantly an economic recovery, negotiations with the Soviet superpower would be from a position of weakness. A strong economy was critical to be an exemplar to the world, and of course to sustain the arms buildup that could pressure the Soviet Union to the n Y