US pres. Reagan → watched developments in USSR → with great interest
- was shocked to discover that soviets had almost launched nuclear strike against US in 1983
- malfunction in soviets early warning system made them think the US had fired missiles at USSR.
- Reagan keen keen to advance nuclear disarmament + tamp down strategic arms race.
- these priorities led Reagan to make overtures to soviet leaders and to eventually engage Gorbachev in negotiations with shared commitment to nuclear abolition
1985-1988 → Reagan and Gorbachev had 5 summit meetings end of these summits → reached agreements to further reduce nuclear weapons Reagan declared → he no longer thought USSR was an “evil empire” bc of changes Gorbachev was making