United States foreign policy

In the waning days of the Reagan presidency, Peter Krogh sits down with Jeane Kirkpatrick, Ambassador to the United Nations during Reagan’s first term, and William Maynes, editor of Foreign Policy magazine. The two discuss the legacy of the Reagan administration in the international community, particularly with regards to Nicaragua. For seven years, the United States had been waging a campaign against the socialist Sandinista regime using both overt and covert tactics. As Reagan struggled to find an effective mix between diplomacy and force in the region, observers were left to wonder whether Reagan’s true goal was democratic reform or a complete overthrow of the Sandinista government. Further complicating matters was the inconsistency of Congressional support for the Contras, which prevented the United States from adopting a sustained position. In the context of Nicaragua, this episode examines the relationship between the White House and Capitol Hill in developing foreign policy, the delicate balance between diplomacy and force in international relations, as well as the importance of public support in sustaining effective government policies.Discusses the position of the United States as a superpower in today's world and the legacy of the Reagan administration