Word: mx
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...expenditure of political capital that Presidents make only a few times in a four-year term, and only for matters they deem absolutely essential. Just five hours before the Senate was to vote last week on spending $1.5 billion for construction of 21 more MX missiles, Ronald Reagan rode by motorcade from the White House to Capitol Hill for a climactic personal appeal on behalf of the controversial weapon. Meeting with Republican Senators over lunch in the Mansfield Room, the President pulled out a $5 bill to pay for his meal and quipped to Majority Leader Bob Dole, "Include...
Dole and the rest of the Senate provided a lot more than that. Late that afternoon they gave approval of the new ten-warhead missiles by the surprisingly wide vote of 55 to 45, a crucial boost for Reagan's campaign to double the size of the nation's MX arsenal. It was a reluctant majority; although most Senators have qualms about the MX, many feared that a vote against it would jeopardize the newly restarted arms talks in Geneva. In part the vote reflected U.S. concerns that two Soviet missiles believed to be mobile, the MX-size...
...vote margin was primarily an impressive personal victory for Reagan, demonstrating that his clout with Congress remains strong, at least when he takes a personal stand. Conceded Democrat Lawton Chiles, who led the floor fight against the MX: "It's hard to beat the President." The size of the Administration's victory in the Senate greatly enhanced the MX's chances for getting past the Democrats in the House, which is scheduled for a similar - vote this week. Admitted California Congressman Tony Coehlo, one of the strongest MX foes: "Thanks to the wide Senate margin, we probably...
...issue after issue since his second term began--loan guarantees for farmers, the MX missile, aid to the Nicaraguan contras--the President has been talking almost as tough as he does on taxes. He left no doubt that his approach is deliberate. Addressing the Magazine Publishers Association the morning after his "make my day" speech, Reagan noted, "Some stories recently (have suggested that) remarks of mine on taxes and defense and freedom in our hemisphere have been--well, shall we say, plain and direct." The stories, the President happily confirmed, were entirely correct: "We have an obligation...
...issue. The President has begun his second term with a clear set of goals: shrinking the role of Government in the economy and reducing the deficit by slashing nonmilitary spending; simplifying but not --horrors!--raising taxes; stabilizing relations with the Soviets through arms reductions, but without giving up the MX or his Star Wars plan; preventing the spread of Communism, especially in Central America. His re- election sweep has bolstered his already high confidence that the public will support...