I disagree with that measure — that was a sell out in order to get votes in Detroit.
That said, it's true that a selective reading of his statements and legislative actions could be used to support almost any position.
But here’s something worth considering from a broader policy perspective:
Ronald Reagan cited three prominent 19th-century champions of free trade as his heroes: Richard Cobden and John Bright, founders of England’s Anti-Corn Law League, and Frédéric Bastiat, a renowned French economic writer. Reagan specifically praised Cobden and Bright for their efforts to eliminate tariffs on imported grain in the 1840s.
Throughout his presidency, Reagan consistently expressed support for free trade. In his July 1981 “Statement on U.S. Trade Policy,” he pledged to reduce government-imposed barriers on international trade and investment.
One of his strongest affirmations came during a January 1988 speech in Cleveland, where he framed America’s trade deficit as a sign of economic strength. On several occasions—often in response to protectionist moves by congressional Democrats—Reagan reiterated his free-trade stance. For instance, he vowed to veto the House trade bill if it included a restrictive amendment sponsored by Representative Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.).
That said, it's true that a selective reading of his statements and legislative actions could be used to support almost any position.
But here’s something worth considering from a broader policy perspective:
Ronald Reagan cited three prominent 19th-century champions of free trade as his heroes: Richard Cobden and John Bright, founders of England’s Anti-Corn Law League, and Frédéric Bastiat, a renowned French economic writer. Reagan specifically praised Cobden and Bright for their efforts to eliminate tariffs on imported grain in the 1840s.
Throughout his presidency, Reagan consistently expressed support for free trade. In his July 1981 “Statement on U.S. Trade Policy,” he pledged to reduce government-imposed barriers on international trade and investment.
One of his strongest affirmations came during a January 1988 speech in Cleveland, where he framed America’s trade deficit as a sign of economic strength. On several occasions—often in response to protectionist moves by congressional Democrats—Reagan reiterated his free-trade stance. For instance, he vowed to veto the House trade bill if it included a restrictive amendment sponsored by Representative Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.).