Cold War Conversations

Face to face with the Soviets at the Cold War Reykjavik Summit between President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev (350)

Jun 7, 2024

Former U.S. Arms Control Director Ken Adelman recounts the intense Cold War negotiations at the 1987 Reykjavik Summit between Reagan and Gorbachev. Insights on arms control, Strategic Defense Initiative, tensions in 1983, and personal moments at the summit are highlighted.

01:12:45

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Episode guests

Ken Adelman

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative marked a shift towards defense strategy over offense.

Ken Adelman's unexpected appointment as US Arms Control Director led to a significant career shift.

The Reykjavik summit influenced arms control dialogues & global nuclear weapons stockpiles shifts.

Deep dives

Reagan's Campaign and Cold War Ambitions

Reagan, during his campaign in 1980, portrayed optimism about ending the Cold War sooner than later. Initially skeptical about Soviet spending and strategic initiatives, his presidency saw the announcement of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) in 1983, a stark shift in defense strategy.

Intro

2min

Reagan's Vision and the Strategic Defense Initiative

10min

Tensions and Paranoia in 1983

5min

Reflections on the Reykjavik Summit

19min

Negotiations and Tensions at the Cold War Reykjavik Summit

23min

Personal Conversations at the Reykjavik Summit

8min

Reflections on the aftermath of the Berlin Wall opening and gratitude to financial supporters

2min

This episode is brought to you by the CNN Original Series Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game which premieres 2nd June 2024 and is available now on BBC Iplayer). The series tracks the spies operating behind the scenes in the 1980s as the Cold War brings two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war.

This razor-sharp series examines the tenuousness of global geopolitics during the Cold War and features my guest Ken Adelman who served as the Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency for nearly five years during the Reagan administration.

In our episode, Ken places you face to face with the Soviets during the tense nuclear arms negotiations at the 1986 Reykjavik Summit between President Reagan and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Planned as a short gathering it quickly developed into major international issues and the possibility of eliminating all nuclear weapons...

Buy Ken's book here https://amzn.to/3R7ei2n

Extra video content here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode350/

Episodes mentioned: 1983 the Year the Cold War Almost Turned Hot https://coldwarconversations.com/episode316/

CNN Original Series Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game https://cnncreativemarketing.com/project/secrets-spies/

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