Poster, 'The World According to Ronald Reagan'

item details

NamePoster, 'The World According to Ronald Reagan'

ProductionUnknown; 1980s; United States

Classificationpolitical posters

Materialspaper, ink

DimensionsOverall: 702mm (width), 498mm (height)

Registration NumberGH024518

Credit lineGift of the Estate of Ron and Carmen Smith, 2015

Overview

This poster presents an ironic map of the world according to United States President Ronald Reagan (1981-89). Nothing is geographically correct, but possibly how many believed it to be in the 1980s. The world is divided between Republicans ('and other real Americans'); those who are useful politically or economically (eg 'Our Oil'); and everyone else (eg 'Democrats and Welfare Bums').

Many nations do not count in this world view. New Zealand is simply attached to Australia with both being dismissed as 'Kangaroos'.

During Ronald Reagan's first term, the Cold War was the most pressing foreign policy issue. He embarked on a massive build-up of weapons and troops. In 1983, he announced the Strategic Defense Initiative, a plan aiming to develop space-based weapons to protect America from attacks by Soviet nuclear missiles.