George Shultz came to the Reagan administration in 1982 after a period where there was little interaction with the Soviets, and his strategy was to initiate dialogue with the Soviet Union on shared interests (nuclear weapons, regional security) before Gorbachev came to power, making engagement with the Soviets easier once Gorbachev took office.
factualpending
Speaker
Michael McFaulEvidence Quote
“he says, 'This is crazy. We have to talk to these guys...We have to have some dialogue with them.' Um and he laid out a different strategy. This is before Gorbachev, by the way...Gorbachev comes along and it's a lot easier.”
Source
“They’re Not Like Us”: Michael McFaul on Autocrats vs. Democrats and the Fight for the 21st Century— Hoover InstitutionCreated: 8/11/2026, 7:32:51 AM
My Notes
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