A Firing Line Debate: Resolved: That the Senate Should Ratify the Proposed Panama Canal Treaties

Ronald Reagan debates William F Buckley Jr
In William F Buckley's "Miles Gone By", Buckley calls this debate (and Reagan's stand on the issue) as a key factor in Reagan garnering base support and ultimately the 1980 GOP nomination for the Presidency. The issue of the ratification of these Panama Canal Treaties literally split the Republican party in two and you will see what I mean when you watch this. Reagan along with Pat Buchanan, adviser John S McCain (former Admiral not the current Senator), and one other argue that ratifying these particular treaties are not good for the country. They argue that the Senate should hold out for a better deal before going through with the ratification. WFB Jr, George Will and two others agree with the Carter Adminstration on this foreign policy issue because they claim that the US owning the Canal fuels the arguement for America's enemies that the US is an imperialist colonial power.

This all occurred long before my time so I needed to educate myself with the details of the...





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