PRESIDENT REAGAN PROPOSES STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan proposed an anti-missile system officially called the Strategic Defense Initiative which promised to make the United States virtually impregnable to a nuclear attack.
According to the U.S. Department of State Archive, because "the idea was dependent on futuristic technology" such as "space-based laser systems that had not yet been developed" SDI was nicknamed "Star Wars."
Despite Mr. Reagan's continued backing, the government's commitment to SDI "waned" over time and as the INF and START Treaties* were negotiated with the Soviet Union.
*The Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (1987) was a landmark nuclear arms agreement between the USA & USSR. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (1991) limited the number of ICBMs & nuclear warheads of both USA & USSR.
SOURCE
"Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) 1983," U.S. Department of State Archive, www.2001-2009.state.gov/
