Ronald Reagan explained his strategy was an arms buildup that would leave the Soviets far behind, with no choice but to negotiate arms reduction. Finally, displaying his characteristic optimism, he praised liberal democracy and promised that such a system eventually would triumph over Soviet communism. Reagan appreciated the revolutionary change in the direction of the Soviet policy with Mikhail Gorbachev, and shifted to diplomacy, with a view to encourage the Soviet leader to pursue substantial arms agreements. He and Gorbachev held four summit conferences between 1985 and 1988: the first in Geneva, Switzerland, the second in Reykjavík, Iceland, the third in Washington,
Moscow Summit (1988) lesser issues such as student exchanges and fishing rights. A significant result was the updating of Soviet history books, which necessitated cancelling some history classes in Soviet secondary schools. In the end, Reagan expressed satisfaction with the summit. Reagan and Gorbachev eventually issued a joint statement, of which excerpts are shown here: One ironic instance of the summit was when Reagan gave Gorbachev a copy of the movie "Friendly Persuasion", whose screenwriter Michael Wilson got blacklisted in the 1950s due to suspected communist sympathies. Moscow Summit (1988) The Moscow Summit was a summit meeting between U.S. Pres. Ronald Reagan and