Those who remember Washington's cold war culture in the 1980s will recall the shocked reactions to Reagan's intervention. People interested in foreign policy were astonished when in 1985 he met alone at Geneva - alone, not a single strategic thinker at his elbow! - with the Soviet Communist master Gorbachev.

Summary

This quote highlights the surprise and contrasting views towards Reagan's approach to foreign policy during the cold war era in the 1980s. It emphasizes how those familiar with Washington's culture at that time were taken aback by Reagan's decision to meet personally with the Soviet leader Gorbachev in Geneva without the presence of any strategic advisors. This unconventional move was seen as unexpected and shocking to individuals who had been accustomed to a more cautious and structured approach to diplomacy in the context of the intense ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.

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