“Trouble with the Transition: The Transfer of Power from Carter to Reagan“

The transition between presidents – especially when changing parties – is a wildcard in U.S. foreign policy that often confuses or concerns nations engaged with the United States. Though there are systems in place to ensure information gets passed from one administration to another, ideas and their execution can change dramatically when a new president takes office. Using the Carter-Reagan transition as a case study, this paper explores how the successes and failures in presidential transitions had long term effects on U.S. foreign policy, grand strategy, and international position, such as the definitive end of détente and a more hardline foreign policy.