High Hopes, Low Expectations

A TIME poll finds the U.S. eager for summit progress but wary

When Ronald Reagan took office in 1981, large numbers of Americans shared his determination to build up U.S. armaments and take a hard stance against Soviet expansionism. But as Reagan prepared for this week's meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva, a TIME poll showed more support for reaching an accommodation with the Soviet Union than at any other time during his presidency. The U.S. public strongly favors making significant progress in talks with the Soviets, particularly on nuclear arms control, even while it is dubious about any likely success. Alkthough a majority of Americans favor development of the President's Strategic Defense...

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