This year, we have it within our power to take a major step toward a growing global economy and an expanding cycle of prosperity that reaches to all the free nations of this Earth. I'm speaking of the historic free trade agreement negotiated between our country and Canada. And I can also tell you that we're determined to expand this concept, south as well as north. Next month I will be traveling to Mexico, where trade matters will be of foremost concern. And over the next several months, our Congress and the Canadian Parliament can make the start of such a North American accord a reality. Our goal must be a day when the free flow of trade, from the tip of Tierra del Fuego to the Arctic Circle, unites the people of the Western Hemisphere in a bond of mutually beneficial exchange, when all borders become what the U.S.-Canadian border so long has been: a meeting place rather than a dividing line.
--Ronald Reagan, State of the Union Address, 1988. [emphasis added]
"I'm speaking of the historic free trade agreement negotiated between our country and Canada. And I can also tell you that we're determined to expand this concept, south as well as north. Next month I will be traveling to Mexico, where trade matters will be of foremost concern."
Well I certainly stand corrected rudeboy. I must have missed that last State Of The Union speech, January 1988 I'm guessing.
It appears Reagan indeed initiated a deal to include Mexico ( there was some existing thing with Canada already in effect, I remember this because it was a big deal with the Canadian PM who was a friend of Reagan ). It sure looks like Reagan was whole hog for an expansion with Mexico. Ah well, one more mistake he made.
I did just look it up though, and the actual NAFTA took a long time create and didn't go into effect until 1994 with Clinton. So I would still say *most* of the blame still goes to Bush41 who sheparded this thing along, Reagan for dreaming it up in the first place, and Clinton for piling on extra treaties. Uniparty in action.
The 2nd Reagan term was a disaster on many fronts. I can never forgive him for not pardoning Oliver North, Poindexter and Secord. Nancy Reagan and Howard Baker neutered the man and many of us who watched along cursed those two constantly. Then there was Amnesty. Letting Bork be Borked by Joe Biden and the rest of the (D)ummycrats. So many lost opportunities.
I believe Free Traitors™ want the USA to become the agrarian nation of planters it once was. We export food stuffs and import finished goods.