[Paul Ross]

Their dismay is misplaced. Volcker was never on board with the Reagan economic plan in the way that modern history suggests, and rather than an essential driver of the ‘80s economic renaissance, a more realistic account of Volcker’s early years at the Fed shows that far from a facilitator of pro-growth policies, Volcker’s actions nearly derailed Reagan’s economic plan and presidency altogether.

Bump. That is my take on Volcker as well. He was a saboteur, just less overtly hostile, as David Stockman, a purported Republican ultimately proved to be....

[expat_panama]

"...my take on Volcker as well. He was a saboteur..."

We're together on that one.  Most people who've looked into it agree that the second 'dip' of the 'double-dip' back to back recessions we had in the early '80's was best referred to as the "Volker recession" as it was he who goosed interest when it wasn't needed.