I certainly remember the Reagan years, but didn’t have a comprehensive understanding of the geopolitical matters. I was also well aware of the Iran hostage crisis that Reagan brought to a rapid close. The news related to Russia seemed surreal as it was an unexpected realization of what we learned in history class. And I recall how the Left in Hollywood and Music hated Reagan which was a rude awakening — very disappointing to see how these once “vaunted” entertainment industries were blatantly infecting public discourse and opinions. Agreed that Reagan secured the future of the World for at least a few decades.
The movie Red Dawn was banned in parts of West Germany, hated by the American media and the Russians had some ability to block or influence some negative Hollywood and television portrayals, people forget how intense it was between the left elites and the Reagan loving, America loving public.