Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.249/1
Object Name
Poster
Title
The Most Dangerous Man in the World - Ronald Reagan poster
People
Ronald Reagan
Events
El Salvador Civil War
Date
1982
Description
A3 black and white poster, opposing Ronald Reagan's visit to Britain in 1982. The poster has a white background, with black and white text. Reagan was president from 1981-1989, and was a hard-line republican, who oversaw tax cuts, military spending increases, the war on drugs, strict immigration laws, mass surveillance, development of missile/nuclear technology, strong anti-communist policy and aggressive foreign policy. The poster has a black and white photograph of him on the right hand side, holding a gun. This photograph is from when he was an actor, prior to his political career. The poster says "WANTED - THE MOST DANGEROU MAN IN THEWORLD Ronald Reagan (ex-cowboy actor now president USA). For supporting MURDER IN EL SALVADOR AND FOR NUCLEAR MADNESS IN EUROPE. He visits Britain June 7th-9th make him UNWELCOME. Young Communist League 16 st John Street, London EC1." Reagan was very unpopular with leftist movements, and his nuclear policy and international anti-communist policy was
strongly condemned. The "nuclear madness" the poster is referring to includes the ongoing weapons development, the strategic defence initiative, cruise missiles and more. The reference to supporting murder in El Salvador is pertaining to the United states presence and role in overthrowing left-wing governments throughout Latin and Central America. Reagan's government sent military advisers to help the Salvadoran military fight against Marxist Guerrillas. Throughout the 1980s more than 75,000 died in El Salvador and this poste states that Reagan supported this murder.
Multimedia
