<Tr> <Th> Timeline Conflicts Historiography </Th> </Tr> <P> The Cold War period of 1985--1991 began with the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev as leader of the Soviet Union . Gorbachev was a revolutionary leader for the USSR, as he was the first to promote liberalization of the political landscape (Glasnost) and capitalist elements into the economy (Perestroika); prior to this, the USSR had been strictly prohibiting liberal reform and maintained an inefficient centralized economy . The USSR, despite facing massive economic difficulties, was involved in a costly arms race with the United States under President Ronald Reagan . Regardless, the USSR began to crumble as liberal reforms proved difficult to handle and capitalist changes to the centralized economy were badly transitioned and caused major problems . After a series of revolutions in Soviet Bloc states, and a failed coup by conservative elements opposed to the ongoing reforms, on New Year's Eve 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and the Cold War came to an end . </P> <P> After the deaths of three successive elderly Soviet leaders since 1982, the Soviet Politburo elected Gorbachev Communist Party General Secretary in March 1985, marking the rise of a new generation of leadership . Under Gorbachev, relatively young reform - oriented technocrats, who had begun their careers in the heyday of "de-Stalinization" under reformist leader Nikita Khrushchev, rapidly consolidated power, providing new momentum for political and economic liberalization, and the impetus for cultivating warmer relations and trade with the West . </P> <P> On the Western front, President Reagan's administration had taken a hard line against the Soviet Union . Under the Reagan Doctrine, the Reagan administration began providing military support to anti-communist armed movements in Afghanistan, Angola, Nicaragua and elsewhere . </P>

Who was president when the cold war ended