Ronald Reagan is the oldest sitting president to date, and the effects of his presidency have influenced not only the United States of America but also much of the world. The consensus among historians is that Ronald Reagan left a lasting legacy that was great in many ways. His Reaganomics greatly improved the American economy and ensured its future economic prosperity. He also fought communism head on and succeeded in ending it in most of the world, but especially in Soviet Russia. However, in doing so, he became embroiled in the Iran-Contra affair, which will forever be linked to his name in a negative way. In America, Reagan was able to improve society due to his success in curbing the use of illegal drugs. Ronald Reagan is often cited as the best president the United States has ever had, due to his relentless attacks on communism and illegal drug use in America, including his involvement in the Iran-Contra affair. Ronald Reagan was enormously successful in his quest to end communism throughout the world and to stop the "evil empire" he believed the Soviet Union was (overall article: Reagan quotes). There are many ways in which Ronald Reagan was able to end communism. For starters, in 1982 he promulgated the Secret National Security Directives (NSDD) that would neutralize Soviet influence and control around the world (Edwards). This was another way to stop communism and even attack it. Even more effectively, Reagan established his famous Strategic Defense Initiative to end the Cold War, but also to curb the influence of communism (Edwards). He firmly believed that these defensive missiles would be successful in “making nuclear missiles obsolete” (D'Souza). Reagan's SDI was not... half the document... A reference resource." Miller Center. University of Virginia. Web. May 15, 2014. "Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988." US Legal Definitions. Web U.S. Legal. May 17, 2014. “Drug-Free Federal Workplace.” Iran-Contra Affair. Web. May 16, 2014. “Reagan Quotes.” May 16, 2014. “The Iran-Contra Affair". 2014. .