While the first Cold War lasted over 30 years and started in 1945 the Second Cold War spanned less than a fourth of its predecessor covering from 1981-1989. The major political players involved in this second war were US President Ronal Reagan and USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev. One main element of the Second Cold War was Reagan's focus to end the "evil empire" and the massive increase in military spending and end to arms control (Painter, 106). Military spending increased almost 2 trillion dollars and saw increases in nuclear weapons, more navy ships and stealth bombers. Reagan though did not just stop at increasing the US military. The Reagan administration sought all-out war with the USSR.
Massive spending came in the form of financial funds to anti-Soviet operations which included conflicts in Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, and Central America (Fink). Gorbachev is one of the main factors as to why the second Cold War lasted such a short time. Gorbachev's willingness to negotiate with the United States was a main contributor to the fall of the second Cold War. Gorbachev realized that by pursuing an arms treaty that the Soviet Union could start spending less money trying to preserve its empire and take care of economic crisis within its borders. This change in policy resulted in a reversal from the aggressive foreign policy of the previous USSR presidents. The second Cold War can eloquently be described as a strategic military buildup to power by the United States combined with an economic downfall for the USSR that opened the doors to end the Cold War.