[282][283]

Invasion of Grenada
Main article: United States invasion of Grenada
Reagan discussing the Grenada situation with a bipartisan group of members of Congress, October 1983
On October 19, 1983, Grenadan leader Maurice Bishop was overthrown and murdered by one of his colleagues. Several days later, Reagan ordered American forces to invade Grenada. Reagan cited a regional threat posed by a Soviet-Cuban military build-up in the Caribbean nation and concern for the safety of hundreds of American medical students at St. George's University as adequate reasons to invade. Two days of fighting commenced, resulting in an American victory.[284] While the invasion enjoyed public support in the United States, it was criticized internationally, with the United Nations General Assembly voting to censure the American government.[285] Regardless, Cannon later noted that throughout Reagan's 1984 presidential campaign, the invasion overshadowed the 1983 Beirut barracks bombings,[286] which killed 241 Americans taking part in an international peacekeeping operation.[125]

1984 election
Main articles: Ronald Reagan 1984 presidential campaign and 1984 United States presidential election
1984 electoral vote results
Reagan announced his reelection campaign on January 29, 1984, declaring, "America is back and standing tall.