Though it was attacked by conservatives like Jesse Helms , the INF Treaty provided a major boost to Reagan 's popularity in the aftermath of the Iran – Contra Affair . A new era of trade and openness between the two powers commenced , and the U.S. and the Soviet Union cooperated on international issues such as the Iran – Iraq War . When Reagan visited Moscow for a fourth summit with Gorbachev in 1988 , he was viewed as a celebrity by the Soviets . A journalist asked the president if he still considered the Soviet Union the evil empire . " No , " he replied , " I was talking about another time , another era . " At Gorbachev 's request , Reagan gave a speech on free markets at the Moscow State University . In December 1988 , Gorbachev effectively renounced the Brezhnev Doctrine , paving the way for democratization in Eastern Europe . In November 1989 , ten months after Reagan left office , the Berlin Wall fell . The Cold War was unofficially declared over at the Malta Summit the following month
fourth summit
Moscow Summit (1988)
Presidency of Ronald Reagan