Richard Pipes was a history professor at Harvard University who took part in the 1976 Team B study of the Soviet military threat and later served as Director of East European and Soviet Affairs on the National Security Council staff from 1981-1982. He describes the Reagan administrations thinking about the Soviet Union, discussing along the way such topics as Moscows prior military buildup, President Carters approach toward nuclear strategy, the Reagan teams strong ideological position on defense, and the enormous hostility felt from the State Department. The Reagan administration, he relates, came to the conclusion that Moscow did not consider human life to be so precious compared with its priority of preserving military capabilities and the security of the political leadership. As a consequence, American strategists adjusted their focus to counterforce targets. In his view there is no doubt that the administration assumes that a nuclear war can be won. He asserts that the nuclear freeze movement was known to be backed by Soviet front organizations and was not taken seriously by the administration. The subject turns to the Strategic Defense Initiative, which is discussed in some detail. He comments on how he believes the Reagan era will be seen in the future, and discusses Reagans change in attitude on disarmament.