Final answer:
President Reagan reacted to Mikhail Gorbachev's efforts to reduce tension by agreeing to destroy some U.S. nuclear missiles and signing the INF Treaty.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Ronald Reagan's initial stance against the Soviet Union was marked by the term "peace through strength," significantly increasing defense spending. However, the rise of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his initiatives such as perestroika, glasnost, and a desire to reduce arms contributed to a shift in Reagan's approach. Recognizing the opportunity for a safer world and the economic strain on both nations, Reagan eventually reacted to Gorbachev's efforts by agreeing to destroy some U.S. nuclear missiles.
In 1985, the two leaders met in Geneva to discuss arms reduction, and in 1987 they signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, solidifying their commitment to eliminate an entire category of nuclear weapons and laying the groundwork for future agreements.