Final answer:
Mikhail Gorbachev was seen as a reformer and a symbol of change when he visited Washington D.C., reflecting the evolving Cold War dynamics and contributing to cautious optimism about improved U.S.-Soviet relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Mikhail Gorbachev visited Washington D.C., the response highlighted the changing dynamics of the Cold War era. Gorbachev had become a symbol of reform in the Soviet Union with his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), leading to a rise in democratic movements across Eastern Europe. His stance against using force to quell democratic movements, instead embracing the tide of change, painted him as a harbinger of peace. The American public was influenced by these actions, along with President Reagan's and President Bush's policies that previously pushed for diplomatic engagements and later disarmament treaties such as START. As the Soviet Union disintegrated and the Cold War drew to an end, Gorbachev's visits to countries like the United States were met with cautious optimism, signifying a hoped-for continued thawing of relations between the two superpowers.
In December 1989, President Bush and Gorbachev met to discuss German reunification and the situation in Eastern Europe, reflecting a mutual recognition of the changing political landscape. This period marked the end of Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and eventually led to the dissolution of the USSR itself. Though Gorbachev faced resistance from hardliners at home, internationally, he was respected for allowing the progression of history in a democratic fashion.