Re: I'm curious...
SDI.
The Russians started immediately to build an anti-satellite station with powerful lasers that was exorbitantly expensive. Major funding for this between 1986 and 1989 depleted their already depleted reserves, turned their dismal economy into a full-scale depression, and was not successful to boot. This costly failure, spurred by SDI and Reagan created the crisis and rebellion as Soviet Satellites stopped getting their aid.
If you think George Bush brought down the Soviet Union on his watch - think again. Bush underplayed it - fairly miserably too and prematurely started shutting down military bases. Causing the economy to falter and shot himself in the foot, opening the door for Clinton.