President Reagan's national security policy was "peace through strength." Notice that first word, peace, depends on strength-meaning military strength-which many find counterintuitive. But that strength is essential to getting the results Reagan got.

Democrats have powered a massive $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill through the House, an election-year measure designed to brace a U.S. economy in free fall and a health care system struggling to contain a pandemic still pummeling the country.