Prior to 1986, the United States had been a net creditor because its holdings of foreign assets exceeded foreign holdings of U.S. assets.
( ( Prior ( to 1986 ) ) ( , ( ( the ( United States ) ) ( ( had ( ( been ( a ( net creditor ) ) ) ( because ( ( ( its holdings ) ( of ( foreign assets ) ) ) ( exceeded ( ( foreign holdings ) ( of ( U.S. assets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (RB Prior) (PP (TO to) (NP (CD 1986)))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NNP United) (NNPS States)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN been) (NP (DT a) (JJ net) (NN creditor)) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (NP (PRP$ its) (NNS holdings)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ foreign) (NNS assets)))) (VP (VBD exceeded) (NP (NP (JJ foreign) (NNS holdings)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNP U.S.) (NNS assets))))))))) (. .)))
For many, this was considered the best position the US had ever been in financially.
( ( For many ) ( , ( this ( ( was ( considered ( ( the ( best position ) ) ( ( the US ) ( ( had ever ) ( been ( in financially ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN For) (ADJP (JJ many))) (, ,) (NP (DT this)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN considered) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJS best) (NN position)) (SBAR (S (NP (DT the) (NNP US)) (VP (VBD had) (ADVP (RB ever)) (VP (VBN been) (PP (IN in) (ADVP (RB financially)))))))))) (. .)))