RONALD REAGAN

The Great Communicator”or

the “Teflon President” ??? The "Teflon" president –

scandal and controversy didn't seem to "stick" to him and he remained popular.

The "Great Communicator" – someone who had the

ability to appeal to people through his anecdotes and rhetoric.

What to look for while we watch… Observe how Reagan's

personality and behavior helped earn him these nicknames.

How did these attributes affect Reagan's presidency, both good and bad?

Rise of the New Right

The Reagan Coalition Conservatives who sought smaller gov’t,

less intervention in eco., reduction in social programs

Others wanted to restore Christian values to society

Working class and White Southerners who had previous voted Democratic

Reagan Democrats jumped ship to Rep. party

The Moral Majority

Created by Jerry Falwell

Perceived the moral decay of America (School prayer, abortion, Equal Rights Amendment, homosexuality, and women's liberation, etc.)

Became an influential force in conservative politics, reliable part of conservative base.

"We are born into a war zone where the forces of God do battle with the forces of evil. Sometimes we get trapped, pinned down in the crossfire. And in the heart of that noisy, distracting battle, two voices call out for us to follow. Satan wants to lead us into death. God wants to lead us into life eternal.“

- Jerry Falwell

American in Moral Decay

I was convinced that there was a moral majority out there among those more than 200 million Americans sufficient in number to turn back the flood tide of moral permissiveness, family breakdown and general capitulation to evil and to foreign policies such as Marxism-Leninism.“

- Jerry Falwell

Moral Majority: A Political Force to be Reckoned With

Reagan Coalition

New Coalition of voters that propelled Reagan/Bush to 12 years of Republican control Dissatisfied with social/economic issues under

Carter No longer saw Dem. Party as the party of the

working class New Right made up by Evangelical Christians

(Moral Majority) Reagan Democrats: mostly white, socially

conservative blue-collar workers from the Northeast

"Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.”

Do you agree or disagree?

Ronald Reagan:

“Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”

Ronald Reagan

The Reagan Revolution

Reduce the size and scope of federal gov’t

Lower taxes Reduce

regulation Increase defense

spending

PATCO Strike, 1981

Reagan praised for strength/decisiveness of action

Sent a clear message to corporate America: bargain more firmly with organized labor

Sharp reduction in major strikes, 300/yr to 30/year

Changed perceptions about labor unions

“I went on strike... and I'm still on strike, 30 years later…they didn't like unions at all and they came up with a plan that became a blueprint for union-busting ever since.”

Hillbrook Green, Air Traffic Controller

“A Bipolar Economy”

Unprecedented economic boom. The gross national product increased by 3.6 percent in 1983 and by 6.8 percent in 1984; GNP had shrunk in 1982 by 2.5 percent.

Unemployment sank from 9.5 percent in 1983 to 7.4 percent in 1984. 18 million jobs added in his two terms

Stock market soared to new heights from 950-2,239 by 89’

Eco. Mixed with battered/declining manufacturing and industry and with a burgeoning tech. industry

A More “Fractured Society”?

Low or semi-skilled workers hit hard by outsourcing effects of globalization and modernization

Burden of social welfare fell upon state and local governments

Disproportionate rise in wealth/income

Reagan’s Goals vs. Reality

Size of gov’t during Reagan Employment went from 2.9 million to 3.1 million

Spending on gov’t Increased to 23.5% of GDP, lowered to 21.5%, higher

than Carter Balanced Budget

Between 1983 and 1989, the budget deficit was always at least $153 billion; climbed to more than $221 billion.

National debt increased during the Reagan years from $914 billion to $2.6 trillion;

Annual interest paid on the debt went from $71 billion to $150 billion

"It is the Soviet Union that runs against the tide of history.... [It is] the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people."

Ronald Reagan (1983)

"Defense is not a budget issue. You spend what you need."

Military buildup had three objectives:

Sought safety through strength Strengthening the

military in case of war, Persuading European

allies that the United States would not abandon them

Encouraging Soviets to come to the bargaining table.

Foreign Policy: The Reagan Doctrine

Regarded Communism as an immoral and destructive ideology; Soviet Union bent on world domination. In a famous speech on

March 8, 1983, referred to the Soviet Union as an "evil empire," he also called the Soviets "the focus of evil in the modern world."

Had supported containment policy under Truman; opposed the policy of détente during 1970s (relaxation of tension)

Did Reagan win the Cold War?

Fall of the Soviet Union

Glasnost (Political openness, free speech/press) Introduction of Democracy (local party level) Could now question authority

Economic Stagnation: Perostroika (Eco. Reforms/aspects of

capitalism introduced) Cost of arms race (SDI, nuclear arsenal) Eco. reform failed, didn’t deliver = people

lost faith and support for Gorbachev Overreach in Afghanistan, defeat = humiliation

Reagan Doctrine Continued…

Supported efforts to roll back communist control and influence

As stated by Charles Krauthammer's words in 1985, The Reagan Doctrine was a policy of "democratic militance" that "proclaims overt and unabashed support for anti-Communist revolution."

CIA involved in numerous anti-communist efforts throughout the decade

Angola Nicaragua El Salvador Poland Afghanistan Grenada

Charles Krauthammer defines the Reagan Doctrine(1985 Time Magazine) The Reagan Doctrine is more radical than it pretends to be. It

pretends that support for democratic rebels is "self-defense" and sanctioned by international law. That case is weak. The real case rests instead on other premises: that to be constrained from supporting freedom by an excessive concern for sovereignty (and a unilateral concern, at that) is neither especially moral nor prudent. The West, of late, has taken to hiding behind parchment barriers as an excuse for inaction when oppressed democrats beg for help. The Reagan Doctrine, while still hiding a bit, announces an end to inaction.

Only a few months ago, a Nicaraguan friend, an exSandinista who still speaks their language, said in near despair that the struggle of democrats around the world was doomed by the absence in the West of what he called "democratic militance." The Reagan Doctrine represents a first step toward its restoration.

Iran-Contra Scandal: “What did the president know, and when did he

know it,"

No evidence that Reagan knew about the funneling of funds to the Contras; was aware of money for hostages

Significance: Reagan's disengagement from the management of White House seen, compromised his leadership/public image in short term.

Opinion polls would rebound by end of office

•Did Reagan's accomplishments occurred because of his philosophy or despite it—or both.•What is his legacy in terms of economics, foreign policy and the end of the Cold War, and his impact on the political landscape of today?•What is Freedom??

Legacy of Reagan: Essential Question