AP US History Ronald Wilson Reagan (1980-88)

1) Background

� Born in Illinois (father an itinerant shoe salesman and alcoholic) � Public speaking his great passion – nicknamed “The Great Communicator” � Began career as radio broadcaster, became an actor (more than 50 films) � Married and divorced actress Jane Wyman then married Nancy Davis (1952) � Began political career as a Democrat, then switched sides � Served two terms as Governor of California � Election of 1980 – leading spokesman for American conservatism � Platform – reduction in gov’t spending and taxes, shift in power from Federal

gov’t to the states, “traditional American Values” = family, hard work, patriotism, vowed to rebuild US military

� Received support from the “New Right” (included evangelical Christian groups) � Beat Carter in a landslide (Carter was Democratic candidate after facing challenge

from Edward Kennedy – Chappaquiddick affair killed candidacy) � Reagan’s victory ushered in new conservative era – “Reagan Revolution” � The Democratic Party coalition was in tatters – the only group that continued to

vote Democratic were African-Americans � Election of 1984 – Walter Mondale and running-mate Geraldine Ferraro – first female candidate for VP on a national

ticket (Democratic candidates); Reagan’s popularity at flood tide – won in another landslide (59% of popular vote) � Theme of second term – “Morning in America ”

2) Domestic Policy

� Assassination attempt – March 1981, Reagan shot by John Hinckley Jr. in front of Washington Hilton Hotel in DC

� “Reaganomics” – supply-side economics, return to idea of “trickle-down” theory of Andrew Mellon

� Economic Recovery Tax Act (1981) – 25% cut over 3 years � Cut domestic programs, education, food stamps, public

housing, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities � Increased defense budget by $12 billion � Administration will see rise in national debt from $1 trillion to

$3 trillion � Economy in recession by 1982, 10% unemployment, but inflation will fall to 4% by 1984 � Deregulation of AT&T, airline, trucking industries, Savings and

Loan institutions (S & L) � Government will have to bailout S&L institutions due to

deregulation (institutions were able to make riskier loans that weren’t getting paid back)

� Air Traffic Controllers Strike (August 1981) – Reagan issues an injunction – fires controllers after they refused to follow his order to return to work, started training replacements and used military controllers in between. Killed Union

� Appointed Sandra Day O’Connor to Supreme Court (1st female Supreme Court Justice)

� Tax Reform Act of 1986 – lowered tax rates � Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 – deal with illegal immigration � Space Shuttle Challenger explodes on take-off, January 28, 1986 – killed 7 astronauts including Christa McAuliffe

(teacher) � Black Monday, October 19, 1987 – Dow Jones fell 500 points

3) Foreign Policy

� Reagan a “Cold Warrior ” – called Soviet Union the “evil empire” � Reagan Doctrine – US would support any anti-communist struggle

anywhere (continuation of Dulles’ ideas 30 years earlier) � Criticized South Africa’s policy of apartheid (legal segregation of races)

but did not institute economic sanctions � Gave aid to anti-Russian rebels in Afghanistan

� Sent Marines to Lebanon and withdrew force when suicide bomber killed 241 Marines

� 1986 – bombed Libya (Mommar Qadaffi had long been suspected of financing terrorists – anti-Western)

� Iran-Iraq War – US backed Iraq and Saddam Hussein as Iran had been enemies since 1979 (Iranian Revolution)

� Grenada – sent in troops to island where a Marxist regime had just come to power, US forces successful

� El Salvador – backed anti-communist gov’t and gave $$ (public opinion soured when news of “death squads” eliminating opposition came out)

� Nicaragua – “Sandanistas”, socialist revolutionaries who condemned capitalism and US policies in Latin America, supported by Cuba; “contra” rebels (freedom fighters) who opposed Sandanistas given covert aid by US

� Played central role in ousting corrupt Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos � Unsuccessful in unseating Manuel Noriega, Military Dictator of Panama � Moved away from spirit of détente – greatest peacetime military buildup in

history ($2 trillion on both old and new systems) � Most controversial – Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), dubbed “Star Wars” = satellites orbiting the earth would fire

lasers at missiles (lasers controlled by computer) � Critics said that SDI would not work and some said it would be used for offensive

not defensive purposes � NUTs vs. MAD – Nuclear Utilization Theory = possibility of winning a nuclear war

(with so-called “reasonable losses”) against Mutually Assured Destruction = had kept nuclear war from happening for last 4 decades

� Move toward disarmament came not due to criticism but Secretary of Defense, hawk Caspar Weinberger resigned replaced by dove George Schultz

� New Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev tried to reform country – perestroika to revive economy, glasnost promised new political and individual freedoms; Proposed and end to arms race with US

� INF Treaty signed December 1987 (reduce nuclear weapons)

4) Legacy

� Rise of national debt – tax cuts and increased military spending = lost revenue of $200 billion per year

� For most of administration called “the Teflon president” – nothing hurtful would stick � Era of conservatism will last until mid 1990’s � Iran-Contra Scandal (1987) – money from secret sale of weapons to Iran given to

Nicaraguan Contras (Congress had specifically forbidden US $$ be sent to Contras); Biggest scandal of Reagan’s administration, weakened his influence, but came towards the end

� Soon after Reagan left office at age 78 (oldest president), was revealed he had Alzheimer’s Disease; Some say he showed signs of the disease while still in office

� Was not been seen in public for years because of this.

� Died on June 5, 2004 at the age of 93 and was honored with a state funeral