CHAPTER 40CHAPTER 40

THE RESURGENCE OF THE RESURGENCE OF CONSERVATISMCONSERVATISM

1980-19921980-1992

CHAPTER THEMESCHAPTER THEMESTheme: Theme: Leading a conservative movement to Leading a conservative movement to

power in Washington, Ronald Reagan power in Washington, Ronald Reagan vigorously pursued “new right” economic and vigorously pursued “new right” economic and social policies. Under Reagan and his social policies. Under Reagan and his successor George Bush, these policies successor George Bush, these policies brought both economic growth and massive brought both economic growth and massive budget deficits that put severe constraints on budget deficits that put severe constraints on the federal government.the federal government.

Theme: Theme: Religion pervaded American politics Religion pervaded American politics in the 1980’s; especially conspicuous was a in the 1980’s; especially conspicuous was a coalition of conservative, evangelical coalition of conservative, evangelical Christians known as the religious right – led Christians known as the religious right – led by Jerry Falwell, an evangelical from Virginia. by Jerry Falwell, an evangelical from Virginia. An organization called the “Moral Majority” An organization called the “Moral Majority” rose to oppose what they viewed as the rose to oppose what they viewed as the moral deterioration of American values.moral deterioration of American values.

Theme: Theme: The 1980s saw a revival of Cold The 1980s saw a revival of Cold War confrontation, but the decade ended War confrontation, but the decade ended with the collapse of Communism, first in with the collapse of Communism, first in Eastern Europe and then in the Soviet Union Eastern Europe and then in the Soviet Union itself. With the end of the Cold War and the itself. With the end of the Cold War and the U.S.-led victory over Iraq in the Persian Gulf U.S.-led victory over Iraq in the Persian Gulf War, America remained the world’s only War, America remained the world’s only superpower. A series of relatively small superpower. A series of relatively small military interventions in the Caribbean, military interventions in the Caribbean, Africa, and the Balkans raised questions Africa, and the Balkans raised questions about the proper use of American force in the about the proper use of American force in the underdeveloped world.underdeveloped world.

CHAPTER SUMMARYCHAPTER SUMMARYReagan led Republicans to sweeping Reagan led Republicans to sweeping

victories in 1980 and 1984 over divided and victories in 1980 and 1984 over divided and demoralized Democrats. Riding a demoralized Democrats. Riding a conservative national tide, Reagan pushed conservative national tide, Reagan pushed both his “supply-side” economic program of both his “supply-side” economic program of lower taxes and the “new-right” social lower taxes and the “new-right” social policies, especially opposition to affirmative policies, especially opposition to affirmative action, abortion, and drugs. These policies action, abortion, and drugs. These policies brought economic recovery and lower brought economic recovery and lower inflation, as well as record budget deficits inflation, as well as record budget deficits that severely restricted “big government.” that severely restricted “big government.”

The Supreme Court under Reagan and his The Supreme Court under Reagan and his successor, George Bush, became successor, George Bush, became increasingly conservative, while the increasingly conservative, while the confirmation hearings of Justice Clarence confirmation hearings of Justice Clarence Thomas highlighted issues of sexual Thomas highlighted issues of sexual harassment.harassment.

Reagan revived the Cold War confrontation Reagan revived the Cold War confrontation with the Soviet Union, and engaged the with the Soviet Union, and engaged the United States in assertive military support for United States in assertive military support for anti-leftist forces in Latin America and anti-leftist forces in Latin America and elsewhere. elsewhere.

The ratcheting up of military spending, along The ratcheting up of military spending, along with the attempted reforms led by Mikhail with the attempted reforms led by Mikhail Gorbachev, contributed to the unraveling of Gorbachev, contributed to the unraveling of Communism in Eastern Europe and the Communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in 1989–1991. With America as Soviet Union in 1989–1991. With America as the only remaining superpower, George the only remaining superpower, George Bush led an international coalition to victory Bush led an international coalition to victory in the Persian Gulf War, but the Middle East in the Persian Gulf War, but the Middle East remained a dangerous tinderbox despite new remained a dangerous tinderbox despite new efforts to resolve the Israel-Arab conflict.efforts to resolve the Israel-Arab conflict.

THE ELECTION OF THE ELECTION OF RONALD REAGAN, 1980RONALD REAGAN, 1980

President Jimmy Carter’s administration seemed to be bungling and President Jimmy Carter’s administration seemed to be bungling and befuddled. It could not solve (or even control for that matter) the befuddled. It could not solve (or even control for that matter) the rampant double-digit inflation in the economy OR handle foreign affairs rampant double-digit inflation in the economy OR handle foreign affairs well.well.

Late in 1979, Late in 1979, Edward (Ted) Kennedy Edward (Ted) Kennedy declared his candidacy for the declared his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for 1980. But, his chances were dashed by his Democratic nomination for 1980. But, his chances were dashed by his suspicious 1969 driving accident in Chappaquiddick Island, suspicious 1969 driving accident in Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts, when a young female passenger drowned and he Massachusetts, when a young female passenger drowned and he delayed reporting the accident.delayed reporting the accident.

As the Democrats dueled it out, the Republicans chose conservative former actor As the Democrats dueled it out, the Republicans chose conservative former actor Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan. His nomination signaled the return of conservatism, since the . His nomination signaled the return of conservatism, since the average American “baby boomer” was now older than during the stormy sixties average American “baby boomer” was now older than during the stormy sixties and was perhaps more likely to favor the right.and was perhaps more likely to favor the right.

New groups that spearheaded the “new right” movement included the Moral Majority New groups that spearheaded the “new right” movement included the Moral Majority and other conservative Christian groups.and other conservative Christian groups.

Ronald Reagan was a man whose values had been formed before the turbulent Ronald Reagan was a man whose values had been formed before the turbulent sixties. Reagan adopted a stance that depicted “big government” as bad, sixties. Reagan adopted a stance that depicted “big government” as bad, federal intervention in local affairs as condemnable, and favoritism for federal intervention in local affairs as condemnable, and favoritism for minorities as negative.minorities as negative.

He drew on the ideas of the “neoconservatives,” a group that included Norman He drew on the ideas of the “neoconservatives,” a group that included Norman Podhortz, editor of Podhortz, editor of CommentaryCommentary magazine, and Irving Kristol, editor of magazine, and Irving Kristol, editor of Public InterestPublic Interest, two men who championed free-market capitalism., two men who championed free-market capitalism.

Reagan had grown up in an impoverished family, become a B-movie actor in Reagan had grown up in an impoverished family, become a B-movie actor in Hollywood in the 1940s, became president of the Screen Actors Guild, purged Hollywood in the 1940s, became president of the Screen Actors Guild, purged suspected “reds” during the McCarthy era, acted as spokesperson for General suspected “reds” during the McCarthy era, acted as spokesperson for General Electric, and become a 3-term California governor.Electric, and become a 3-term California governor.

Reagan’s photogenic looks and commanding personality on televised debates, as Reagan’s photogenic looks and commanding personality on televised debates, as well as his convincing attacks on President Carter’s problems, helped him win well as his convincing attacks on President Carter’s problems, helped him win the election of 1980 by a landslide.the election of 1980 by a landslide.

Just as importantly, Republicans regained control of the Senate.Just as importantly, Republicans regained control of the Senate.

Carter’s farewell address talked of toning down the nuclear arms race, Carter’s farewell address talked of toning down the nuclear arms race, protecting the environment, and continuing to push hard for human rights protecting the environment, and continuing to push hard for human rights (which he continues to do to this very day).(which he continues to do to this very day).

THE REAGAN THE REAGAN REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION

Reagan’s inauguration day coincided with Reagan’s inauguration day coincided with the release of the U.S. hostages by the release of the U.S. hostages by their Iranian captives, 444 days after their Iranian captives, 444 days after it began.it began.

Reagan assembled a conservative Reagan assembled a conservative cabinet of what he referred to as the cabinet of what he referred to as the “best and brightest,” while taking “best and brightest,” while taking dead aim at the bloated federal dead aim at the bloated federal budget and what had become a budget and what had become a

welfare state in his mind.welfare state in his mind.

For over two decades, the government budget had slowly and steadily For over two decades, the government budget had slowly and steadily risen, much to the disturbance of the tax-paying public. By the 1980s, risen, much to the disturbance of the tax-paying public. By the 1980s, the public was tired of the New Deal and the Great Society program’s the public was tired of the New Deal and the Great Society program’s costs and were ready to slash bills, just as Reagan proposed.costs and were ready to slash bills, just as Reagan proposed.

His federal budget had cuts of some $35 billion, and he even wooed some His federal budget had cuts of some $35 billion, and he even wooed some Southern Democrats to abandon their own party and follow him.Southern Democrats to abandon their own party and follow him.

But on March 30, 1981, the president was shot and wounded by a But on March 30, 1981, the president was shot and wounded by a deranged John Hinckley. He recovered in only twelve days despite his deranged John Hinckley. He recovered in only twelve days despite his advanced age (70), an impressive feat due to his devotion to physical advanced age (70), an impressive feat due to his devotion to physical fitness. The national outpouring of sympathy and support was fitness. The national outpouring of sympathy and support was enormous.enormous.

THE BATTLE OF THE THE BATTLE OF THE BUDGETBUDGET

The 2The 2ndnd part of his part of his economic program economic program called for deep tax called for deep tax cuts – 25% across the cuts – 25% across the board reductions.board reductions.

Reagan’s “supply-Reagan’s “supply-side” economics side” economics advisors assured him advisors assured him that the combination that the combination of budgetary discipline of budgetary discipline and tax reduction and tax reduction would stimulate new would stimulate new economic growth and economic growth and ultimately reduce the ultimately reduce the federal deficit.federal deficit.

However, this economic plan backfired as the nation slid into its worst recession However, this economic plan backfired as the nation slid into its worst recession since the Great Depression, with unemployment reaching nearly 11% in 1982 since the Great Depression, with unemployment reaching nearly 11% in 1982 and several banks failing.and several banks failing.

Critics yapped that Reagan’s programs and tax cuts had caused this mayhem, but Critics yapped that Reagan’s programs and tax cuts had caused this mayhem, but in reality, it had been Carter’s “tight money” policies that had led to the in reality, it had been Carter’s “tight money” policies that had led to the recession, and Reagan and his advisors sat out the storm, waiting for a recession, and Reagan and his advisors sat out the storm, waiting for a recovery that finally began to roll around by 1983.recovery that finally began to roll around by 1983.

Yet, even so, the economy of the 1980s was not uniformly sound. Income gaps widened Yet, even so, the economy of the 1980s was not uniformly sound. Income gaps widened between the rich and poor for the first time in the 20between the rich and poor for the first time in the 20 thth century. Quite simply, the poor got century. Quite simply, the poor got poorer, and the very rich grew fabulously richer – hence, the emergence of the “yuppie”!poorer, and the very rich grew fabulously richer – hence, the emergence of the “yuppie”!

Ultimately, the economic upturn was likely because of the massive military spending ($2 Ultimately, the economic upturn was likely because of the massive military spending ($2 trillion) of the Reagan administration done in order to combat falling behind the Soviets in trillion) of the Reagan administration done in order to combat falling behind the Soviets in the arms race.the arms race.

Ironically, this conservative president thereby plunged the government into a red-ink bath of Ironically, this conservative president thereby plunged the government into a red-ink bath of deficit spending that made the New Deal look downright stingy. Suddenly, America deficit spending that made the New Deal look downright stingy. Suddenly, America became the world’s heaviest borrowers in the global economy of the 1980s (or is this 2011 became the world’s heaviest borrowers in the global economy of the 1980s (or is this 2011 we’re talking about here?)we’re talking about here?)