reagan years
TRANSCRIPT
The Conservative Movement BuildsEntitlement programs provide guaranteed
benefits to specific groupsHigh cost of programs, stories of fraud upset
taxpayersMany skeptic of civil rights rulings like
busing over long distances
The New RightNew Right - collection
of grass-roots groups promoting single issues
Affirmative action - special consideration for women, minoritiesmany say it’s reverse
discrimination, favoring one group over others
The Conservative CoalitionBusiness, religious, other groups form
conservative coalitionConservative periodicals, think tanks discuss,
develop policiesGoals are small government, family values,
patriotism, business
The Moral Majority1970s religious
revival uses TV, radio; strong among fundamentalists
Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority - Christians for traditional morals
Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority
Conservative Victories in 1984 and 1988The Reagan CoalitionReagan forges large coalition of diverse
groupsbusiness people, Southerners, Westerners,
Reagan Democrats
Conservative Policies Under Reagan and BushPresidents Reagan and Bush pursue a
conservative agenda that includes tax cuts, budget cuts, and increased defense spending.
Early YearsReagan, a former movie star, was twice
elected governor of California.Election of 1980 – Reagan won a landslide
victory over Pres. Jimmy Carter (Dem). He had a total of 489 electoral votes to 49 for Carter.
Reagan’s Landslide over Carter in the Election of 1980
Reagan’s QualificationsRonald Reagan wins 1980 Republican
nominationGeorge H. W. Bush is running mate
Reagan served 2 terms as governor of California
The 1980 Presidential ElectionReagan runs on conservative issues, weak
economy, Iran crisisCalled Great Communicator: can simplify
issues, give clear answersGets 51% popular vote, 44 states in electoral
race, Senate majority
“Reaganomics” Takes OverReaganomics - Reagan’s Economic PoliciesReagan encourages private investment by
cutting federal governmentReagan institutes budget cuts, tax cuts,
increased defense spendingMaintains entitlement programs that benefit
middle classCuts programs that benefit poor, urban
population
Reaganomics included cuts programs that benefit poor, urban population
Tax CutsSupply-side economics
holds that lower taxes result in:investment, greater
productivity, more supply, lower prices
Congress decreases taxes by 25% over 3 years
Increased Defense SpendingDefense Department
budget almost doubles; offsets cuts in social programs
Reagan asks scientists for Strategic Defense Initiativeanti-missile defense
system
The National Debt ClimbsSpending outstrips
revenues; new 1982 taxes do not balance budget
National debt almost doubles by end of Reagan’s first term
Deregulating the EconomyReagan reduces government by
deregulation - less industry regulation increases competition, results in
lower pricesCuts budget of Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)fights pollution, conserves natural
resourcesInterior Department permits more
oil drilling, lumbering, coal miningsells millions of acres of public
lands
Recession and RecoveryJuly 1981 - November 1982, worst recession
since Great DepressionEarly 1983 consumer spending fuels economic
upturn:more consumer confidence, decrease in inflation,
unemployment1987, market crashes, then recovers,
continues up
The 1984 Presidential ElectionDemocrat Walter Mondale chooses Geraldine
Ferraro as running matefirst woman on major party’s presidential ticket
Reagan, Bush win by landslide
Election of 1984During the
campaign, Reagan stressed the nation’s econ. growth, the decline in unemployment, and the low inflation rate.
Economics PlanCongress approved his plan to cut taxes
while reducing welfare and unemployment programs.
Despite spending cuts, the fed. gov’t still spent more $ than it collected. Budget deficit for 1983 was almost $200 billion.
The lowering of tax rates combined with a thriving economy helped reduce the fed. Deficit to 148 billion.
A change was made in the Social Security Act raising the retirement age above 65.
DefenseReagan
supported the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a research program designed to develop a space-based missile defense system. Press called the program “Star Wars”.
Defense SpendingDespite opposition, Reagan was able to get
Congress to pass his costly defense program. The plan called for a large build-up of missiles, bombers, and other weapons that the Pres. Insisted were needed to meet any threat from the Soviet Union.
Foreign AffairsU.S. and U.S.S.R. held talks to reduce nuclear
arms, but failed to reach an agreement. Reagan then sent missiles to U.S. allies in W. Eur., raising the tensions between the Americans and Soviets.
Ronald Reagan speaking in front of the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987.
Foreign AffairsSeveral meetings were
held with new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. U.S. and Soviets agreed to educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges. Reagan and Gorbachev signed a treaty to eliminate certain ground-launched nuclear missiles.
Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan
Supreme Court AppointmentsReagan appoints Sandra Day O’Connor first
woman justice of the nation’s highest court.
Ronald Reagan and Sandra Day O’Connor
Terrorist AttackReagan sent several U.S. Marine Corp. units
to Lebanon to try to reduce the level of fighting b/w troops of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Org. (PLO). A suicide truck bomber destroyed a Marine headquarters bldg. killing 214 Americans.
A smoke cloud rises from the rubble of the bombed barracks at Beirut International Airport.
Terrorist AttackTerrorists bombed a German nightclub,
killing a U.S. serviceman and injuring others. U.S. said agents from Libya were involved. Reagan ordered air strikes against military and terrorist bases in the Libyan cities of Tripoli and Benghazi.
1986 terrorists bombed a German nightclub, killing a U.S. serviceman
Fighting CommunismIn the early 1980s, Cuba and the Soviet
Union – 2 Communist nations – Were giving war materials to the gov’t of
Nicaragua and rebels in El Salvador. The U.S. responded by sending advisers and
arms to the rebels in Nicaragua and the gov’t of El Salvador.
Middle EastIran laid mines in the Persian Gulf to disrupt
shipping and fired on American ships and helicopters.
Pres. ordered military responses and cut of trade with Iran
A warplane from Iraq fired two missiles that struck an American warship patrolling the Persian Gulf. 37 crew members were killed. The Iraqis said the attack was a mistake.
Photo of the USS Stark after being hit by Iraqi warplanes in the Persian Gulf
Drugs and AlcoholFirst Lady Nancy
Reagan took a special interest in supporting activities that called attention to the problems of drug and alcohol abuse among young people.
The program was called “Just say no”.
Iran-Contra AffairReagan administration
secretly sold weapons to Iran
Used the profits to help Nicaraguan rebels.
It was illegal in U.S. to sell arms to nations that supported terrorism.
The illegal deal was known as the “Iran-Contra Affair”.
Led to criticism of Reagan by Congress but no proof of his actual involvement.
The Iran-Contra Scandal1983, terrorists loyal to Iran take Americans
hostage in LebanonReagan says no negotiating with terrorists;
sells arms for hostagesStaff divert some profits to Contras; violate
Boland Amendment1987, Congressional committees hold joint
TV hearings1988, several staffers indicted; 1992, Bush
pardons Reagan officials