The New Right The New Right and the Reagan and the Reagan

RevolutionRevolution

Carter’s Crisis of Carter’s Crisis of ConfidenceConfidence

President Carter struggled with President Carter struggled with inflation, high unemployment, and inflation, high unemployment, and soaring energy costs.soaring energy costs.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran stopped oil shipments to the Iran stopped oil shipments to the US. US.

He delivered a televised address He delivered a televised address that became known as the "Malaise that became known as the "Malaise Speech." Speech."

Carter asks Americans to return to Carter asks Americans to return to the attitudes and values that made the attitudes and values that made America strong and to share the America strong and to share the responsibility of energy responsibility of energy conservation. conservation.

Congress rejected most of the Congress rejected most of the energy proposals in the speech. energy proposals in the speech.

Carter's approval rating Carter's approval rating plummeted.plummeted.

The president was criticized for The president was criticized for "blaming" the American people and "blaming" the American people and offering few solutions. offering few solutions.

Carter’s “Malaise Carter’s “Malaise Speech”Speech”

““In a nation that was proud of In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption.”indulgence and consumption.”

“ “This intolerable dependence This intolerable dependence on foreign oil threatens our on foreign oil threatens our economic independence and economic independence and the very security of our nation. the very security of our nation. The energy crisis is real.”The energy crisis is real.”

““Every act of energy Every act of energy conservation like this is more conservation like this is more than just common sense -- I tell than just common sense -- I tell you it is an act of patriotism.”you it is an act of patriotism.”

Gas lines during the energy crisis

Iran Hostage Crisis Iran Hostage Crisis Discredits CarterDiscredits Carter

After US-backed Shah of After US-backed Shah of Iran was deposed in January Iran was deposed in January 1979, the most westernized 1979, the most westernized country in the Middle East country in the Middle East transitioned to an Islamic transitioned to an Islamic fundamentalist regime led by fundamentalist regime led by Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini. Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini.

When President Carter When President Carter allowed the Shah into the allowed the Shah into the United States for cancer United States for cancer treatment, a student group treatment, a student group stormed the US embassy in stormed the US embassy in Iran and took 53 staff Iran and took 53 staff members hostage. members hostage.

Public support for Carter Public support for Carter quickly waned as the months quickly waned as the months dragged on with no progress. dragged on with no progress.

Iran Hostage Crisis Iran Hostage Crisis Discredits CarterDiscredits Carter

After months of abortive efforts to After months of abortive efforts to forge a diplomatic solution, the forge a diplomatic solution, the President ordered a secret President ordered a secret military rescue operation in April military rescue operation in April 1980. 1980.

The operation ended in disaster The operation ended in disaster before getting close to the before getting close to the embassy when two helicopters embassy when two helicopters malfunctioned and another malfunctioned and another collided with a cargo plane, killing collided with a cargo plane, killing eight service members. eight service members.

Iranians displayed the burned Iranians displayed the burned corpses before television cameras.corpses before television cameras.

The Iran Hostage Crisis became The Iran Hostage Crisis became symbolic of the decline of US symbolic of the decline of US prestige in the world and the prestige in the world and the President was criticized for President was criticized for incompetence.incompetence.

After 444 days of captivity, the After 444 days of captivity, the hostages were released hostages were released immediately after Reagan's immediately after Reagan's inauguration in January 1981. inauguration in January 1981.

Wreckage of Operation Eagle Claw

Roe v. Wade Mobilizes Roe v. Wade Mobilizes ConservativesConservatives

In Roe v. Wade (1973), the In Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court ruled that Supreme Court ruled that state laws restricting abortion state laws restricting abortion violated a woman's violated a woman's constitutional right to privacy. constitutional right to privacy.

The issue of legalized The issue of legalized abortion helped galvanize the abortion helped galvanize the rise of the Christian Right in rise of the Christian Right in the 1970's and 1980's. the 1970's and 1980's.

In the wake of the sexual In the wake of the sexual revolution and the women's revolution and the women's liberation movement, many liberation movement, many conservatives sought to conservatives sought to restore "traditional family restore "traditional family values".values".

Roe v. Wade catalyzed the Roe v. Wade catalyzed the formation of a number of formation of a number of enduring political enduring political organizations.organizations.

Phyllis Schlafly and the Phyllis Schlafly and the ERA ERA

One item on the agenda of social One item on the agenda of social conservatives in the 1970's was conservatives in the 1970's was the defeat of the Equal Rights the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment. Amendment.

Many felt that felt that Many felt that felt that "traditional family values" had "traditional family values" had been undermined by the been undermined by the women's liberation movement. women's liberation movement.

Others were repelled by what Others were repelled by what they believed was intervention by they believed was intervention by the state into the private sphere. the state into the private sphere.

The campaign to stop The campaign to stop ratification, led by activist and ratification, led by activist and self-described homemaker Phyllis self-described homemaker Phyllis Schlafly, demonstrated the Schlafly, demonstrated the financial and political capabilities financial and political capabilities of the emerging New Right. of the emerging New Right.

ERA died in 1982, just three ERA died in 1982, just three votes short of passage.votes short of passage.

Text of Proposed ERAText of Proposed ERA Section 1. Equality of rights Section 1. Equality of rights

under the law shall not be under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the denied or abridged by the United States or by any State United States or by any State on account of sex.on account of sex.

Section 2. The Congress shall Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.provisions of this article.

Section 3. This amendment Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.after the date of ratification.

The Christian RightThe Christian Right The growth of evangelical The growth of evangelical

Christianity in the 1970's Christianity in the 1970's reflects the concern for what reflects the concern for what many perceived as a decline many perceived as a decline in traditional moral values. in traditional moral values.

By 1978, 40% of Americans By 1978, 40% of Americans described themselves as described themselves as "born again," including "born again," including President Carter. President Carter.

The divisive issues pervading The divisive issues pervading American politics, including American politics, including abortion and women's rights, abortion and women's rights, contributed to the contributed to the proliferation of evangelical proliferation of evangelical political organizations. political organizations.

TelevangelismTelevangelism Evangelical television Evangelical television

progamming enjoyed a rising progamming enjoyed a rising level of influence and level of influence and viewership throughout the viewership throughout the 1970's and 1980's. 1970's and 1980's.

Charismatic "televangelists" Charismatic "televangelists" like Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker, like Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, and Pat Jimmy Swaggert, and Pat Robertson delivered rousing Robertson delivered rousing sermons that resonated with sermons that resonated with disaffected evangelicals and disaffected evangelicals and translated into political translated into political action.action.

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker

Political Influence of the Political Influence of the Christian RightChristian Right

Groups like the National Groups like the National Conservative Political Action Conservative Political Action Committee and Reverend Jerry Committee and Reverend Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority Falwell's Moral Majority pioneered the use of pioneered the use of sophisticated campaigning and sophisticated campaigning and fundraising techniques such as fundraising techniques such as direct mail. direct mail. The influence and campaign The influence and campaign tactics of Christian Right tactics of Christian Right delivered a critical proportion of delivered a critical proportion of votes to Ronald Reagan in 1980.votes to Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Rev. Jerry Falwall

Intellectual Foundations of Intellectual Foundations of Modern Conservatism: Modern Conservatism:

Goldwater Goldwater

Senator Barry Goldwater is Senator Barry Goldwater is widely regarded as the Father of widely regarded as the Father of Modern American Conservatism. Modern American Conservatism.

Goldwater's libertarian Goldwater's libertarian orientation often put him at odds orientation often put him at odds with the social and moral agenda with the social and moral agenda of the Reagan Administration of the Reagan Administration and the Christian Right by the and the Christian Right by the 1980's. 1980's.

““The Speech”The Speech” Reagan's televised 1964 "A Reagan's televised 1964 "A

Time for Choosing" speech on Time for Choosing" speech on behalf of the Goldwater behalf of the Goldwater campaign propelled the actor campaign propelled the actor from corporate spokesman to from corporate spokesman to conservative champion. conservative champion.

It became known simply as It became known simply as "The Speech." "The Speech."

Reagan outlined the goals of Reagan outlined the goals of the modern conservative the modern conservative movement: smaller movement: smaller government, lower taxes, government, lower taxes, personal autonomy, and more personal autonomy, and more aggressive policy toward aggressive policy toward Communist states.Communist states.

He implies that liberal policies He implies that liberal policies represent a dangerous shift represent a dangerous shift toward socialism, even toward socialism, even drawing parallels between drawing parallels between Lyndon Johnson and Karl Lyndon Johnson and Karl Marx.Marx.

Intellectual Foundations of Intellectual Foundations of Modern Conservatism: KirkModern Conservatism: Kirk

Russell Kirk was another Russell Kirk was another influential intellectual of influential intellectual of American conservatism. American conservatism. Reagan awarded him with Reagan awarded him with Presidential Citizens Medal in Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989. 1989.

Kirk’s “The Essence of Kirk’s “The Essence of Conservatism” (1957) : Conservatism” (1957) : “The conservative is a person “The conservative is a person who endeavors to conserve who endeavors to conserve the best in our traditions and the best in our traditions and our institutions, reconciling our institutions, reconciling that best with necessary that best with necessary reform from time to time.”reform from time to time.”

Election of 1980 Election of 1980

Throughout his term, President Throughout his term, President Carter grappled with economic Carter grappled with economic issues coupled with foreign issues coupled with foreign policy nightmares such as the policy nightmares such as the ongoing Iran Hostage Crisis ongoing Iran Hostage Crisis and strained Soviet-American and strained Soviet-American relations following the USSR relations following the USSR invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Throughout the campaign, Throughout the campaign, Reagan questioned Carter's Reagan questioned Carter's competence, while Carter tried competence, while Carter tried to cast him as a dangerous to cast him as a dangerous extremist. extremist.

The election came down to a The election came down to a single televised debate in single televised debate in October 1980. Reagan closed October 1980. Reagan closed the debate with the campaign's the debate with the campaign's signature refrain, "Are you signature refrain, "Are you better off now than you were better off now than you were four years ago?"four years ago?"

Reagan LandslideReagan Landslide The election ended in a The election ended in a

landslide victory of Ronald landslide victory of Ronald Reagan and the first Reagan and the first Republican majority in the Republican majority in the Senate since 1952. Senate since 1952.

Dismal voter turnout Dismal voter turnout suggested disaffection and suggested disaffection and apathy toward the political apathy toward the political process as the 1970's process as the 1970's came to an end and the came to an end and the "Reagan Revolution" "Reagan Revolution" began.began.

Election of 1980Election of 1980

The Reagan Revolution The Reagan Revolution Begins Begins

Following his overwhelming Following his overwhelming victory Reagan and his political victory Reagan and his political allies began an effort to reverse allies began an effort to reverse the political legacy of the New the political legacy of the New Deal and Great Society. Deal and Great Society.

In his first Inaugural Address: "In In his first Inaugural Address: "In this present crisis, government is this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." government is the problem."

Reagan was able to capitalize on Reagan was able to capitalize on the new conservative national the new conservative national sentiment with a simple message: sentiment with a simple message: low taxes, smaller government, low taxes, smaller government, and strong national defense.and strong national defense.

In addition to delivering a clear, In addition to delivering a clear, concise agenda, Reagan conveyed concise agenda, Reagan conveyed a sense of optimism and a sense of optimism and accessibility that earned him the accessibility that earned him the title "The Great Communicator." title "The Great Communicator."

A Dramatic Start to the A Dramatic Start to the Reagan Presidency Reagan Presidency

In 1981, Reagan enjoyed high In 1981, Reagan enjoyed high public approval and success in public approval and success in implementing his campaign implementing his campaign promises. promises.

Immediately following his Immediately following his inauguration, Iranian terrorists inauguration, Iranian terrorists released the American hostages released the American hostages after 444 days of captivity. after 444 days of captivity.

Congress enacted legislation to Congress enacted legislation to reduce tax rates by 25% over reduce tax rates by 25% over three years, cut social three years, cut social spending, and advance the goal spending, and advance the goal of a balanced budget by 1984. of a balanced budget by 1984.

A Dramatic Start to the A Dramatic Start to the Reagan PresidencyReagan Presidency

On March 30, 1981, Reagan survived an assassination attempt by On March 30, 1981, Reagan survived an assassination attempt by John Hinkley Jr, who shot the president in an effort to impress John Hinkley Jr, who shot the president in an effort to impress actress Jodie Foster. Reagan was more badly injured than the actress Jodie Foster. Reagan was more badly injured than the administration reported, but he remained optimistic and his administration reported, but he remained optimistic and his approval rating reached 73%. approval rating reached 73%.

A Dramatic Start to the A Dramatic Start to the Reagan PresidencyReagan Presidency

In 1981, Reagan appointed the first female Supreme Court Justice In 1981, Reagan appointed the first female Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Although she identified herself as a Sandra Day O'Connor. Although she identified herself as a moderate Republican, foes of abortion and the ERA condemned moderate Republican, foes of abortion and the ERA condemned her appointment to the bench. her appointment to the bench.

ReaganomicsReaganomics The acendancy of The acendancy of

conservatism in the 1980's conservatism in the 1980's can be partially attributed to can be partially attributed to the economic "stagflation" of the economic "stagflation" of the Carter years. the Carter years.

Reagan espoused supply-side Reagan espoused supply-side economic theory. economic theory.

Supply-siders favored Supply-siders favored simultaneous tax cuts and simultaneous tax cuts and reductions in spending to reductions in spending to encourage investors and encourage investors and entrepreneurs.entrepreneurs.

Conservative author George Conservative author George Gilder wrote, "a successful Gilder wrote, "a successful economy depends on the economy depends on the proliferation of the rich." proliferation of the rich."

ReaganomicsReaganomics

Reagan delivered an address to Reagan delivered an address to Congress shortly after being Congress shortly after being wounded in an assassination wounded in an assassination attempt. attempt.

In the spirit of the Reagan In the spirit of the Reagan Revolution, he calls upon Revolution, he calls upon lawmakers to try a radical new lawmakers to try a radical new approach to economic policy. approach to economic policy.

Congress members received Congress members received him with applause and quickly him with applause and quickly passed the Economic Recovery passed the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 (with cut taxes Tax Act of 1981 (with cut taxes by $747 billion over five years) by $747 billion over five years) and the Omnibus and the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 Reconciliation Act of 1981 (which in one piece of (which in one piece of legislation, cut over 200 social legislation, cut over 200 social and cultural spending by $136 and cultural spending by $136 billion over two years). billion over two years).

The tax cut was the largest in The tax cut was the largest in history.history.

Defense Spending Defense Spending Increases Increases

One facet of Reagan's ideological One facet of Reagan's ideological outlook was the need to bolter outlook was the need to bolter America's defense capability.America's defense capability.

Despite vowing to dramatically Despite vowing to dramatically reduce taxes and government reduce taxes and government spending, the Reagan spending, the Reagan Administration increased Administration increased military spending by over 50% military spending by over 50% between 1981 and 1988.between 1981 and 1988.

Reagan emphasized the Reagan emphasized the increasing military capability of increasing military capability of the USSR. He acknowledged the the USSR. He acknowledged the expense of the military buildup, expense of the military buildup, but insisted it was vital to but insisted it was vital to national security. national security.

Star Wars Star Wars In 1983, President Reagan In 1983, President Reagan

proposed his Strategic Defense proposed his Strategic Defense Initiative as an additional check Initiative as an additional check on Soviet nuclear capability. on Soviet nuclear capability.

Reagan envisioned space-based Reagan envisioned space-based missile defense technology missile defense technology capable of striking down capable of striking down nuclear weapons before they nuclear weapons before they reached the United States. reached the United States.

"Wouldn't it be better to save "Wouldn't it be better to save lives than to avenge them?"lives than to avenge them?"

The press derisively dubbed The press derisively dubbed the plan "Star Wars", and many the plan "Star Wars", and many believed it was infeasible due believed it was infeasible due to the enormous expense and to the enormous expense and technical innovation that it technical innovation that it would require to become would require to become operational.operational.

Recession and ReboundRecession and Rebound

In 1982, the worst recession since the Great Depression occurred. In 1982, the worst recession since the Great Depression occurred.

Recession and ReboundRecession and Rebound

A recession occurs when GDP declines for two or more consecutive quarters.A recession occurs when GDP declines for two or more consecutive quarters. During a recession, production levels go down, the stock market is unhealthy, unemployment During a recession, production levels go down, the stock market is unhealthy, unemployment

rises, and consumer spending declines. rises, and consumer spending declines. By the middle of 1983, the economy made its recovery. By the middle of 1983, the economy made its recovery.

The Deficit and the The Deficit and the National DebtNational Debt

The hike in defense spending, and vastly reduced tax revenues The hike in defense spending, and vastly reduced tax revenues resulted in a skyrocketing federal budget deficit . resulted in a skyrocketing federal budget deficit .

By 1988, the interest alone on the national debt reached 14% of By 1988, the interest alone on the national debt reached 14% of the annual budget and the United States became the world's the annual budget and the United States became the world's biggest debtor.biggest debtor.

Reagan’s goal to balance the budget by 1984 became infeasible.Reagan’s goal to balance the budget by 1984 became infeasible.

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