Reagan Era Notes for Exam Preparation

Reagan's Elections

Election of 1980

  • Candidates:
    • Ronald Reagan (former Hollywood actor and California governor) with VP George H.W. Bush
    • Jimmy Carter with VP Walter Mondale
  • Election Results:
    • Popular Vote: 43,904,153 (R) vs. 35,483,883 (D) vs. 5,720,060 (Independent)
    • Electoral Vote: 483 (R) vs. 49 (D)
    • Republicans gained a Senate majority for first time since 1954

Reagan and the “New Right”

  • Crisis of Confidence in government during the 1960s and 70s due to dishonesty.
  • Emergence of the Moral Majority, a group concerned with:
    • Abortion
    • Gay rights
    • America’s international decline
    • Lack of Christian values
  • The “New Right” embraced Reagan, advocating a return to traditional values.

Election of 1984

  • Candidates:
    • Ronald Reagan (R) with VP George H.W. Bush
    • Walter Mondale (D) with VP Geraldine Ferraro (first woman from a major party on a national ballot)
  • Election Results:
    • Electoral Vote: 525 (R) vs. 13 (D)

“Reaganomics”

  • Economic Recovery Tax of 1981:
    • Lowered taxes and cut federal spending on various programs (e.g., job training, student loans, Medicare)
  • Pro-Business Policies:
    • Based on supply-side (trickle-down) economic theories.
  • Impact:
    • Tax cuts for consumers aimed to stimulate economic growth.
  • Critiques:
    • Neglected the poor who couldn’t invest.
    • Stockbrokers exploited relaxed regulations, inflating stock prices.
  • Reagan prioritized military spending despite promises of a balanced budget:
    • Resulted in mixed economic gains and increased public confidence.

Foreign Policy

Latin America

  • Nicaragua:
    • Sandinistas overthrew leader Somoza in 1979, which led the U.S. to support the Contras (CIA-trained rebels).
    • Boland Amendment (1984): Prohibited further U.S. aid to Contras due to drug trafficking issues.

Reagan’s Philosophy

  • “Peace through Strength”:
    • Advocated superior military power to deter enemy expansion.
    • Initially moved away from détente, labeling USSR as the “evil empire.”

Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)

  • Aim: Reduce nuclear arsenals of the U.S. and USSR over 20 years, contributing to Cold War end.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

  • Proposed a system to intercept missiles aimed at the U.S. (nicknamed “Star Wars”).
  • Did not receive Congressional approval.

Reagan Doctrine (1985)

  • Supported anti-communist forces globally:
    • Encouraged U.S. military intervention in Grenada to remove anti-U.S. rebels.

Iran-Contra Scandal

  • U.S. secretly sold weapons to Iran to secure hostages.
  • Profits from arms sales were funneled to Contras (illegal under Boland Amendment).
  • Key figures involved included National Security Adviser John Poindexter and Oliver North.

Relationship with the USSR

  • Notably engaged with Mikhail Gorbachev, leading to significant arms agreements and the eventual end of the Cold War.
  • Famous demand: “Tear down this wall!” directed at Gorbachev in Berlin, 1987.

Free Trade Agreement

  • Trade agreement with Canada, removing trade restrictions over ten years, boosting cross-border commerce.

Domestic Issues

Challenger Explosion

  • Occurred on January 28, 1986, resulting in a 32-month hiatus for NASA's shuttle program to reassess safety measures.

Supreme Court Justices

  • Key appointments:
    • Sandra Day O’Connor (first woman justice)
    • Antonin Scalia
    • William Rehnquist
    • Anthony Kennedy

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

  • Strong women's movement faced opposition led by Phyllis Schlafly.
  • Failed ratification in 1982, falling three states short.

Assassination Attempt

  • March 31, 1981: Reagan was shot; injuries included a bullet that nearly hit his heart and severe injuries to press secretary James Brady.