Era 8: The 1980s

1980 Summer Olympics Boycott

  • President Carter boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because the Soviets didn't remove troops.
  • The boycott mattered to the athletes.
  • Carter made decisions based on morality and faith, not convenience.
  • Carter's faith was important, leading to decisions based on his morals.

1980 Winter Olympics and the "Miracle on Ice"

  • The US competed in the 1980 Winter Olympics, which featured the "Miracle on Ice."
  • The Soviets participated in the Winter Olympics.
  • The Olympics were seen as a festival about amateur athletics. The Soviets cheated this rule.
  • The Soviets had the Red Army team, a professional hockey team.
  • American athletes were amateurs.
  • The 1992 Summer Olympics "Dream Team" in basketball was unique because it featured professional American players.
  • The Soviets team went on an exhibition tour and beat Team USA, except for a loss to the Philadelphia Flyers (Broadstreet Bullies), a physical team.
  • The speaker jokingly describes Philadelphia fans as having a reputation for bad behavior.

"Miracle on Ice" Details

  • The game against the Soviets was not the gold medal game. The tournament involved two pools of six teams, with the top two advancing to a round robin.
  • The US carried a 2-2 tie result with Sweden into the round robin.
  • The US had to play the Soviets and Finland.
  • The optometrist for the team later opened Annabel's Ice Cream in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
  • Recommendation to visit Annabel's Ice Cream and try the chocolate ice cream soda (chocolate syrup, soda water, cream, chocolate ice cream).
  • The Creole Creamery in New Orleans also makes a similar drink.

Importance of Avoiding Fights

  • Getting into a fight would result in ejection from the next game.
  • Fighting may have been an automatic ejection in international play.

The Game Against Finland

  • The US had one win and one tie going into the game against Finland.
  • The Soviets defeated Sweden after their game against the US.
  • The US needed to win against Finland to secure a medal, potentially gold.
  • At the end of the second period, The US was losing 2-1.
  • Coach Brooks's locker room speech: "If you lose this game, you will take this to your f***ing graves."
  • The US scored three goals in the third period to win.

Reaganomics and the Laffer Curve

  • To grow the economy, Reagan wanted tax cuts, especially for the wealthy.
  • Reagan's idea was based on Arthur Laffer's Laffer Curve. The Laffer curve suggests that increasing tax rates beyond a certain point disincentivizes work and investment, reducing tax revenue.
  • The concept was drawn on a napkin at an Italian restaurant.
  • Reducing taxes on the rich would encourage investment, creating jobs for the lower and middle classes (trickle-down economics).
  • Laffer argued that reducing taxes could eliminate the national debt due to increased economic growth.

Reagan's Economic Policies and Outcomes

  • Reagan inherited substantial inflation.
  • In 1981 and 1982, The US economy was in recession with high inflation rates.
  • Reagan told the Federal Reserve to control inflation, leading to increased interest rates.
  • Mortgage rates in the 1980s were around 18-20%.
  • The economy started to grow around 1983.
  • Oil prices collapsed in the 1980s, benefiting The US but hurting Mexico and Nigeria.
  • Mexico and Nigeria borrowed against oil revenues in the 1970s, based on high oil prices. When prices fell, they faced economic difficulties.
  • Inflation subsided as oil prices decreased.
  • Unemployment was low by the end of Reagan's term.
  • The national debt increased from 1trillion1 trillion to 3trillion3 trillion during Reagan's presidency.
  • Defense spending increased, and tax cuts resulted in less revenue.
  • The idea that tax cuts would generate more tax revenue did not materialize.

Attempted Assassination of Ronald Reagan

  • Reagan survived an assassination attempt early in his presidency.
  • The speaker recalls being at Nature's Classroom when they heard about the incident.
  • Reagan was shot and taken to George Washington University Hospital.

John Hinckley and Jodie Foster

  • John Hinckley attempted to assassinate Reagan to impress Jodie Foster.
  • Hinckley was inspired by the movie Taxi Driver, in which De Niro's character attempts to assassinate a senator.
  • Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • Hinckley was sent to a legal institution.

Aftermath of the Assassination Attempt

  • Three other people were shot during the assassination attempt.
  • Presidential Press Secretary James Brady was shot in the head, survived but was paralyzed, and became a gun control advocate.
  • The Brady Bill, passed in 1993, mandated background checks and a five-day waiting period to purchase guns (now instant background checks).