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Raegan

Background

• Born 1911, small‑town Illinois; poor family.

• Careers: sportscaster → Hollywood actor (1937–64) → TV star → became a highly effective communicator (“great communicator”).

Taxation + Political Shift

• At peak Hollywood success, 91% tax rate on top earnings.

• Refused to make more than two films a year because extra income was “not worth it.”

• Developed intense anti‑tax sentiment → became a committed Republican.

Governor of California (1967–74)

• Public image: handsome, reassuring, modest, not power‑hungry.

• Popular for repeated calls to cut:

• Taxes

• “Big government” (anti‑federal intervention)

• Crime

• Welfare (used the “welfare queen” narrative — a racially coded claim; Black Americans were ~10% of population but nearly 50% of AFDC recipients).

Economic Beliefs

• Supported supply‑side economics → focus on low taxes, deregulation, inflation control, not welfare/unemployment.

• As president, this became Reaganomics.

1980 Election

• Beat Carter mainly due to Carter’s poor record (economy, Iran, national malaise).

• Reagan appealed as decisive, optimistic, promised lower taxes + end of big government, and seemed more likely to restore US global respect.