Ronald Reagan
The Man and His Presidency
Background of the President
had an easy communication style that came from his background as an entertainer
after he graduated from college, he worked as a radio sports announcer until he signed a contract with a movie studio in 1937
in 1954 he began to host a television show that was sponsored by General Electric
he then began to tour the country for the company and gave speeches that promoted traditional values and American business
after his views started to become more conservative he left the Democratic Party and joined the Republican Party
- in 1964 he gained political fame because of his speech that supported conservative senator Barry Goldwater’s run for the presidency
- originally a Democrat, but then joins the Republican Party
President's Policies
Foreign Policy
- from 1981 to 1989
- It (Reagan Doctrine) was characterized by a strategy of peace through strength followed by a warming of relations with the Soviet Union and resulting in an end to the Cold War when Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power.
Trade imbalance with Japan
Japan’s import restrictions cause American gods to be kept of of Japanese store shelves
Japan imports to the US more than what the US exports to Japan
Reagan believed the the US had to weaken communism by challenging it without going to war (created policies, like building new nuclear missile systems or funding covert operations against Soviet troops and Allies, to topple the communist nations
dedicated billions to the development/ production of B-1 and B-2 bombers.
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI): propose program where land and space based lasers would destroy any missiles aimed at the US before the targets could be reached
supported anti-communist rebellions around the globe
US funded/trained the mujahadeen (anti-Soviet rebels in Afghanistan)
Reagan made a speech called “Tear Down This Wall” about destroying the wall in Berlin that separated communist East Berlin and democratic West Berlin (came down in November 1989)
Domestic Policy
“Reagan Revolution” - cutting the taxes for the wealthy to promote investment and the creation of jobs, while at the same time cutting government spending
Conservatives advocated belt-tightening and balanced budgets
after a deep recession, the economy entered an era of growth and posterity
Reaganomics - the theory of supply-side economics
if taxes are reduced, people will work more and have more money to spend, which will then grow the economy
supply-side economics
Economics Recovery Act of 1981 - reduced taxes by 25% over three years
Savings and Loans crisis - Savings and Loans banks fail because of fraudulent behavior and too many risky loans
Equal Access Act - required public secondary schools to allow any group equal access to school facilities
limited the enforcement of regulations on businesses and banks
supported regulation of businesses to constrain the free enterprise system
limited the enforcement of environmental protection
Space shuttle Challenger Explodes
Trading imbalance with Japan
- US sends less to Japan than what Japan sends to US
equal rights for disabled citizens
Americans with Disabilities Act passed - equal rights for the disabled
AIDS becomes a threat
Neoconservatism
one who returns to a traditional viewpoint in political ideology
Reduced the size of the government
Cut taxes
Shrunk the federal budget
Supply-side Economics
Increase in Military Spending due to the threat of communism
Created new jobs
Large increase in national debt
Increasingly Friendly Relations with the Soviet Union
- Served 2 terms
About US
Email: stephanie_stuhn@kcsdschools.org
Location: Lugoff-Elgin High School, U.S. 1, Lugoff, SC, United States
Phone: 803 4383481