Ronald Reagan was a Republican politician who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He gained popularity with his conservative views and gave speeches supporting Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign. Reagan defeated incumbent Jimmy Carter in the 1980 election campaigning on a platform of tax cuts, reduced spending, and a stronger national defense. As president, Reagan implemented supply-side economic policies known as "Reaganomics" and advocated for a reduced role of government intervention in the economy. His presidency marked a conservative realignment in American politics and culture.

1. Ronald Reagan

2. Also Ronald Reagan

3. Reagan Public Approval Ratings

4. Before National Politics
Goldwater speech 1964

5. The Republican Nomination
Ron and Nancy GHW Bush John Anderson

6. Capturing the Nomination
• New Hampshire debate
1980:
• The Line

7. Reagan’s Clarity
• Strong Defense
• Cut taxes
• Cut Spending
• Balance the Budget

8. Economic Philosophy
OLD NEW
• Keynesian Economics • Chicago School
• “Demand Side” • “Supply Side”
Economics Economics
• New Deal • Reaganomics (The
Reagan Revolution)

9. Effect of Reagan on US Political Culture
US
Left Pre-1981; Right
New Deal Reagan era
and Great
Society
era
Left-right defined as accepted level of government intervention
in the economy:
right = less intervention
left = more intervention

10. Realignment
New Deal Coalition Reagan Coalition
• Democratic South • Midwest small towns
• African-Americans • Wealthiest Americans
• Union members • Hawks on foreign policy
• Urban North • Blue Collar in North and
• Immigrant/newer ethnic Midwest (union and non-
groups union)
• Farmers • White Southerners
• Evangelicals
• Yuppies

11. The “Troika”
Counsellor Chief of Staff Dep. Chief
Ed Meese James Baker Michael Deaver
Policy Process Image

12. Presidential Power and Persuasion
LBJ Model
Pres Congress People

13. Presidential Power and Persuasion
Reagan Model
Pres People Congress

14. Reagan Media Strategy
• Bully Pulpit
• Stage Events in Controlled Settings
• Feed the Media
• Consistency of Message
• Selling the President
• Popularity is Power