The Defense Resources Act (DRA) was draft emergency legislation of the United States Government . A 1983 submission to Congress confirmed the existence of the plan. The present and prior status of the DRA proposal is not immediately certain.
142-576: Reagan Administration officials presented a draft plan of legislative text that could be submitted to Congress for approval during a national emergency, such as nuclear war . The decision to make such a request would be the prerogative of the president. Congress would be free to accept, modify or reject the proposals. If enacted into law, the DRA would amend the Defense Production Act (DPA). These DRA and DPA enactments collectively would form
284-530: A laissez-faire philosophy and free-market fiscal policy. Reagan's taxation policies resembled those instituted by President Calvin Coolidge and Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon in the 1920s. Reagan's team was also strongly influenced by contemporary economists such as Arthur Laffer , who rejected the then-dominant views of Keynesian economists . Reagan relied on Laffer and other economists to argue that tax cuts would reduce inflation, which went against
426-403: A Republican from California , took office following his landslide victory over Democrat incumbent president Jimmy Carter and independent congressman John B. Anderson in the 1980 presidential election . Four years later, in the 1984 presidential election , he defeated former Democratic vice president Walter Mondale , to win re-election in a larger landslide. Reagan served two terms and
568-491: A landslide victory . This was the second consecutive election in which an incumbent president was defeated, although Gerald Ford assumed the presidency after President Richard Nixon resigned and was not elected, as well as the first election since 1888 that saw the defeat of an incumbent Democratic president. Carter's unpopularity and poor relations with Democratic leaders encouraged an unsuccessful intra-party challenge from Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy . Meanwhile,
710-477: A major tax cut , sought to cut non-military spending, and eliminated federal regulations. The administration's economic policies, known as " Reaganomics ", were inspired by supply-side economics . The combination of tax cuts and an increase in defense spending led to budget deficits, and the federal debt increased significantly during Reagan's tenure. Reagan signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986 , simplifying
852-428: A supply-side economic policy. Reagan promised a balanced budget within three years (which he said would be "the beginning of the end of inflation"), accompanied by a 30% reduction in tax rates over those same years. With respect to the economy, Reagan famously said, "A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his." Reagan also criticized
994-538: A "crisis of confidence" among the American people. This came to be known as his " Malaise speech ", although Carter never used the word in the speech. Many expected Senator Ted Kennedy to successfully challenge Carter in the upcoming Democratic primary. Kennedy's official announcement was scheduled for early November. A television interview with Roger Mudd of CBS a few days before the announcement went badly, however. Kennedy gave an "incoherent and repetitive" answer to
1136-583: A Christian." The election of 1980 was a key turning point in American politics. It signaled the new electoral power of the suburbs and the Sun Belt . Reagan's success as a conservative would initiate a realigning of the parties, as Rockefeller-style Republicans and conservative Democrats would either leave politics or change party affiliations through the 1980s and 1990s to leave the parties much more ideologically polarized. While during Barry Goldwater 's 1964 campaign , many voters saw his warnings about
1278-584: A Plan D situation documents. The table of contents of the proposed legislation calls for several Titles that would form the basis of key emergency authorities. Title X authorized the president to direct federal officials to employ limited international censorship of communications entering and leaving the USA. Other draft Titles authorized seizure of industrial plants and economic stabilization via price controls. DPA proposals to Congress by Reagan staff employed significant constitutional safeguards. They do not contain
1420-455: A Republican) were eager to back some of Reagan's conservative policies. Throughout 1981, Reagan frequently met with members of Congress, focusing especially on winning support from conservative Southern Democrats. Reagan also benefited from a conservative majority in the House during his first two years as president, with an estimated 230 votes during the 97th Congress, although this changed after
1562-492: A balanced budget during his time in office. In an effort to lower the national debt, Congress passed the Gramm–Rudman–Hollings Balanced Budget Act , which called for automatic spending cuts if Congress was unable to eliminate deficits through the regular budget-making process. However, Congress found ways around the automatic cuts and deficits continued to rise, ultimately leading to the passage of
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#17327753984521704-491: A balanced budget. His campaign was aided by Democratic dissatisfaction with Carter, the Iran hostage crisis , and a worsening economy marred by stagflation . Carter attacked Reagan as a dangerous right-wing extremist, and warned that Reagan would cut Medicare and Social Security . The Carter campaign was aided early on by the rally 'round the flag effect from the hostage crisis, but as the crisis lasted to election day, it became
1846-598: A campaign promise to name the first woman to the Supreme Court. Democrats, who had planned to vigorously oppose Reagan's nominations to the Supreme Court, approved of the nomination of O'Connor. However, the Christian right was astonished and dismayed with O'Connor, who they feared would not overturn the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade , which had established abortion as protected from government interference via
1988-467: A campaign speech at the annual Neshoba County Fair on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Mississippi , where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964 . He was the first presidential candidate ever to campaign at the fair. Reagan famously announced, "Programs like education and others should be turned back to the states and local communities with the tax sources to fund them. I believe in states' rights . I believe in people doing as much as they can at
2130-464: A characterization by Carter of his record regarding Medicare, Reagan replied with a phrase that helped define the election and endure in the political lexicon: " There you go again ." Though the race had been widely regarded as a close contest, Reagan won over the large majority of undecided voters. Reagan took 50.7% of the popular vote and 489 of the 538 electoral votes. Carter won 41% of the popular vote and 49 electoral votes, while Anderson won 6.6% of
2272-528: A detriment. Reagan won the election in a landslide, with 489 Electoral College votes to Carter's 49 and 50.7% of the popular vote to Carter's 41.0%. Anderson won 6.6% of the popular vote and no electoral votes. Due to the rise of conservatism following Reagan's victory, historians have considered the election a political realignment that began with Barry Goldwater 's presidential campaign in 1964 . This election began an ongoing pattern in which Rust Belt states Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin voted for
2414-608: A focus of his administration, but he came to support a package of reforms sponsored by Republican Senator Alan Simpson and Democratic Congressman Romano Mazzoli , which he signed into law as the Immigration Reform and Control Act in November 1986. The act made it illegal to knowingly hire or recruit illegal immigrants , required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status, and granted amnesty to approximately three million illegal immigrants who had entered
2556-483: A former general who had served as chief of staff to Richard Nixon , as his first secretary of state. Other major Cabinet appointees included Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger , a former Nixon cabinet official who would preside over an increase in defense spending, and Secretary of the Treasury Donald Regan , a bank executive. Reagan selected David Stockman , a young congressman from Michigan , as
2698-491: A high of nearly 11% in 1982, poverty rate rose from 11.7 percent to 15 percent. The country emerged from recession in 1983, but not all shared equally in the economic recovery, and economic inequality and the number of homeless individuals both increased during the 1980s. Fearful of damaging confidence in the economic recovery, Reagan nominated Volcker to a second term in 1983, and Volcker remained in office until 1987. Inflation dropped to approximately 3.5% in 1985, while
2840-481: A law creating new federal judicial positions in 1984, Reagan had appointed nearly half of the federal judiciary by the time he left office in 1989. On March 30, 1981, only 69 days into the new administration, Reagan, his press secretary James Brady , Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty , and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy were struck by gunfire from would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. outside
2982-567: A more popular alternative to Carter than Kennedy, implying that the attraction was not so much to Kennedy as to the fact that he was not Carter. Muskie was polling even with Ronald Reagan at the time, while Carter was seven points behind. Although the underground "Draft Muskie" campaign failed, it became a political legend. After defeating Kennedy in 24 of 34 primaries, Carter entered the party's convention in New York in August with 60 percent of
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#17327753984523124-468: A national crisis. On April 25, 1980, Carter's ability to use the hostage crisis to regain public acceptance eroded when his high risk attempt to rescue the hostages ended in disaster when eight servicemen were killed. The unsuccessful rescue attempt drew further skepticism towards his leadership skills. Following the failed rescue attempt, Carter took overwhelming blame for the Iran hostage crisis, in which
3266-406: A number of tax breaks. The top rate was dropped to 28%, but capital gains taxes were increased on those with the highest incomes from 20% to 28%. The increase of the lowest tax bracket from 11% to 15% was more than offset by expansion of the personal exemption, standard deduction , and earned income tax credit . The net result was the removal of six million poor Americans from the income tax roll and
3408-465: A position as honorary chairman of Democrats for Reagan . Five months earlier, Jaworski had harshly criticized Reagan as an "extremist"; he said after accepting the chairmanship, "I would rather have a competent extremist than an incompetent moderate." Former Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota (who in 1968 had challenged Lyndon B. Johnson from the left, causing the then-President to all but abdicate) endorsed Reagan. Three days before
3550-460: A reckless "war hawk", as well as a "dangerous right-wing radical". But it was President Carter's reference to his consultation with 12-year-old daughter Amy concerning nuclear weapons policy that became the focus of post-debate analysis and fodder for late-night television jokes . President Carter said he had asked Amy what the most important issue in that election was and she said, "the control of nuclear arms ." A famous political cartoon, published
3692-449: A reduction of income tax liability at all income levels. The net effect of Reagan's tax bills was that overall tax burden held steady at roughly 19 percent of gross national product . Reagan prioritized tax cuts over spending cuts, arguing that lower revenue would eventually require lower spending. Nonetheless, Reagan was determined to decrease government spending and roll back or dismantle Great Society programs such as Medicaid and
3834-516: A request for Congress to suspend per se any part of the Constitution. Sections of the law specifically address Fifth Amendment safeguards. Title X limits censorship to information entering or leaving the USA. It did not call for press censorship of domestic news. It should be remembered these plans contemplated nuclear war, in which many freedoms might be in grave wartime jeopardy as the nation fought for its existence. Whether enacted as part of
3976-658: A threat to world peace and progressive social welfare programs from the New Deal to the Great Society . (1961–1981) (1977–1979) John B. Anderson was defeated in the Republican primaries, but entered the general election as an independent candidate. He campaigned as a liberal Republican alternative to Reagan's conservatism. Anderson's campaign appealed primarily to frustrated anti-Carter voters from Republican and Democratic backgrounds. Anderson's running mate
4118-434: A too-powerful government as hyperbolic and only 30% of the electorate agreed that government was too powerful, by 1980 a majority of Americans believed that government held too much power. Reagan promised a restoration of the nation's military strength, at the same time 60% of Americans polled felt defense spending was too low. Reagan also promised an end to "trust me government" and to restore economic health by implementing
4260-678: A war emergency or other non-military event, Congress at all times retained the constitutional authority to amend, revoke or modify these authorities, by veto override , should the contingency arise. The proposals did not limit oversight by the Congress or federal judiciary and Supreme Court of the United States , nor did they give the president unlimited or perpetual unilateral or unconstitutional power. However, scholars will need to examine this material in light of current jurisprudence. The question of resolving conflicts between Congress and
4402-458: Is not responsible for what has happened over the last four years, nor am I. The man who should be here tonight to respond to those charges chose not to attend," to which Reagan added: "It's a shame now that there are only two of us here debating, because the two that are here are in more agreement than disagreement." In one moment in the debate, Reagan commented on a rumor that Anderson had invited Senator Ted Kennedy to be his running mate by asking
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4544-453: The 1968 election in which Lyndon Johnson withdrew his candidacy, this was the most tumultuous primary race that an elected incumbent president had encountered since President Taft , during the highly contentious election of 1912 . During the summer of 1980, there was a short-lived "Draft Muskie" movement; Secretary of State Edmund Muskie was seen as a favorable alternative to a deadlocked convention. One poll showed that Muskie would be
4686-591: The 1980 Republican presidential primaries . After Bush won the Iowa caucuses, he became Reagan's primary challenger, but Reagan won the New Hampshire primary and most of the following primaries, gaining an insurmountable delegate lead by the end of March 1980. Ford was Reagan's first choice for his running mate, but Reagan backed away from the idea out of the fear of a "co-presidency" in which Ford would exercise an unusual degree of power. Reagan instead chose Bush, and
4828-478: The 1982 congressional elections . Compared to other midterm elections , the losses were relatively small for the party holding the presidency, but conservative Democrats were less open to Reagan's initiatives after 1982. As deficits continued to be an issue, Reagan signed another bill that raised taxes, the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 . With Donald Regan taking over as Chief of Staff in 1985,
4970-749: The Equal Rights Amendment . After a bitter Convention fight between Republican feminists and antifeminists the Republican Party dropped their forty-year endorsement of the ERA. Reagan, however, announced his dedication to women's rights and his intention to, if elected, appoint women to his cabinet and the first female justice to the Supreme Court . He also pledged to work with all 50 state governors to combat discrimination against women and to equalize federal laws as an alternative to
5112-558: The Firearm Owners Protection Act , which amended the Gun Control Act of 1968 , prohibiting the transfer or possession of machine guns . In 1989, Reagan said "I do not believe in taking away the right of the citizen to own guns for sporting, for hunting and so forth, or for home defense; but I do believe that an AK-47 , a machine gun, is not a sporting weapon or needed for defense of a home." Reagan
5254-727: The MX missile , and the 600-ship Navy . In response to Soviet deployment of the SS-20 , Reagan oversaw NATO 's deployment of the Pershing missile in West Germany. The president also strongly denounced the Soviet Union and Communism in moral terms, describing the Soviet Union as an " evil empire ." Despite this heavy rhetoric, the Reagan administration continued arms control talks with
5396-592: The Office of Economic Opportunity . In August 1981, Reagan signed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, which cut federal funding for social programs like food stamps , school lunch programs , and Medicaid. The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act , which had provided for the employment of 300,000 workers in 1980, was also repealed, and the administration tightened eligibility for unemployment benefits . Notably absent from
5538-446: The Office of National Drug Control Policy . Critics charged that Reagan's policies promoted significant racial disparities in the prison population, were ineffective in reducing the availability of drugs or crime on the street, and came at a great financial and human cost for American society. Supporters argued that the numbers for adolescent drug users declined during Reagan's years in office. On May 19, 1986, President Reagan signed
5680-609: The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 . Reagan took office in the midst of poor economic conditions, as the country experienced stagflation , a phenomenon in which both inflation and unemployment were high. The economy experienced a brief period of growth early in Reagan's first year in office, but plunged into a recession in July 1981. As the recession continued in the first two years of Reagan's presidency, many within Reagan's administration blamed
5822-580: The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO), which consisted of federal employees, voted to go on a labor strike in hopes of receiving better pay and benefits. After the vote, Reagan announced that the strikers would be fired if they did not return to work within forty-eight hours. Federal law forbid government employees from striking. After the deadline passed, Reagan fired over 10,000 air traffic controllers, while approximately 40 percent of
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5964-580: The Reagan Doctrine , sought to roll back the global influence of the Soviet Union in an attempt to end the Cold War. Under his doctrine, the Reagan administration initiated a massive buildup of the United States military; promoted new technologies such as missile defense systems; and, in 1983, undertook an invasion of Grenada , the first major overseas action by U.S. troops since the end of
6106-614: The Reagan Era . Even prior to becoming president, Reagan was the leader of a dramatic conservative shift that undercut many of the domestic and foreign policies that had dominated the national agenda for decades. A major factor in the rise of conservatism was the growing distrust of government in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal . While distrust of high officials had been an American characteristic for two centuries, Watergate engendered heightened levels of suspicion and encouraged
6248-736: The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan . Reagan feared that the Soviet Union had gained a military advantage over the United States, and the Reagan administration hoped that heightened military spending would grant the U.S. military superiority and weaken the Soviet economy. Reagan ordered a massive buildup of the United States Armed Forces , directing funding to the B-1 Lancer bomber, the B-2 Spirit bomber , cruise missiles ,
6390-548: The Vietnam War . The administration also created controversy by granting aid to paramilitary forces seeking to overthrow leftist governments, particularly in war-torn Central America and Afghanistan . Specifically, the Reagan administration engaged in covert arms sales to Iran to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua that were fighting to overthrow their nation's socialist government. The resulting Iran–Contra affair led to
6532-651: The Washington Hilton Hotel . Although Reagan was initially reported to be "close to death" upon arrival at George Washington University Hospital , he underwent surgery and recovered quickly from a broken rib, a punctured lung, and internal bleeding . Reagan was released from the hospital on April 11, becoming the first serving president to survive being wounded in an assassination attempt. The failed assassination attempt had great influence on Reagan's popularity; polls indicated his approval rating to be around 73%. Many pundits and journalists later described
6674-457: The early 1980s recession , which cut into federal revenue. Unable to win further domestic spending cuts, and pressured to address the deficit, Reagan was forced to raise taxes after 1981. Nonetheless, the national debt more than tripled between fiscal year 1980 and fiscal year 1989, going from $ 914 billion to $ 2.7 trillion, while national debt as a percentage of GDP rose from 33 percent in 1981 to 53 percent in 1989. Reagan never submitted
6816-505: The government's intelligence community ; mandated rules for spying on United States citizens, permanent residents, and on anyone within the United States; and also directed the Attorney General and others to create further policies and procedures for what information intelligence agencies can collect, retain, and share. Reagan escalated the Cold War, accelerating a reversal from the policy of détente which had begun in 1979 after
6958-612: The " Just Say No " drug awareness campaign. Concerns about drug use prompted Congress to pass legislation such as the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 and the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 , the latter of which granted $ 1.7 billion to fight drugs and established a mandatory minimum penalties for drug offenses. Reagan also signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 , which further increased criminal penalties for drug use and established
7100-481: The " War on Drugs ". He promised a "planned, concerted campaign" against all drugs, in hopes of decreasing drug use, particularly among adolescents. The " crack epidemic ," which saw a large number of individuals become addicted to crack cocaine and may have played a role in numerous murders, emerged as a major area of public concern. First Lady Nancy Reagan made the War on Drugs her main cause as First Lady, founding
7242-431: The " windfall profit tax " that Carter and Congress enacted that year in regards to domestic oil production and promised to attempt to repeal it as president. The tax was not a tax on profits, but on the difference between the price control -mandated price and the market price. On the issue of women's rights there was much division, with many feminists frustrated with Carter, the only major-party candidate who supported
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#17327753984527384-669: The "rebirth of code words like 'states' rights' ". Two days later, Reagan appeared at the Urban League convention in New York, where he said, "I am committed to the protection and enforcement of the civil rights of black Americans. This commitment is interwoven into every phase of the plans I will propose." He then said that he would develop " enterprise zones " to help with urban renewal. The media's main criticism of Reagan centered on his gaffes. When Carter kicked off his general election campaign in Tuscumbia , Reagan—referring to
7526-478: The 1980s is the worst public scandal in American history...Measuring by money, [or] by the misallocation of national resources...the S&;L outrage makes Teapot Dome and Credit Mobilier seem minor episodes." The 1980s saw the highest rate of immigration to the United States since the 1910s, and the proportion of the foreign-born population reached its highest level since the 1940s. Reagan did not make immigration
7668-408: The 1981 tax bill. By 1983, the amount of federal tax had fallen for all or almost all American taxpayers, but most strongly affected the wealthy; the proportion of income paid in taxes by the richest one percent fell from 29.8 percent to 24.8 percent. Partly due to the poor economy, Reagan's legislative momentum dissipated after his first year in office, and his party lost several seats in the House in
7810-426: The 1983 Greyhound bus driver strike, and the 1985–86 Hormel strike , ended with dismissal of the strikers. With the assent of Reagan's sympathetic National Labor Relations Board appointees, many companies also won wage and benefit cutbacks from unions, especially in the manufacturing sector. During Reagan's time in office, the share of employees who were part of a labor union dropped from approximately one-fourth of
7952-684: The Constitution. O'Connor served on the Supreme Court until 2006, and was generally considered to be a centrist conservative. In 1986, Reagan elevated Associate Justice William Rehnquist to the position of Chief Justice of the United States after Warren Burger chose to retire. Rehnquist, a member of the conservative wing of the Court, was the third sitting associate justice to be elevated to chief justice, after Edward Douglass White and Harlan F. Stone . Reagan successfully nominated Antonin Scalia to fill Rehnquist's position as an associate justice of
8094-532: The Democratic gains in the 1982 election, with House control switching to liberals within the Democratic caucus. In July 1981, the Senate voted 89–11 in favor of the tax cut bill favored by Reagan, and the House subsequently approved the bill in a 238–195 vote. The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 cut the top marginal tax rate from 70% to 50%, lowered the capital gains tax from 28% to 20%, more than tripled
8236-536: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget . CIA director William J. Casey emerged as an important figure in the administration, as the CIA would figure prominently into Reagan's Cold War initiatives. Reagan downgraded the importance of the national security advisor , and six different individuals held that position during Reagan's presidency. Haig left the cabinet in 1982 after clashing with other members of
8378-517: The ERA. Reagan was convinced to give an endorsement of women's rights in his nomination acceptance speech. Carter was criticized by his own aides for not having a "grand plan" for the recovery of the economy, nor did he ever make any campaign promises; he often criticized Reagan's economic recovery plan, but did not create one of his own in response. In August, after the Republican National Convention , Ronald Reagan gave
8520-646: The Interior James G. Watt implemented policies designed to open up federal territories to oil drilling and surface mining . Under EPA Director Anne Gorsuch , the EPA's budget was dramatically reduced and the EPA loosely enforced environmental regulations. After the passage of the Garn–St. Germain Depository Institutions Act, savings and loans associations engaged in riskier activities, and
8662-473: The Reagan administration made simplification of the tax code the central focus of its second term domestic agenda. Working with Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill , a Democrat who also favored tax reform, Reagan overcame significant opposition from members of Congress in both parties to pass the Tax Reform Act of 1986 . The act simplified the tax code by reducing the number of tax brackets to four and slashing
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#17327753984528804-544: The Reagan administration, and was replaced by another former Nixon administration official, George P. Shultz . By 1982, National Security Advisor William P. Clark Jr. , Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick , and CIA Director Casey had established themselves as the major figures in the formulation of the administration's foreign policy. Shultz eventually emerged as the administration's most influential foreign policy figure, moving
8946-470: The Reagan-Bush ticket was nominated at the 1980 Republican National Convention . Meanwhile, Carter won the Democratic nomination, defeating a primary challenge by Senator Ted Kennedy . Polls taken after the party conventions showed a tied race between Reagan and Carter, while independent candidate John B. Anderson had the support of many moderates. The 1980 general campaign between Reagan and Carter
9088-657: The Republican primaries were contested between former California Governor Ronald Reagan, former Central Intelligence Agency director George H. W. Bush , Illinois Representative John B. Anderson , and several other candidates. All of Reagan's opponents had dropped out by the end of the primaries, and the Republicans nominated a ticket consisting of Reagan and Bush. Anderson entered the general election as an independent candidate with Patrick Lucey , former Wisconsin governor, as his running mate. Reagan campaigned for increased defense spending, supply-side economic policies, and
9230-481: The Social Security disability rolls. Reagan's inability to implement major cuts to Social Security solidified its status as the " third rail " of U.S. politics, and future administrations would be reluctant to propose cuts to the popular program. As Reagan was unwilling to match his tax cuts with cuts to defense spending or Social Security, rising deficits became an issue. These deficits were exacerbated by
9372-453: The South and white ethnics dubbed " Reagan Democrats ", and exuded upbeat optimism. David Frum says Carter ran an attack-based campaign based on "despair and pessimism" which "cost him the election." Carter emphasized his record as a peacemaker, and said Reagan's election would threaten civil rights and social programs that stretched back to the New Deal . Reagan's platform also emphasized
9514-633: The Southern U.S. as a whole—claimed that Carter had begun his campaign in the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan . In doing so, Reagan seemed to insinuate that the KKK represented the South, which caused many Southern governors to denounce Reagan's remarks. Additionally, Reagan was widely ridiculed by Democrats for saying that trees caused pollution; he later said that he meant only certain types of pollution and his remarks had been misquoted. Meanwhile, Carter
9656-630: The Soviet Union in the form of " START ". Unlike the " SALT " treaties of the 1970s, which set upper limits on the size of nuclear arsenals, the proposed START treaty would require both sides to reduce their existing nuclear arsenals. 1980 United States presidential election Jimmy Carter Democratic Ronald Reagan Republican Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 4, 1980. Republican nominee, former Governor of California Ronald Reagan , defeated incumbent Democratic President Jimmy Carter in
9798-540: The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in late 1979 , Carter seized international leadership in rallying opposition. He cut off American grain sales, which hurt Soviet consumers and annoyed American farmers. In terms of prestige, the Soviets were deeply hurt by the large-scale boycott of their 1980 Summer Olympics . Furthermore, Carter began secret support of the opposition forces in Afghanistan that successfully tied down
9940-399: The Soviet army for a decade. The effect was to end détente and reopen the Cold War. [REDACTED] The following candidates were frequently interviewed by major broadcast networks and cable news channels, were listed in publicly published national polls, or had held a public office. Reagan received 7,709,793 votes in the primaries. Former governor Ronald Reagan of California was
10082-488: The Supreme Court from reviewing state and local laws mandating school prayer , but Republican senators like Lowell Weicker and Barry Goldwater blocked passage of Helms' bill. Reagan campaigned vigorously to restore organized prayer to the schools, first as a moment of prayer and later as a moment of silence. His election reflected an opposition to Engel v. Vitale , which prohibited state officials from composing an official state prayer and requiring that it be recited in
10224-542: The Supreme Court ruling still banned a moment of silence for public schools, and said that efforts to reinstitute prayer in public schools were "an uphill battle". In 1987, he renewed his call for Congress to support voluntary prayer in schools. In 1982, Reagan signed a bill extending the Voting Rights Act for 25 years after a grass-roots lobbying and legislative campaign forced him to abandon his plan to ease that law's restrictions. He also reluctantly accepted
10366-704: The Supreme Court. Scalia became a member of the Court's conservative wing. Reagan faced greater difficulties in filling the final Supreme Court vacancy, which arose due to the retirement of Lewis F. Powell Jr. Reagan nominated Robert Bork in July 1987, but the nomination was rejected by the Senate in October 1987. Later that month, Reagan announced the nomination of Douglas H. Ginsburg , but Ginsburg withdrew from consideration in November 1987. Finally, Reagan nominated Anthony Kennedy , who won Senate confirmation in February 1988. Along with O'Connor, Kennedy served as
10508-486: The United States before January 1, 1982, and had lived in the country continuously. The bill was also contained provisions designed to enhance security measures at the Mexico–United States border . Upon signing the act at a ceremony held beside the newly refurbished Statue of Liberty , Reagan said, "The legalization provisions in this act will go far to improve the lives of a class of individuals who now must hide in
10650-604: The White House over authority in these matters would presumably be up to federal courts. The president has inherent constitutional powers that may overlap some proposed plans and that do not derive from Congress. Similarly, presidential powers with respect to the Emergency Alert System would not exist without statute laws of Congress that authorize EAS. Congress could cancel EAS if desired, leaving no FCC rules to carry out EAS presidential messages. Further,
10792-453: The administration in the wake of the Iran–Contra affair and Republican losses in the 1986 mid-term elections . Regan was replaced by former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker . Reagan made four successful appointments to the Supreme Court during his eight years in office. In 1981, he successfully nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to succeed Associate Justice Potter Stewart , fulfilling
10934-457: The administration towards a less confrontational policy with the Soviet Union. Baker and Treasury Secretary Regan switched positions at the beginning of Reagan's second term. Regan centralized power within his office, and he took on the responsibilities that had been held by Baker, Deaver, and Meese, the latter of whom succeeded William French Smith as attorney general in 1985. Regan frequently clashed with First Lady Nancy Reagan , and he left
11076-564: The amount of inherited money exempt from the estate tax , and cut the corporate tax . Reagan's success in passing a major tax bill and cutting the federal budget was hailed as the "Reagan Revolution" by some reporters; one columnist wrote that the Reagan's legislative success represented the "most formidable domestic initiative any president has driven through since the Hundred Days of Franklin Roosevelt ." Faced with concerns about
11218-485: The argument that whites had to vote Democratic to protect segregation in the South. Responding to these various trends, Reagan and other conservatives successfully presented conservative ideas as an alternative to a public that had grown disillusioned with New Deal liberalism and the Democratic Party. Reagan's charisma and speaking skills helped him frame conservatism as an optimistic, forward-looking vision for
11360-412: The basis of a substantial part of Reagan's nuclear war and emergency plans. After enactment, the president would be free to sign orders and directives employing the approved legislation as a legal and statutory basis for presidential emergency powers. Such plans for legislation would coexist with a portfolio of other emergency action papers, including Presidential Emergency Action Documents and Other than
11502-554: The broadcasting industry, eliminating the Fairness Doctrine and other restrictions. The 1982 Garn–St. Germain Depository Institutions Act deregulated savings and loan associations and allowed banks to provide adjustable-rate mortgages . Reagan also eliminated numerous government positions and dismissed numerous federal employees, including the entire staff of the Employment and Training Administration . Secretary of
11644-667: The budget cuts was the Department of Defense , which saw its budget bolstered. Reagan experienced several legislative successes in his first year in office, but his attempts to cut federal domestic spending after 1981 met increasing congressional resistance. Spending on programs like Supplemental Security Income , Medicaid, the earned income tax credit , and Aid to Families with Dependent Children all increased after 1982. The number of federal civilian employees rose during Reagan's tenure, from 2.9 million to 3.1 million. Reagan's policy of New Federalism , which sought to shift
11786-405: The candidate directly, "John, would you really prefer Teddy Kennedy to me?" As September turned into October, the situation remained essentially the same. Reagan insisted Anderson be allowed to participate in a three-way debate, while Carter remained steadfastly opposed to this. As the standoff continued, the second debate was canceled, as was the vice presidential debate. With two weeks to go to
11928-444: The cities to the suburbs led to the creation of a new group of voters less attached to New Deal economic policies and machine politics . Meanwhile, it became socially acceptable for conservative Southern whites, especially well-educated suburbanites, to vote Republican. Though the civil rights legislation of the 1960s had been a triumphal issue for liberalism and had created a new, pro-Democratic black electorate, it had also destroyed
12070-476: The community level and the private level." Reagan also stated, "I believe we have distorted the balance of our government today by giving powers that were never intended to be given in the Constitution to that federal establishment." He went on to promise to "restore to states and local governments the power that properly belongs to them." President Carter criticized Reagan for injecting "hate and racism" by
12212-623: The continuation of affirmative action programs and the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday . The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Justice Department both prosecuted far fewer civil rights cases per year than they had under Carter. In 1988, Reagan vetoed the Civil Rights Restoration Act , but his veto was overridden by Congress. Reagan had argued that
12354-573: The conviction or resignation of several administration officials. During Reagan's second term, he sought closer relations with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev , and the two leaders signed a major arms control agreement known as the INF Treaty . Historians and political scientists generally rank Reagan in the upper tier of American presidents, and consider him to be one of the most important presidents since Franklin D. Roosevelt . Supporters of Reagan's presidency have pointed to his contributions to
12496-464: The country, Iranian opposition figure Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ended his 14-year exile in France and returned to Iran to establish an Islamic Republic , largely hostile to American interests and influence in the country. In the spring and summer of 1979, inflation was on the rise and various parts of the United States were experiencing energy shortages. Carter was widely blamed for the return of
12638-492: The country. Reagan, who had served as Governor of California from 1967 to 1975, narrowly lost the 1976 Republican presidential primaries to incumbent President Gerald Ford . With the defeat of Ford by Democrat Jimmy Carter in the 1976 election , Reagan immediately became the front-runner for the 1980 Republican presidential nomination. A darling of the conservative movement, Reagan faced more moderate Republicans such as George H. W. Bush , Howard Baker , and Bob Dole in
12780-553: The day after Reagan's landslide victory, showed Amy Carter sitting in Jimmy's lap with her shoulders shrugged asking "the economy? the hostage crisis?" When President Carter criticized Reagan's record, which included voting against Medicare and Social Security benefits, former Governor Reagan audibly sighed and replied: " There you go again ". In his closing remarks, Reagan asked viewers: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in
12922-506: The deficit. Reagan made passage of the Kemp–Roth bill his top domestic priority upon taking office. As Democrats controlled the House of Representatives, passage of any bill would require the support of some House Democrats in addition to the support of congressional Republicans. Reagan's victory in the 1980 presidential campaign had united Republicans around his leadership, while conservative Democrats like Phil Gramm of Texas (who later became
13064-408: The delegates pledged to him on the first ballot. Still, Kennedy refused to drop out. At the convention, after a futile last-ditch attempt by Kennedy to alter the rules to free delegates from their first-ballot pledges, Carter was renominated with 2,129 votes to 1,146 for Kennedy. Vice President Walter Mondale was also renominated. In his acceptance speech, Carter warned that Reagan's conservatism posed
13206-436: The economic recovery of the 1980s, the peaceful end of the Cold War, and a broader restoration of American confidence. However, Reagan's presidency has received criticism from some Democrats for rising budget deficits and wealth inequality during and after his presidency. Due to Reagan's popularity with the public and advocacy of American conservatism , some historians have described the period during and after his presidency as
13348-563: The election, the Reagan campaign decided at that point that the best thing to do was to accede to all of President Carter's demands. The final debate, featuring only Carter and Reagan, was rescheduled for October 28 in Cleveland , Ohio . The showdown ranked among the highest ratings of any television program in the previous decade. Debate topics included the Iranian hostage crisis and nuclear arms. Carter's campaign sought to portray Reagan as
13490-576: The environment. His main goal was to lessen the burden of regulation on businesses to promote more economic activity in the United States. Because of this policy, Reagan refused to renew the Clean Air Act during his administration. Reagan lessened existing regulations on pollution, cut funding to government environmental agencies, and appointed known anti-environmentalist individuals to key positions presiding over these organizations. When Reagan took office in 1981, he "attempted to reduce" money that
13632-504: The failed assassination as a critical moment in Reagan's presidency, as his newfound popularity provided critical momentum in passing his domestic agenda. Reagan used his White House staff to shape major domestic policies. His Chief of Staff made heavy use of the Office of Policy Development in supervising cabinet action on the Reagan initiatives. Reagan implemented neoliberal economic policies based on supply-side economics , advocating
13774-512: The followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini burned American flags and chanted anti-American slogans, paraded the captured American hostages in public, and burned Carter in effigy . Carter's critics saw him as an inept leader who had failed to solve the worsening economic problems at home. His supporters defended the president as a decent, well-intentioned man being unfairly criticized for problems that had been escalating for years. When
13916-461: The importance of peace, as well as a prepared self-defense. Immediately after the conclusion of the primaries, a Gallup poll held that Reagan was ahead, with 58% of voters upset by Carter's handling of the presidency. One analysis of the election has suggested that "Both Carter and Reagan were perceived negatively by a majority of the electorate." While the three leading candidates (Reagan, Anderson and Carter) were religious Christians, Carter had
14058-431: The key White House staffers early in Reagan's presidency. Baker quickly established himself as the most powerful member of the troika and the overseer of day-to-day operations, while Meese had nominal leadership of policy development and Deaver orchestrated Reagan's public appearances. Aside from the troika, other important White House staffers included Richard Darman and David Gergen . Reagan chose Alexander Haig ,
14200-429: The key swing vote on the Supreme Court in the decades after Reagan left office. Reagan appointed a combined total of 368 judges to the United States courts of appeals and the United States district courts , more than any other president . The vast majority of his judicial appointees were conservative, and many of the appointees were affiliated with the conservative Federalist Society . Partly because Congress passed
14342-429: The last four years is what you would like to see us follow for the next four, then I could suggest another choice that you have". After trailing Carter by eight points among registered voters (and by three points among likely voters) right before their debate, Reagan moved into a three-point lead among likely voters immediately afterward. In September 1980, former Watergate scandal prosecutor Leon Jaworski accepted
14484-521: The leaders of some institutions embezzled funds. In what became known as the Savings and loan crisis , a total of 747 financial institutions failed and needed to be rescued with $ 160 billion in taxpayer dollars. As an indication of this scandal's size, Martin Mayer wrote at the time, "The theft from the taxpayer by the community that fattened on the growth of the savings and loan (S&L) industry in
14626-484: The legislation infringed on states' rights and the rights of churches and business owners. No civil rights legislation for gay individuals passed during Reagan's tenure. Many in the Reagan administration, including Communications Director Pat Buchanan , were hostile to the gay community, as were many religious leaders who were important allies to the administration. Gay rights and the growing HIV/AIDS emerged as an important matter of public concern in 1985 after it
14768-478: The long gas lines in the summer of 1979 that were last seen just after the 1973 Yom Kippur War . He planned on delivering his fifth major speech on energy, but he felt that the American people were no longer listening. Carter left for the presidential retreat of Camp David . "For more than a week, a veil of secrecy enveloped the proceedings. Dozens of prominent Democratic Party leaders— members of Congress , governors, labor leaders, academics and clergy—were summoned to
14910-467: The media at that time, with Reagan putting up a much stronger performance than expected. Despite the narrow win in the debate, Anderson, who had been as high as 20% in some polls, and at the time of the debate was over 10%, dropped to about 5% soon after. Anderson failed to substantively engage Reagan enough on their social issue differences and on Reagan's advocation of supply-side economics. Instead, Anderson started off by criticizing Carter: "Governor Reagan
15052-570: The media to engage in a vigorous search for scandals. An unexpected new factor was the emergence of the religious right as a cohesive political force that gave strong support to conservatism. Other factors in the rise of the conservative movement were the emergence of a " culture war " as a triangular battle among conservatives, traditional liberals, and the New Left , involving such issues as individual freedom, divorce, sexual freedom, abortion, and homosexuality. A mass movement of population from
15194-403: The most support of evangelical Christians according to a Gallup poll. However, in the end, Jerry Falwell 's Moral Majority lobbying group is credited with giving Reagan two-thirds of the white evangelical vote. According to Carter: "that autumn [1980] a group headed by Jerry Falwell purchased $ 10 million in commercials on southern radio and TV to brand me as a traitor to the South and no longer
15336-411: The mountaintop retreat to confer with the beleaguered president." His pollster, Pat Caddell , told him that the American people simply faced a crisis of confidence because of the assassinations of John F. Kennedy , Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. ; the Vietnam War ; and Watergate . On July 15, 1979, Carter gave a nationally televised address in which he identified what he believed to be
15478-472: The mounting federal debt, Reagan agreed to raise taxes, signing the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA). Many of Reagan's conservative supporters condemned TEFRA, but Reagan argued that his administration would be unable to win further budget cuts without the tax hike. Among other provisions, TEFRA doubled the federal cigarette tax and rescinded a portion of the corporate tax cuts from
15620-573: The nominees in the next four elections. (Reagan in 1984 , Bush in 1988 and 1992 , and Dole in 1996 ). The following candidates were frequently interviewed by major broadcast networks, were listed in published national polls, or had held public office. Carter received 10,043,016 votes in the primaries. The three major Democratic candidates in early 1980 were incumbent President Jimmy Carter , Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, and Governor Jerry Brown of California. Brown withdrew on April 2. Carter and Kennedy faced off in 34 primaries. Not counting
15762-450: The odds-on favorite to win his party's nomination for president after nearly beating incumbent President Gerald Ford just four years earlier. Reagan dominated the primaries early, driving from the field Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker from Tennessee, former governor John Connally of Texas, Senator Robert Dole from Kansas, Representative Phil Crane from Illinois, and Representative John Anderson from Illinois, who dropped out of
15904-456: The only party platform to advocate explicitly for "amnesty" for all illegal non-citizens. The Citizens Party ran biologist Barry Commoner for president and Comanche Native American activist LaDonna Harris for vice president. The Commoner–Harris ticket was on the ballot in twenty-nine states and in the District of Columbia . Reagan gained in former Democratic strongholds such as
16046-546: The policies of Paul Volcker , the Chair of the Federal Reserve . But Reagan himself never criticized Volcker. Volcker sought to fight inflation by pursuing a policy of "tight money" in which interest rates were set at a high level. High interest rates would restrict lending and investment, which would in turn lower inflation, raise unemployment and, at least in the short term, reduce economic growth. Unemployment reached
16188-559: The popular vote. In the concurrent congressional elections , Republicans took control of the Senate for the first time since the 1950s, while Democrats retained control of the House of Representatives . Reagan tapped James Baker , who had run Bush's 1980 campaign, as his first chief of staff . Baker, Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver , and Counselor Edwin Meese formed the "troika,"
16330-501: The president does not require approval from Congress as to his Commander in Chief powers, but Congress can limit presidential powers by revocation of funding. DPA amendments approved via DRA would simply grant or revoke authorization for the president to act, which he might or might not do. Further, the president is constrained by impeachment , should Congress decide the president abused his authorities. Lastly, all such plans require funding,
16472-409: The president's national security team pressed for more surveillance power early during Reagan's first term. Their recommendations were based upon the premise that the federal government's intelligence and counterintelligence capabilities had been weakened by presidents Carter and Ford. On December 4, 1981, Reagan signed Executive Order 12333 . This presidential directive broadened the power of
16614-428: The prevailing Keynesian view. Supply-side advocates also asserted that cutting taxes would ultimately lead to higher government revenue due to economic growth, a proposition that was challenged by many economists. Republican Congressman Jack Kemp and Republican Senator William Roth had nearly won passage of a major tax cut during Carter's presidency, but Carter had prevented passage of the bill due to concerns about
16756-510: The program, but recommended expanding the Social Security base (by including exempt federal and nonprofit employees), raising Social Security taxes, and reducing some payments. These recommendations were enacted in the Social Security Amendments of 1983 , which received bipartisan support. While Reagan avoided cuts to Social Security and Medicare for most individuals, his administration attempted to purge many people from
16898-426: The public schools. In 1981, he proposed a constitutional amendment on school prayer , which stated: "Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any state to participate in prayer." In 1984, he again raised the issue to Congress. In 1985, he expressed his disappointment that
17040-505: The question of why he was running, and the polls, which showed him leading Carter by 58–25 in August now had him ahead 49–39. Kennedy was also politically scarred by the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident ; the controversy had been a major reason for Kennedy's decision to not run for president in 1972 and 1976. Meanwhile, Carter was given an opportunity for political redemption when the Khomeini regime again gained public attention and allowed
17182-414: The race on Carter's handling of the economy. Mired with an approval rating in the low 30s, Carter also waged a negative campaign, focusing on the supposed risk of war if Reagan took office. Reagan and Carter met in one presidential debate, held just one week before election day. Reagan delivered an effective performance, asking voters, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" In response to
17324-544: The race to run as an Independent. George H. W. Bush from Texas posed the strongest challenge to Reagan with his victories in the Pennsylvania and Michigan primaries, but it was not enough to turn the tide. Reagan won the nomination on the first round at the 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan , in July, then chose Bush (his top rival) as his running mate. Reagan, Bush, and Dole would all go on to be
17466-502: The responsibility for most social programs to state governments, found little support in Congress. In 1981, OMB Director David Stockman won Reagan's approval to seek cuts to Social Security in 1981, but this plan was poorly-received in Congress. In 1982, Reagan established the bipartisan National Commission on Social Security Reform to make recommendations to secure the long-term integrity of Social Security. The commission rejected Social Security privatization and other major changes to
17608-528: The same presidential candidate, with the sole exception of 1988 . Throughout the 1970s, the United States underwent a wrenching period of low economic growth, high inflation and interest rates , and intermittent energy crises . By October 1978, Iran —a major oil supplier to the United States at the time—was experiencing a major uprising that severely damaged its oil infrastructure and greatly weakened its capability to produce oil. In January 1979, shortly after Iran's leader Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled
17750-468: The shadows, without access to many of the benefits of a free and open society. Very soon many of these men and women will be able to step into the sunlight and, ultimately, if they choose, they may become Americans." The bill was largely unsuccessful at halting illegal immigration, and the population of illegal immigrants rose from 5 million in 1986 to 11.1 million in 2013. Not long after being sworn into office, Reagan declared more militant policies in
17892-516: The source and quantity of which in nuclear war is questionable. Parts of the DPA proposal address the Fifth Amendment mandate to compensate owners for seizure of private property. Reagan Administration [REDACTED] Ronald Reagan 's tenure as the 40th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 1981, and ended on January 20, 1989. Reagan,
18034-468: The stores than it was four years ago? Is there more or less unemployment in the country than there was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we're as strong as we were four years ago? And if you answer all of those questions 'yes', why then, I think your choice is very obvious as to whom you will vote for. If you don't agree, if you don't think that this course that we've been on for
18176-483: The taking of 52 American hostages by a group of Islamist students and militants at the U.S. embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. Carter's calm approach towards the handling of this crisis resulted in his approval ratings jump in the 60-percent range in some polls, due to a "rally round the flag" effect. By the beginning of the election campaign, the prolonged Iran hostage crisis had sharpened public perceptions of
18318-439: The tax code by reducing rates and removing several tax breaks, and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 , which enacted sweeping changes to U.S. immigration law and granted amnesty to three million illegal immigrants . Reagan also appointed more federal judges than any other president, including four Supreme Court Justices. Reagan's foreign policy stance was resolutely anti-communist . Its plan of action, known as
18460-419: The total workforce to approximately one-sixth of the total workforce. Reagan sought to loosen federal regulation of economic activities, and he appointed key officials who shared this agenda. According to historian William Leuchtenburg , by 1986, the Reagan administration eliminated almost half of the federal regulations that had existed in 1981. The Federal Communications Commission aggressively deregulated
18602-488: The unemployment rate fell to about 5% in 1988. In 1987, Reagan appointed conservative economist Alan Greenspan to succeed Volcker, and Greenspan would lead the Federal Reserve until 2006. Greenspan raised interest rates in another attempt to curb inflation, setting off a stock market crash in October 1987 known as " Black Monday ", but the markets stabilized and recovered in the following weeks. In August 1981,
18744-511: The union members returned to work. Reagan's handling of the strike was strongly criticized by union leaders, but it won the approval of his conservative base of voters and others in the public. The breaking of the PATCO strike demoralized organized labor, and the number of strikes fell dramatically in the 1980s. Many of the strikes that did occur, including the Arizona copper mine strike of 1983 ,
18886-652: The use of condoms, Reagan rejected Koop's proposals in favor of abstinence-only sex education . By 1989, approximately 60,000 Americans had died of AIDS, and liberals strongly criticized Reagan's response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. On the 1980 campaign trail, Reagan spoke of the gay rights movement: My criticism is that [the gay movement] isn't just asking for civil rights; it's asking for recognition and acceptance of an alternative lifestyle which I do not believe society can condone, nor can I. Reagan's strong preferences for limited federal involvement and deregulation extended to
19028-453: Was Patrick Lucey , a Democratic former Governor of Wisconsin and then ambassador to Mexico, appointed by President Carter. The Libertarian Party nominated Ed Clark for president and David Koch for vice president. They were on the ballot in all 50 states as well as Washington, D.C. The Libertarian Party platform was the only political party in 1980 to contain a plank advocating for the equal rights of homosexual men and women as well as
19170-441: Was also seen as hurting Carter more than Reagan, especially in reliably Democratic states such as Massachusetts and New York. The League of Women Voters , which had sponsored the 1976 Ford/Carter debate series, announced that it would do so again for the next cycle in the spring of 1979. Carter steadfastly refused to participate in a debate if Anderson was included, and Reagan refused to debate without him. A League-sponsored debate
19312-581: Was burdened by a continued weak economy and the Iran hostage crisis . Inflation, high interest rates, and unemployment continued through the course of the campaign, and the ongoing hostage crisis in Iran became, according to David Frum in How We Got Here: The '70s , a symbol of American impotence during the Carter years. John Anderson's independent candidacy, aimed at eliciting support from liberals, especially former supporters of Ted Kennedy ,
19454-403: Was conducted amid a multitude of domestic concerns and the ongoing Iran hostage crisis . After winning the Republican nomination, Reagan pivoted to the center. Though he continued to champion a major tax cut, Reagan backed off of his support for free trade and the privatization of Social Security , and promised to consider arms control treaties with the Soviet Union . He instead sought to focus
19596-514: Was directed towards studying the burgeoning field of global warming and human-driven climate change. In the early 1980s, the study of the intersection between human activity and climate change was still in its infancy and scientists were far from a consensus on the topic. In 1987, the Reagan administration signed the Montreal Protocol in an effort to reduce emissions that damage the ozone layer . Citing national security concerns,
19738-408: Was disclosed that actor Rock Hudson , a personal friend of President Reagan, was receiving treatment for AIDS. As public anxiety over AIDS rose, the Supreme Court upheld a state law that criminalized homosexuality in the case of Bowers v. Hardwick . Though Surgeon General C. Everett Koop advocated for a public health campaign designed to reduce the spread of AIDS by raising awareness and promoting
19880-547: Was held on September 21, 1980, in the Baltimore Convention Center . Of Carter's refusal to debate, Reagan said: "He [Carter] knows that he couldn't win a debate even if it were held in the Rose Garden before an audience of Administration officials with the questions being asked by Jody Powell ". Anderson, who many thought would handily dispatch Reagan, managed only a narrow win, according to many in
20022-419: Was largely unable to enact his ambitious social policy agenda, which included a federal ban on abortions and an end to desegregation busing . Despite the lack of major social policy legislation, Reagan was able to influence social policy through regulations and the appointment of conservative Supreme Court Justices. With Reagan's support, conservative Republican Senator Jesse Helms led an effort to prevent
20164-420: Was succeeded by his vice president, George H. W. Bush , who won the 1988 presidential election . Reagan's 1980 landslide election resulted from a dramatic conservative shift to the right in American politics, including a loss of confidence in liberal , New Deal , and Great Society programs and priorities that had dominated the national agenda since the 1930s. Domestically, the Reagan administration enacted
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