Election of 1980 Reagan http://video.pbs.org/video/1094119478/ Video - American Experience: Ronald Reagan http://video.pbs.org/video/1094119478/

Election of 1980 Jimmy Carter Democrat President - Georgia Walter Mondale Vice-President - Minnesota

Election of 1980 Ronald Reagan Republican Governor of California/Former Actor George Bush Congressman-Texas, Ambassador to UN Director of CIA

Election of 1980 Results Reagan, aided by the Iran hostage crisis and a worsening economy at home, was able to defeat Carter in a landslide, receiving the highest number of electoral votes ever won by a non-incumbent presidential candidate 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.” Popular Vote Carter – 35,480,115 (41%) Reagan – 43,903,230 (50.7%)

Election of 1980 States Carried Carter – 6 Plus DC Reagan - 44

Reagan administration 1980-1984 Reagan’s Economic Policy Reagan was an advocate of true free markets He believed that the American economy was hampered by excessive government regulations and overused welfare programs Reagan was in favor of fewer government programs, lower taxes on all individuals and corporations, including the wealthiest Americans, and fewer government regulations on all businesses This became the basis for what became known as “Reaganomics” Reagan said in his first inauguration speech: “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

Reagan administration 1980-1984 Assassination Attempt (March 30, 1981) Only 69 days into his Presidency, Reagan, his press secretary James Brady, a police officer, and a Secret Service agent were struck by gunfire from would-be assassin John Hinckley, Jr. outside the Washington Hilton Hotel All of the shooting victims survived, although James Brady was paralyzed Although close to death during surgery, Reagan recovered and was released from the hospital on April 11, becoming the first serving U.S. President to survive being shot in an assassination attempt Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity

Reagan administration 1980-1984 Escalation of the Cold War Soon after Reagan became President, he ordered a massive buildup of the United States Armed Forces Together with the United Kingdom's Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Reagan denounced the Soviet Union and Communism On March 3, 1983, he predicted that communism would collapse, stating, "Communism is another sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages even now are being written." In another speech in 1983, Reagan called the Soviet Union "an evil empire"

Reagan administration 1980-1984 Escalation of Cold War Continued… Under a policy that came to be known as the Reagan Doctrine, Reagan and his administration also provided overt and covert aid to anti-communist resistance movements in Africa, Asia, and Latin America Reagan deployed more CIA teams to Afghanistan They were instrumental in training, equipping and leading Mujaheddin forces against the Soviet Army President Reagan's has been given credit for assisting in ending the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan The U.S. funded armaments introduced, however, then would later pose a threat to U.S. troops in Afghanistan a few decades later