Ronald Reagan

Reagan Public Approval Ratings

Before National Politics Goldwater speech 1964

Winning the Republican Nomination

Capturing the Nomination New Hampshire debate 1980: The Line

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

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

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

The “Troika” Counsellor Chief of StaffDep. Chief Ed Meese James BakerMichael Deaver Policy ProcessImage

Presidential Power and Persuasion LBJ Model PresCongress People

Presidential Power and Persuasion Reagan Model Pres People Congress

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

The Ultimate Example Berlin 1987

Iran-Contra Comparison to other scandalsComparison When Congress tries to restrain presidential actions –Ignore Congress –Reinterpret the law

The Iran Contra Scandal Private US $ Foreign Gov’t $ $$$ Hostages weapons Swiss bank accounts; controlled by North Contras Israel Iran US

Congressional Restrictions on Arms Sales in 1980s Arms Export Control Acts No arms sales to nations determined to be sponsors of terrorism (US State Dept determines which nations fit into this category; it included Iran) No arms sales of over $25 m in value without congressional approval (1974); A 1976 bill lowered this to $14 m for sophisticated weaponry and $50 m for other items –Both the House and Senate would have to reject the arms sales