1. History 17C The American People, World War I to the Present 1

2. Reagan’s America 2

3. Themes Much as Franklin D. Roosevelt did with the 1930s, Ronald Reagan stamped his character on the 1980s 3

4. Themes Whereas FDR took the country out of the age of laissez faire and into a new era of government activism in the domestic economy, the election of Reagan signaled the formation of a new national paradigm, in which government was delegitimated and the values of the private sector were exalted 4

5. Similarities between FDR and Reagan: Each embodied paradigm shift in US politics 5

6. Similarities between FDR and Reagan: Each boosted Americans’ confidence amid crisis 6

7. Difference between FDR and Reagan: FDR more pragmatic and experimental 7

8. 8

9. Samuel Pierce Reagan’s weaknesses: ignorance, lack of curiosity, unwillingness to face reality 9

10. 10

11. Reagan’s weaknesses: ignorance, lack of curiosity, unwillingness to face reality 11

12. Reagan’s weaknesses: ignorance, lack of curiosity, unwillingness to face reality 12

13. Reagan’s strengths: ability to connect with people, instill confidence in public, delegate work 13

14. Reagan’s movie roles 14

15. The Reagan family, 1913 Reagan’s strengths: ability to connect with people, instill confidence in public, delegate work 15

16. With Mikhail Gorbachev of Soviet Union Reagan’s strengths: ability to connect with people, instill confidence in public, delegate work 16

17. Reagan’s strengths: ability to connect with people, instill confidence in public, delegate work 17

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19. 19

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21. 21

22. Dwight D. Eisenhower 22

23. 23

24. The “Troika” James Baker Edwin Meese Michael Deaver 24

25. 1. Assassination attempt on Reagan, March 1981 Two early defining events: 25

26. 1. Assassination attempt on Reagan, March 1981 Two early defining events: 26

27. Two early defining events: 2. Professional Air Traffic Controllers’ Union (PATCO) strike, 1981 27

28. 28

29. Reagan and Civil Rights Clarence Pendleton Clarence Thomas 29

30. Secretary of the Interior James Watt Reagan and the Environment 30

31. James Watt Reagan and the Environment 31

32. Reaganomics 1. Cuts in domestic spending 2. Tax cuts 3. Increases in defense spending 32

33. Reaganomics Resulting in massive increase in deficit and national debt 33

34. “Supply-side” economics: putting money in pockets of those who invest in private economy 34

35. Budget Director David Stockman 35

36. 1982-1983—sharp spike in unemployment 36

37. 1982-1983—sharp spike in unemployment After 1983—unemployment rate decreased, but new jobs tended to be lower-paying 37

38. Plight of poor sharply worsened in 1980s 38

39. Homelessness 39

40. Reagan and social conservatives Reagan generally less successful in promoting social conservative agenda; influence mostly indirect 40

41. Rock Hudson and AIDS 41

42. 42

43. First woman on Supreme Court: Sandra Day O’Connor A series of “firsts” for women 43

44. A series of “firsts” for women First woman in space: Sally Ride 44

45. A series of “firsts” for women First woman to run on major party ticket: Geraldine Ferraro 45

46. 46

47. 1987 47

48. Former Vice President Walter Mondale ran against Reagan in 1984 48

49. ... and got creamed 49

50. ... and got creamed 50

51. Nancy and Ronald Reagan 51

52. After 1981—Reagan tried to overthrow government of Nicaragua by aiding contra rebels Iran/contra Affair 52

53. 1983-1984—Congress banned US aid to contras; Reagan still determined to help them 53

54. Mid-1980s—Several US citizens in Lebanon were taken hostage by radical Shiite groups supported by Iran 54

55. 1985-1986—Reagan administration secretly sold arms to Iran; Iran persuaded Lebanese kidnappers to release some American hostages Freed hostage David Jacobsen with Ronald and Nancy Reagan Hostage Ben Weir 55

56. 1985-1986—NSC aide Oliver North secretly diverted profits from arms sales to contras in Nicaragua 56

57. Fall 1986—Reagan administration’s secret dealings with Iran, and diversion of money to contras, became public knowledge 57

58. Iran-contra Figures Robert McFarlane 58

59. Iran-contra Figures William CaseyRobert McFarlane 59

60. Iran-contra Figures Fawn Hall 60

61. Iran-contra Figures Fawn Hall Oliver North 61