1. Election of 1980
Conservative Tide Rising

2. Reaganomics Reduce size and influence of government
Reduce regulations and fed spending
Cut welfare, food stamps, job training, Medicaid
Did not cut Soc.Sec., Vet pensions, Medicare
Reduce taxes by 25 % - Supply side economics
Earners keep more, especially the wealthy
Increased incentive to earn more and invest- creates jobs
Critics call it ‘trickle down’ econ
Double defense spending

3. The Reagan Years

4. Reagan’s Cold War Strategy
No more détente. Cold war is a moral one.
Calls USSR an “evil empire” 1983
Massive arms build up
“Spend them into oblivion”
$35,000,000 an hour !
Support anti-commi groups
Solidarity in Poland
Contras in Nicaragua
Strategic Defense Initiative
Space based anti-missile system
Derided as ‘Star Wars’

5. Reagan and Gorbachev Younger new Soviet Premiere 1985 Summits
Geneva Agree nuke war must never be fought.
Reykjavík They nearly eliminate all missiles.
Gorbachev insisted US dump SDI. Reagan refused.
No deal.
Washington DC 1987-
INF Treaty signed.
Eliminated all intermediate range nuclear missiles
Moscow- 1988
RR said USSR not evil