Ronald Wilson Reagan: 40th US President

October 27, 1964 (from his nationally televised speech, which he called "A Time for Choosing" but was later simply referred to as "The Speech," in support of candidate Barry Goldwater)   "If all of this seems like a great deal of trouble, think what's at stake. We are faced with the most evil enemy mankind has known in his long climb from the swamp to the stars. There can be no security anywhere in the free world if there is no fiscal and economic stability within the United States. Those who ask us to trade our freedom for the soup kitchen of the welfare state are architects of a policy of accommodation."

     

Economics:

• Reaganomics:
• "Trickle Down" Theory
• Decreases in non-military spending
• Increases in national security/ military spending
• Deregulation - Savings and Loans Crisis

Social Conservatism:

• Oppose:
• Abortion
• Gay Rights
• Stem Cell Research
• Eugenics
• Euthanasia
• Secularism, the separation of church and government
• Strongly Promotes:
• Nuclear Family model
• censorship of pornography and anything they view as obscene or indecent
• Public Morality
• traditional family values
• Prohibition: drugs, prostitution, premarital sex, promiscuity
• Non-Secularism

Conservative Foreign Policy:

• "Rollback" of Communism - Reagan Doctrine
• Providing support to rebel groups in communist run nations
• Invasion of Grenada
• Overtook the small island after the assassination of Prime Minister Bishop to prevent a communist uprising and instability for the commonwealth
• sent the message that America is not afraid to use military strength to preserve freedom
• Iran-Contra Scandal
• The shipments of arms to Iran to release hostages, and the money from the arms funded the contra in Nicaragua, the rebel group out to overturn the communist leaders
• Word leaked to media that we were participating in arms deals with terrorists, Reagan denied
• Reagan later admitted to the scandal, and while some doubt was raised as to the integrity of his administration, he remained popular among the people.

Summary:

• Primary Promise:
• Decrease the size and power of the government
• Rebuild military power: "Peace through Strength"
• Restore traditional family values
• Domestic:
• Cut taxes, which was felt by all social classes, but none as predominantly as the upper class
• Funding cuts or increases in restriction limits in programs designed to help the poor: welfare, Medicaid, government funding for education
• Deregulated banks, opening up the pathways for loans to be given out without much financial guarantee - led to Savings and Loan Crisis
• Foreign Policy:
• Reagan Doctrine: Providing aid to rebels and guerilla groups to help "rollback" the Soviet Union
• Invasion of Grenada to prevent Marxist uprising, also sent message that America will use military force to protect freedom
• Iran-Contra Scandal: Arms for Hostages and funding anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua

Resources:
Invasion of Grenada: http://www.historyguy.com/Grenada.html
"Conservatism and the Rise of Ronald Reagan". United States History. 9 Dec. 2010. U.S. Department
      of State. http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-136.htm
"Reagan, Ronald Wilson". Collier's Encyclopedia. 1986 ed.
Ronald Reagan - Domestic Policies
     http://www.presidentprofiles.com/Kennedy-Bush/Ronald-Reagan-Domestic-policy.html
Ronald Reagan - Foreign Policies
     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_Reagan_administration
Deregulation - S&L Crisis
     http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.guitar.amps/2005-12/msg00250.html
Tribute Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8_G-mlKxTY