The New Right and the Reagan Revolution

1
The New Right and the Reagan Revolution
2
Carters Crisis of Confidence

• President Carter struggled with inflation, high
  unemployment, and soaring energy costs.
• After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran stopped
  oil shipments to the US.
• He delivered a televised address that became
  known as the "Malaise Speech."
• Carter asks Americans to return to the attitudes
  and values that made America strong and to share
  the responsibility of energy conservation.
• Congress rejected most of the energy proposals in
  the speech.
• Carter's approval rating plummeted.
• The president was criticized for "blaming" the
  American people and offering few solutions.

3
Carters Malaise Speech

• In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong
  families, close-knit communities, and our faith
  in God, too many of us now tend to worship
  self-indulgence and consumption.
• This intolerable dependence on foreign oil
  threatens our economic independence and the very
  security of our nation. The energy crisis is
  real.
• Every act of energy conservation like this is
  more than just common sense -- I tell you it is
  an act of patriotism.

Gas lines during the energy crisis
4
Iran Hostage Crisis Discredits Carter

• After US-backed Shah of Iran was deposed in
  January 1979, the most westernized country in the
  Middle East transitioned to an Islamic
  fundamentalist regime led by Ayatollah Ruholla
  Khomeini.
• When President Carter allowed the Shah into the
  United States for cancer treatment, a student
  group stormed the US embassy in Iran and took 53
  staff members hostage.
• Public support for Carter quickly waned as the
  months dragged on with no progress.

5
Iran Hostage Crisis Discredits Carter

• After months of abortive efforts to forge a
  diplomatic solution, the President ordered a
  secret military rescue operation in April 1980.
• The operation ended in disaster before getting
  close to the embassy when two helicopters
  malfunctioned and another collided with a cargo
  plane, killing eight service members.
• Iranians displayed the burned corpses before
  television cameras.
• The Iran Hostage Crisis became symbolic of the
  decline of US prestige in the world and the
  President was criticized for incompetence.
• After 444 days of captivity, the hostages were
  released immediately after Reagan's inauguration
  in January 1981.

Wreckage of Operation Eagle Claw
6
Roe v. Wade Mobilizes Conservatives

• In Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court ruled
  that state laws restricting abortion violated a
  woman's constitutional right to privacy.
• The issue of legalized abortion helped galvanize
  the rise of the Christian Right in the 1970's and
  1980's.
• In the wake of the sexual revolution and the
  women's liberation movement, many conservatives
  sought to restore "traditional family values".
• Roe v. Wade catalyzed the formation of a number
  of enduring political organizations.

7
Phyllis Schlafly and the ERA

• One item on the agenda of social conservatives in
  the 1970's was the defeat of the Equal Rights
  Amendment.
• Many felt that felt that "traditional family
  values" had been undermined by the women's
  liberation movement.
• Others were repelled by what they believed was
  intervention by the state into the private
  sphere.
• The campaign to stop ratification, led by
  activist and self-described homemaker Phyllis
  Schlafly, demonstrated the financial and
  political capabilities of the emerging New Right.
  
• ERA died in 1982, just three votes short of
  passage.

8
Text of Proposed ERA

• Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall
  not be denied or abridged by the United States or
  by any State on account of sex.
• Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to
  enforce, by appropriate legislation, the
  provisions of this article.
• Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two
  years after the date of ratification.

9
The Christian Right

• The growth of evangelical Christianity in the
  1970's reflects the concern for what many
  perceived as a decline in traditional moral
  values.
• By 1978, 40 of Americans described themselves as
  "born again," including President Carter.
• The divisive issues pervading American politics,
  including abortion and women's rights,
  contributed to the proliferation of evangelical
  political organizations.

10
Televangelism

• Evangelical television progamming enjoyed a
  rising level of influence and viewership
  throughout the 1970's and 1980's.
• Charismatic "televangelists" like Jerry Falwell,
  Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, and Pat Robertson
  delivered rousing sermons that resonated with
  disaffected evangelicals and translated into
  political action.

Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker
11
Political Influence of the Christian Right

• Groups like the National Conservative Political
  Action Committee and Reverend Jerry Falwell's
  Moral Majority pioneered the use of sophisticated
  campaigning and fundraising techniques such as
  direct mail. The influence and campaign tactics
  of Christian Right delivered a critical
  proportion of votes to Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Rev. Jerry Falwall
12
Intellectual Foundations of Modern Conservatism
Goldwater

• Senator Barry Goldwater is widely regarded as the
  Father of Modern American Conservatism.
• Goldwater's libertarian orientation often put him
  at odds with the social and moral agenda of the
  Reagan Administration and the Christian Right by
  the 1980's.

13
The Speech

• Reagan's televised 1964 "A Time for Choosing"
  speech on behalf of the Goldwater campaign
  propelled the actor from corporate spokesman to
  conservative champion.
• It became known simply as "The Speech."
• Reagan outlined the goals of the modern
  conservative movement smaller government, lower
  taxes, personal autonomy, and more aggressive
  policy toward Communist states.
• He implies that liberal policies represent a
  dangerous shift toward socialism, even drawing
  parallels between Lyndon Johnson and Karl Marx.

14
Intellectual Foundations of Modern Conservatism
Kirk

• Russell Kirk was another influential intellectual
  of American conservatism. Reagan awarded him with
  Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989.
• Kirks The Essence of Conservatism (1957)
  
  The conservative is a person who endeavors to
  conserve the best in our traditions and our
  institutions, reconciling that best with
  necessary reform from time to time.

15
Election of 1980

• Throughout his term, President Carter grappled
  with economic issues coupled with foreign policy
  nightmares such as the ongoing Iran Hostage
  Crisis and strained Soviet-American relations
  following the USSR invasion of Afghanistan in
  1979.
• Throughout the campaign, Reagan questioned
  Carter's competence, while Carter tried to cast
  him as a dangerous extremist.
• The election came down to a single televised
  debate in October 1980. Reagan closed the debate
  with the campaign's signature refrain, "Are you
  better off now than you were four years ago?"

16
Reagan Landslide

• The election ended in a landslide victory of
  Ronald Reagan and the first Republican majority
  in the Senate since 1952.
• Dismal voter turnout suggested disaffection and
  apathy toward the political process as the 1970's
  came to an end and the "Reagan Revolution" began.

17
Election of 1980
18
Reagans Presidential Agenda

• Reduce the federal bureaucracy, deregulate
  certain industries, cut taxes, increase the
  defense budget, take a hard line with the
  Soviets, and appoint conservative judges
• In his first few months as president, Reagan got
  much of what he wanted.
• Image grew stronger as he survived an
  assassination attempt
• Proved himself capable of decisive action when he
  fired 13,000 striking air traffic controllers

19
The Reagan Revolution Begins

• Following his overwhelming victory Reagan and his
  political allies began an effort to reverse the
  political legacy of the New Deal and Great
  Society.
• In his first Inaugural Address "In this present
  crisis, government is not the solution to our
  problem government is the problem."
• Reagan was able to capitalize on the new
  conservative national sentiment with a simple
  message low taxes, smaller government, and
  strong national defense.
• In addition to delivering a clear, concise
  agenda, Reagan conveyed a sense of optimism and
  accessibility that earned him the title "The
  Great Communicator."

20
A Dramatic Start to the Reagan Presidency

• In 1981, Reagan enjoyed high public approval and
  success in implementing his campaign promises.
• Immediately following his inauguration, Iranian
  terrorists released the American hostages after
  444 days of captivity.
• Congress enacted legislation to reduce tax rates
  by 25 over three years, cut social spending, and
  advance the goal of a balanced budget by 1984.

21
A Dramatic Start to the Reagan Presidency

• On March 30, 1981, Reagan survived an
  assassination attempt by John Hinkley Jr, who
  shot the president in an effort to impress
  actress Jodie Foster. Reagan was more badly
  injured than the administration reported, but he
  remained optimistic and his approval rating
  reached 73.

22
A Dramatic Start to the Reagan Presidency

• In 1981, Reagan appointed the first female
  Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
  Although she identified herself as a moderate
  Republican, foes of abortion and the ERA
  condemned her appointment to the bench.

23
Reaganomics

• The acendancy of conservatism in the 1980's can
  be partially attributed to the economic
  "stagflation" of the Carter years.
• Reagan espoused supply-side economic theory.
• Supply-siders favored simultaneous tax cuts and
  reductions in spending to encourage investors and
  entrepreneurs.
• Conservative author George Gilder wrote, "a
  successful economy depends on the proliferation
  of the rich."

24
Reaganomics

• Reagan delivered an address to Congress shortly
  after being wounded in an assassination attempt.
• In the spirit of the Reagan Revolution, he calls
  upon lawmakers to try a radical new approach to
  economic policy.
• Congress members received him with applause and
  quickly passed the Economic Recovery Tax Act of
  1981 (with cut taxes by 747 billion over five
  years) and the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981
  (which in one piece of legislation, cut over 200
  social and cultural spending by 136 billion over
  two years).
• The tax cut was the largest in history.

25
What Reagan FacedThe Economic Problems

• The inflation creep of the 1970s had resulted in
  an enormous increase in tax burden through
  bracket creep.
• Social security tax and Medicare had also
  increased the personal tax burden.
• According to Boston College economist Barry
  Bluestone, 31 million jobs had been destroyed
  between 1978 and 1982.
• Fully one-third of all private sector jobs that
  existed in 1978 had disappeared by 1982.

26
What Reagan FacedDefense Issues

• Defense spending had declined from 9.6 of GNP in
  FY1962 to 5.5 of GNP in FY1981, a decline of
  43.
• More of the defense spending in 1981 was directed
  toward salaries and pensions than in 1962.
• CIA reports showed that defense expenditures in
  the Soviet Union were twice as high (as a percent
  of output) than U.S. defense expenditures,
  implying that the U.S.S.R. was spending 45 more
  on defense than the U.S.
• In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and
  the U.S. embassy in Iran was seized.
• The questions everyone was asking was Can we
  defend ourselves? Are we ready?

27
Results (1)

• Despite the tax cuts of 1981, federal tax
  revenues nearly doubled in the Reagan years.
  (Washington Times, 8/25/1992)
• Real inflation-adjusted manufacturing output rose
  to its highest point of the post-WWII period.
• In 1989, capital goods production was 38 of
  total manufacturing production, as compared with
  1967 when it was 28.
• In 1989, exports of capital goods were 45 of
  total capital goods production, compared to 20
  in 1967.

28
Results (2)

• Domestic-based manufacturing employment fell from
  20.3 million in 1980 to 19.2 million in 1990, a
  decline of 6, probably as a result of
  productivity gains.
• U.S. exports of manufacturing goods grew by 90
  between 1986 and 1992, compared with 25 for the
  rest of the OECD countries.

29
Results (3)

• The U.S. raised its share of the worlds
  manufacturing exports from 14 in 1987 to 18 in
  1991.
• In 1990, the U.S.s share of world manufacturing
  exports was the same as in 1975.

30
Results (4)

• More than 18 million new jobs were created in the
  1980s in the U.S.this was more than Japan,
  Britain, and Germany combined.
• 82 of the jobs created were high-pay, high-skill
  managerial and technical positions. 12 were
  low-skill service jobs.
• While real wages declined from 11.41 per hour in
  1978 to 10.02 per hour in 1990, workers total
  compensation increased as workers demanded
  increased benefits.

31
Results (5)

• Reaganomics did not gut social welfare programs.
  In fact, social welfare spending was the largest
  cause of the budget deficits of the Reagan
  administration.
• Outlays for means-tested programs rose 19.7 from
  1982-1989 (CPI adjusted). As a percentage of GNP,
  this is a higher rate than the Carter years.

32
Results (6)
U.S. Real Income Growth, 1983-1989 U.S. Real Income Growth, 1983-1989
Quintile Real Income Growth
Lowest 20 11.1
Second 20 10.1
Third 20 10.7
Fourth 20 11.6
Highest 20 18.8
33
Recession and Rebound

• In 1982, the worst recession since the Great
  Depression occurred.

34
Recession and Rebound

• A recession occurs when GDP declines for two or
  more consecutive quarters.
• During a recession, production levels go down,
  the stock market is unhealthy, unemployment
  rises, and consumer spending declines.
• By the middle of 1983, the economy made its
  recovery.

35
Defense Spending Increases

• One facet of Reagan's ideological outlook was the
  need to bolter America's defense capability.
• Despite vowing to dramatically reduce taxes and
  government spending, the Reagan Administration
  increased military spending by over 50 between
  1981 and 1988.
• Reagan emphasized the increasing military
  capability of the USSR. He acknowledged the
  expense of the military buildup, but insisted it
  was vital to national security.

36
Star Wars

• In 1983, President Reagan proposed his Strategic
  Defense Initiative as an additional check on
  Soviet nuclear capability.
• Reagan envisioned space-based missile defense
  technology capable of striking down nuclear
  weapons before they reached the United States.
• "Wouldn't it be better to save lives than to
  avenge them?"
• The press derisively dubbed the plan "Star Wars",
  and many believed it was infeasible due to the
  enormous expense and technical innovation that it
  would require to become operational.

37
The Deficit and the National Debt

• The hike in defense spending, and vastly reduced
  tax revenues resulted in a skyrocketing federal
  budget deficit .
• By 1988, the interest alone on the national debt
  reached 14 of the annual budget and the United
  States became the world's biggest debtor.
• Reagans goal to balance the budget by 1984
  became infeasible.

38
(No Transcript)
39
Reagans Foreign Policy

• The Main Idea
• President Reagan took a hard line against
  communism around the world.
• Reading Focus
• How did President Reagan help to bring about the
  end of the Cold War?
• What foreign trouble spots persisted during
  Reagans presidency?
• How did the Iran-Contra Affair undermine the
  president?

40
President Reagan and the Cold War

• In his first term, Reagan rejected the policies
  of containment and détente he wanted to destroy
  communism.
• Position worsened relations with the Soviets
• Forged bonds with like-minded leaders, including
  Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II
• Critics of his policy called Reagan reckless
• Reagan obtained massive increases in military
  spending.
• Much of the new spending went to nuclear weapons.
• Promoted the Strategic Defense initiative (SDI)a
  shield in space to protect the United States
  against incoming Soviet missiles.
• Critics called this Star Wars and said it
  wouldnt work.

41
A Thaw in the Cold War

• The Soviet Union
• By the late 1970s the Soviet economy was
  shrinking.
• Industrial and farm production, population
  growth, education, and medical care all fell.
• The Soviet Union started importing food
• Strikes in Poland led by Lech Walesa highlighted
  Soviet weaknesses.
• Walesa successfully forced the Soviet-backed
  government to legalize independent trade unions.
• He also led a new independent union called
  Solidarity.

• U.S.-Soviet Relations
• A visionary leader came to power in the Soviet
  UnionMikhail Gorbachev.
• Believed the only way to save the Soviet Union
  was to strike a deal with the United States
• Between 1985 and 1988 Reagan and Gorbachev met
  four times and produced the Intermediate-Range
  Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
• First treaty to actually reduce nuclear arms
• INF Treaty destroyed a whole class of weapons
  (more than 2,500 missiles).

42
What foreign trouble spots persisted during
Reagans presidency?

• Latin Americathe United States supported several
  anti-Communist governments and rebel groups in
  the region
• Lebanonthe United States was part of an
  international peacekeeping force that tried to
  halt the countrys civil war
• GrenadaReagan sent 5,000 marines to invade the
  island in order to stop a violent Communist coup
• South AfricaCongress overrode a Reagan veto and
  passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act to
  help end apartheid in the country

43
Upheaval in Latin America

• Violent civil war between Marxist guerrillas and
  government troops supported by armed extremist
  groups
• Reagan administration supported José Napoleón
  Duartea moderate leader who won the 1984
  election.

El Salvador

• U.S-backed Anastasio Somoza Debayle was ousted by
  the Sandinistasa Marxist group.
• Reagan cut off aid to Nicaragua saying that the
  Sandinistas were backed by the USSR.
• Reagan then allowed the CIA to equip and train a
  Sandinista opposition group called the Contras.
• Congress cut off funds to the Contras and banned
  all further direct or indirect U.S. support of
  them.

Nicaragua
44
Trouble Spots Abroad

• Lebanon
• Muslim and Christian groups waged a civil war.
• Israel invaded Lebanon to expel the PLO.
• U.S. sent 800 peacekeepers.
• A suicide bomber killed 241 marines.
• Reagan withdrew the troops.

• Grenada
• 1983 Communist coup stranded 800 U.S. students.
• Cubas role and students safety concerned
  Reagan.
• Reagan sent in soldiers who took the island in
  two days with a loss of 19 soldiers.

• South Africa
• Apartheid enforced legalized racial segregation.
• Reagans policy was one of constructive
  engagement with the white minority government.
• Congress overrode his veto and imposed trade
  limits and other sanctions.

45
The Iran-Contra Affair

• Despite the Congressional ban on U.S. funds for
  the Contras war, Reagans national security staff
  sought to continue the funding.
• In 1985 National Security Advisor Robert
  McFarlane persuaded Reagan to sell arms to Iran
  in hopes that Iran would help obtain the release
  of U.S. hostages in Lebanon.
• This violated a U.S. arms embargo.
• Members of the National Security Council staff
  then secretly diverted the money from the sale of
  arms to Iran to the Contras in Nicaragua.

46
The Iran-Contra Affair

• Vice Admiral John Poindexter and Lieutenant
  Colonel Oliver North carried out the plan to
  divert arms sale money to the Contras.
• When the Iran-Contra affair came to light,
  Congress wanted to know if anyone higher up was
  involved.
• Reagan admitted authorizing the sale of arms to
  Iran but denied knowing that the money was then
  diverted to the Contras.
• Full details of the affair are not known because
  the administration engaged in a cover-up of their
  actions.
• North admitted destroying key documents.
• High-level Reagan staff members lied in testimony
  to Congress and withheld evidence.
• North was convicted of destroying documents and
  perjury. His conviction was overturned on
  technicalities.