The Resurgence of
Conservatives
1980-1992
It will be my intention to curb the size and
influence of the federal establishment and to
demand recognition of the distinction between
the powers granted to the federal government
and those reserved to the states or the people–
Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1981
The New Right
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Average American older than in the 1960’s
More likely lived in the South & West
Suspicious of federal government power
Energized by evangelical Christian groups (Moral
Majority-led by Pastor Jerry Fallwell)
Moral Majority – Social conservatives; railed against
abortion, pornography, homosexuality, feminism, &
affirmative action- advocated school prayer etc.
Registered 2-3 million voters in a couple years;
raised $millions for candidates.
“The Old Right”- economic conservatives; railed
against welfare, affirmative action, government
spending & size- for state's rights & free market
“laissez-faire”.
1978- California Tax Revolt (Proposition 13) slashed
property taxes & cut government services.
The 1980 Election
Republicans nominated Ronald Reagan; “It’s Morning
in America” campaign slogan (G.H.W. Bush VP)
Ronald Reagan: former B grade actor; Gov. Calif.
 Born & raised in a generation before the 1960’s
 Early political hero- FDR (DEMOCRAT!)
 Championed the common man against Big
Government
 Hoped to win working class & lower Middle-class
voters- linked the Democratic Party to BIG
GOVERNMENT.
 Influenced by “Neo-Conservatives” led by Irving
Kristol- free market capitalism (Laissez-faire)
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President Carter’s Problems
Problems abroad- Iranian hostage crisis
 Problems at home- double-digit inflation,
energy crisis, appeared inept.
“ABC Movement”- people in the Democratic
Party who wanted anyone to run except
Carter.
 Liberal Democrats wanted Edward (Ted)
Kennedy
 Carter & Kennedy fought for the Democratic
nomination
 Issue that stopped Kennedy- Chappaquiddick
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The 1980 Campaign
Ronald Reagan- acting skills & charm –advantage.
 Blasted Big Government of the Democrats,
inflation, high interest rates (20% in 1980), slow
economy.
 Since 1960 federal spending went from 18% of
GNP to 23%
 US
 Optimism- America’s best years are ahead; antiSoviet, Pro-business, Pro-Christian.
 “Are you better off than you were 4 years ago?”
Carter- accused Reagan of being a trigger-happy
“Cold Warrior”- might bring war.
1980 Election Outcome
Reagan- won 51% of popular vote
 Electoral Vote: Reagan 489 Carter 49
 Republicans gained control of Congress -1st time in 25 years
 1st time since Herbert Hoover (1932) a sitting President was
voted out.
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“The Reagan Revolution”
“Government is not the solution to our problems, it
IS the problem…”
 American hostages in Iran released on his
inauguration day.
Goal- dismantle the welfare state & reverse the
social upheavals of previous decades.
“Reaganomics”: Trickle Down
 New budget cut spending by $35 million (social
programs- food stamps & job training)
 Cut taxes 25% across the board over 3 years, cut
estate taxes, new tax free saving for investors
 “Boll weevil” Democrats (southern conservative
democrats) went along with Reagan’s budget
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The Economy by 1982
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Economy in deepest recession since 1930’s
Unemployment 11%-- bank failures
US auto industry not selling enough cars
(Japanese imports)
Critics said cuts hurt poor & handicapped &
favored wealthy
1983- ECONOMIC RECOVERY BEGAN!
1980’S 1ST time income gaps widened
between rich & poor
Middle class incomes stagnated
“yuppies”- young, urban professionals (1.5
million prospering Americans)
Assassination Attempt
March 6, 1981- John Hinckley shot President
Reagan (wounded him in left arm, collapsed lung)
 George H. W. Bush took over temp. (25th
Amendment)
 Reagan recovered quickly (12 days later walked out
of the hospital)
 Addressed the budget on TV a few days later.
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Effects of Reaganomics
1980’s prosperity founded on military spending.
 $2 Trillion over 1980’s decade
 US borrowed money to support spending
Budget Deficits
 $100 Billion in 1982; $200 Billion each year after 1982
 Gov’t borowing kept interest rates high= elevated value of
the US dollar= good news for US tourists & buyers of
foreign cars.
 Trade Deficit Increased- High US DOLLAR hurt US
exporters= US trade deficit $152 Billion in 1987= US
BECAME WORLD’S HEAVIEST BORROWER.
Reagan Foreign Policy-The Cold
War
The Soviet Union is the “focus of evil in the modern world”Reagan
“Peace through Strength”- Reagan would negotiate with
USSR but only from a position of strength.
 Initiate a new expensive arms race with U.S.S.R.
 US could spend easier than USSR= U.S.S.R. would have to
negotiate with avoid economic ruin.
1. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI or “Star Wars”)orbiting battle stations in space that would shoot down
Soviet missiles (“astrodome defense shield”)
 Some scientists advocated, others said it was science fiction.
 No matter- it caused the USSR much concern
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Reagan Foreign Policy- The Cold
War
2. Poland (1981)- popular movement of working people –
“Solidarity” LED BY Lech Walesa
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Communist Polish government enacted martial law
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Reagan enacted economic sanctions on Poland & USSR.
3. Aging Soviet Oligarchs- Soviet leaders tended to be old & in ill
health.
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1982-1985- 3 died
4. 1983- Soviets shot down Korean passenger jet in Soviet
airspace.
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End of 1983- all arms-control talks with USSR OFF
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1984- Soviet & Soviet bloc countries boycotted Olympics in
LA
Reagan & the Middle East
Lebanon
Israel- continued to allow new settlements to be built
in “occupied territory” on West Bank.
 Invade Lebanon in 1982= armed chaos occurred
 1983- Reagan sent US troops as part of peacekeeping force to Lebanon
 Oct. 1983- suicide bomber killed more than 200
Marines- US troops withdrawn= Reagan not damaged
by this setback= “Teflon President”
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Reagan & Central America
Nicaragua & El Salvador
 1979-Anti-American Leftists (Sandinistas) overthrew
dictator of Nicaragua- Carter ignored.
 Reagan accused Sandinistas of sending weapons to El
Salvador (war torn area).
 US military advisors sent to strengthen El Salvadoran
government
 Gave aid to the “Contra” rebels (opposing anti-American
Nicaraguan Government).
Grenada
 1983 US invaded Caribbean island of Grenada
 Why? Military coup killed elected Prime Minister & Marxists
came to power.
 US WON QUICKLY
Election of 1984
Republicans re-nominate Ronald Reagan & George
H.W. Bush
 Democrats nominated Walter Mondale &
Geraldine Ferraro (1st woman on a major party
ticket)
 Mondale hurt (VP in Carter administration)
 Reagan wins in a landslide
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1984 Election Results
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Reagan 525 electoral votes; Mondale 13
Reagan’s Second Term
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Foreign Policy dominated Reagan’s 2nd Term
1985- Mikhail Gorbachev – new charismatic
leader of Communist Party in USSR.
Gorbachev initiated radical reforms in USSR
Glasnost (“openness”) : introduced free speech &
some political liberty.
Perestroika (“restructuring”): revive Soviet
economy by adopting free market reforms (profit
motive & end subsidized prices.
Required shrinking Soviet military & grow civilian
economy
April 1985- Gorbachev announced end INF
targeting Western Europe.
Geneva Meeting 1985
Geneva Summit 1985: 1st of 4 meetings
Gorbachev & Reagan discussed INF elimination
Nothing concrete
Reykjavik, Iceland Summit Oct. 1986 –meeting #2
 Ended in stalemate- no agreements
 Beginning of a genuine fondness between Gorbachev &
Reagan
The Washington Summit Dec. 1987- Meeting #3
 *INF Treaty signed- banned all intermediate-range
nuclear weapons from Europe.
The Moscow Summit –May 1988
 Reagan & Gorbachev praised each other
 A warm friendship was beginning
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Reagan & other Foreign Policy
Moves
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Feb. 1986--Reagan administration backed Corazon
Aquino who ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos in
Philippines.
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1986-- Reagan attacked Libya in retaliation of Libya’s
link to terrorist bomb attacks like an attack on a West
Berlin nightclub that US soldier.
*The Iran-Contra Scandal
2 problems: US hostages held in Lebanon & left-wing
Sandinistas in Nicaragua
 Reagan asked Congress for aid to (Contra rebels) fighting
Sandinistas- CONGRESS REFUSED
 1985- US arranged arms sales to Iranians (Iran & Iraq at
war)= Iranians would seek release of US hostages- Reagan
vowed never negotiate with terrorists.
 Money from arm sales sent to aid CONTRAS in NicaraguaCONGRESS HAD FORBIDDEN THIS!
 Nov. 1985- news of secret deal broke
 Reagan denied knowledge of the deal
 Congressional investigation- led some to think Reagan senile,
a poor manager of subordinates– Reagan was most likely in
very early stages of Alzheimer’s.
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Reagan & the Court
Reagan used the court in the “cultural wars”
 Demanded by the Religious Right (Moral Majority)
 Appointed almost a majority of all sitting judges by
end of second term (appointed 3 in all)
 Appointed Sandra Day O’Conner -1st Woman on
Supreme Court.
Reaganism on the court:
 Assailed affirmative action & abortion
 Ward Cove Packing v. Antonia and Martin v. Wilks
(1989)- court made it more difficult to prove an
employer practiced racial discrimination.
 Congress passed law in 1991 that reversed
decision.
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Reagan & the Court
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Abortion:
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Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989)-
allowed states to legislate abortion to some degree.
 Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1991)- states can
restrict access to abortion as long as they don’t
place undue burden on the woman (Penn. Required
minor child to notify parents- but did not have to
notify husband).
Reagan’s Legacy
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One of the most beloved & revered Presidents
Eased regulations on Business
Tax reform$2 Trillion in Deficits
Median income declined (gap between rich & poor)
Social programs cut
COLD WAR PRACTICALLY ENDS
Referendum on Reaganism?
Nov. 1986- Republicans lost control of the Senate
1987- Senate majority Dem. Rejected Reagan
appointee Robert Bork
 Democrats tried to make issues of: Iran-Contra,
budget deficit, trade deficit
**The Savings & Loan Scandal
 Falling oil prices hurt SW economy= low real estate
values= 100’s of Savings & Loan were damaged.
 Federal bailout cost $500 Billion
 S & L’s pushed these loans off on 3rd World countries
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Oct. 19, 1987- Black Monday- Stocks plunged 508
pts.
1988 Election
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Democrats- had seven candidates (Seven Dwarves)
Democrat frontrunner-Gary Hart (disqualified by
sexual misconduct charges)
Jesse Jackson- “Rainbow Coalition”
Nomination- Michael Dukakis
Republicans nominated George H.W. Bush (ran on
Reagan’s coattails) –defense, tax cuts, anti-abortion
“Read my lips no new taxes”- George H.W. Bush
1988 Election Results
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Bush Electoral votes-426, Dukakis -111
Foreign Affairs
*Tiananmen Square Incident (1989)- 1000’s of prodemocracy demonstrators gathered.
 Presented a 30 ft. “Goddess of Democracy”
 China’s government sent troops & tanks against the
crowd
 World opinion turned against China
 Bush maintained normal relations with China
Eastern Europe
 Communist puppet regimes collapsed (Poland –August
1989)
 Dec. 1989- Germans danced atop Berlin Wall
 Oct. 1990- Germany was reunified
Gorbachev vs. The Hardliners
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August 1991- Military coup against Gorbachev.
Boris Yeltsin (president of the Russian Republic)helped Gorbachev defy the coup by surrounding him
with 1000’s of supporters.
Dec. 1991- Gorbachev resigned
Soviet Union dissolved into 15 Republics loosely
confederated into- Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) – Yeltsin dominant
leader. – Soviet Union in dustbin of history!
Bush’s “New World Order”- democracy would rule
& diplomacy replaces weaponry.
Post Cold War Questions
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What about previous arms control agreements with US?
What will happen to ethnic & religious conflict tamped down
by Soviet rule?
Which former Soviet Republic would control former USSR
nuclear arsenal?
1993- Yeltsin & Bush sign *SALT II - both will reduce longrange nuclear weapons by 2/3 within 10 years.
1991-Yugoslavia- ethnic cleansing against minorities
occurred.
Eastern European Refugees flee to Western Europe
1990- Nelson Mandela released from S. African prison- 4
years later elected president.
1990- Free elections in Nicaragua- Sandinistas Out!
What about the US after the end of
the Cold War?
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Almost 50 years – Internationalist Policy followed
Would US return to isolationism?
How would the US economy be affected by
movement away from military spending?
1991- Pentagon closed 34 military bases; canceled
$52 Billion order for new planes (California hard hit)
1989- US invaded Panama & overthrew Manuel
Noriega (drug trafficking-imprisoned in US until
2010- then sent to France to face charges).
*The Persian Gulf War
August 2, 1990- Saddam Hussein (Iraq) invaded Kuwait (would
have allowed him to control 1/3 of world’s oil supply)
 UN Security Council: denounced the invasion-August 3 &
demanded withdrawal of troops; international embargo
followed.
 November- UN ultimatum- leave Kuwait by Jan. 15,1991 or
else.
 UN force led by 539,000 US troops
 Jan 12- Congress voted to use force
 Feb. 23, 1991- land war began (Operation Desert Stormplanned by US General “Stormin” Norman Schwarzkopf
 lasted 4 days; Feb. 27- Saddam accepted a ceasefire.
 Saddam left in power!
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George H.W. Bush at Home
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1990 ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)prohibited discrimination against those with physical
& mental disabilities.
Water Projects Bill- reformed Fed. Subsidization of
water in West- put environment ahead of
agriculture.
1991- appointed Clarence Thomas to Supreme
Court (African-American who criticized affirmative
action)- opposed by liberal groups, unions, NOW.
Accused by Law Professor Anita Hill - sexual
misconduct
Senate vote 52-48 to confirm him
Bush & the economy
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More damaging to Bush than anything
US economy stalled
Unemployment exceeded 7% by 1992
US budget deficit $250 Billion in each year of
Bush’s presidency
1990- Bush agreed to a budget that contained
$133 Billion in new taxes- broke his 1988 campaign
promise!