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1980’s and beyond. Effects of Reaganonmics. Plan in Action. 25% tax cut across the board proposed Replacing revenue an issue Cuts in reduced lunches programs, student loans, job training, and mass urban transit Congress not in complete support Economist sound warnings Deregulations
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1980’s and beyond Effects of Reaganonmics
Plan in Action • 25% tax cut across the board proposed • Replacing revenue an issue • Cuts in reduced lunches programs, student loans, job training, and mass urban transit • Congress not in complete support • Economist sound warnings • Deregulations • Banking industry • Savings and Loans • Transportation • Cut air quality regulations • Decreased efficiency and safety standards in vehicles
No Striking Allowed • Air traffic controllers learn a hard lesson • 1981 strike against poor working conditions proves disastrous • Reagan invokes Taft-Hartley law of 1948 • Illegal for federal employees to strike • Fired workers, barred from federal employment for life • Unions see significant decline
Trading Deficit • U.S. exports becoming too expensive • Less international interest • Increase buying of products from Japan and elsewhere • High trade deficit by 1984 • Less manufacturing taking place domestically • Businesses taking advantage of workforce abroad
Foreign Affairs • Soviet Union deemed officially the “evil empire” • Middle East continues to plague presidency • 1981 tension mounting between Israel and PLO • PLO builds forces in Lebanon, Israel makes plans to respond • 1982 Israeli’s gain upper hand, force PLO leaders out
Cont…. • Lebanese Christian militia attacks Palestinian refugee camp killing hundreds • Events pose concern to U.S. • Reagan sends in 2000 Marines to stabilize region • Muslims feel threatened by American presence • 1983, Shiite Muslim on a suicide mission kills 240 Marines w/ car bomb • Question arise as to why Marines are there, few answers available
Foreign Affairs cont….. • Meanwhile……. • New interest closer to home • Latin America viewed as communist interest • “The national security of all the America’s is at stake” Reagan 1983 • Sandinistas target enemy, Contra’s gain U.S. support • Congress and the public fearful of involvement • Congress impose two year ban on aid to the Contra’s in 1984 • Money continues to be funneled down south
Iran-Contra Debacle • Uncovered by Lebanese reporter • American hostages in the Middle East, links to Iran assumed • Reagan in a difficult situation • Concern for hostages • Opposed to yielding to terrorist demands • Behind the scenes plan coming together • Israeli’s open up talks • Iranian arms dealer with clout willing to do business
Cont…. • Goal: negotiate release of hostages for anti-tank missiles • Ongoing war with Iraq • Free hostages and gain some influence with “moderate” Iranian government officials • Who agreed to what a big question
The Players • Robert MacFarlane • National Security Advisor • George Schultz • Secretary of State • Casper Weinberger • Defense Secretary • Oliver North • Deputy under MacFarlane • Ronald Reagan • President out of touch
Cont….. • Sales made, but only one hostage freed • Primary interest, CIA head in Beirut, William Buckley already executed • Not a complete loss • Money made from the deal available for providing support to Contras and fight against Sandinistas • One problem: against the law
Cont… • End around the decision of Congress • Reagan warned that this could be considered an impeachable offense • Oliver North put in charge of activities • When news broke North is the fall guy • Referred to as a national hero, then fired • Details shaky, but condemning • Convicted but overturned on a technicality
Highlight for Reagan • Mikhail Gorbachev and change in Russia • Begins thawing of Cold War relations • Bush benefactor of good relations between the two • 1988 election a success • Foreign activity looking positive, communism collapsing in Eastern Europe • No overt activity with foreign policy until 1991 and Desert Storm
Bush I Presidency • Desert Storm activity fast and seemingly effective • Job not fully complete in eyes of many • Bush gained great amount of public support • Short lived • Economy feeling the effects of Reagan policies • Savings and Loan scandal hits, cost of bailout $400b • No new taxes comes back to haunt
A Man Called Bubba • Rhodes scholar from Arkansas • First term plagued by personal issues, domestic and foreign disasters • Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell • Waco, Texas • Somalia • Bosnia and others • 1994 midterm elections see House and Senate go to Republicans • Healthcare reform blow up
Clinton Era • Despite Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky, able to garner support • Managed a budget surplus • Low unemployment • Clinton leaves office with high approval • Democrats feeling good