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Ronald Reagan. Reagan Public Approval Ratings. Before National Politics. Goldwater speech 1964. Winning the Republican Nomination. Capturing the Nomination. New Hampshire debate 1980: The Line. Reagan’s Clarity. Strong Defense Cut taxes Cut Spending Balance the Budget.
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Before National Politics Goldwater speech 1964
Capturing the Nomination • New Hampshire debate 1980: • The Line
Reagan’s Clarity • Strong Defense • Cut taxes • Cut Spending • Balance the Budget
Effect of Reagan on US Political Culture LeftRight Left-right defined as accepted level of government intervention in the economy: right = less intervention left = more intervention US Pre-1981; New Deal and Great Society era Reagan era
New Deal Coalition Democratic South African-Americans Union members Urban North Immigrant/newer ethnic groups Farmers Reagan Coalition Midwest small towns Wealthiest Americans Hawks on foreign policy Blue Collar in North and Midwest (union and non-union) White Southerners Evangelicals Yuppies Realignment
The “Troika” Counsellor Chief of Staff Dep. Chief Ed Meese James Baker Michael Deaver Policy Process Image
Presidential Power and Persuasion LBJ Model Pres Congress People
Presidential Power and Persuasion Reagan Model Pres People Congress
Reagan Media Strategy • Bully Pulpit • Stage Events in Controlled Settings • Feed the Media • Consistency of Message • Selling the President • Popularity is Power
The Ultimate Example • Berlin 1987
Iran-Contra • Comparison to other scandals • When Congress tries to restrain presidential actions • Ignore Congress • Reinterpret the law
The Iran Contra Scandal Contras Private US $ Foreign Gov’t $ $$$ Hostages weapons weapons Swiss bank accounts; controlled by North Iran US Israel
Congressional Restrictions on Arms Sales in 1980s Arms Export Control Acts • No arms sales to nations determined to be sponsors of terrorism (US State Dept determines which nations fit into this category; it included Iran) • No arms sales of over $25 m in value without congressional approval (1974); A 1976 bill lowered this to $14 m for sophisticated weaponry and $50 m for other items • Both the House and Senate would have to reject the arms sales