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Warm Up 5-31

Warm Up 5-31. What do you know about President Ronald Reagan? Some people think he was the bestest President ever Some think he was one of the worst Presidents ever. The Reagan Presidency. Hero Or Villain. Election of 1980. Reagan wins a close elections to defeat Carter

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Warm Up 5-31

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  1. Warm Up 5-31 • What do you know about President Ronald Reagan? • Some people think he was the bestest President ever • Some think he was one of the worst Presidents ever.

  2. The Reagan Presidency • Hero • Or • Villain

  3. Election of 1980 • Reagan wins a close elections to defeat Carter • Iran Hostage Crisis and the economy were key issues • Reagan and Carter had only one debate and Reagan revealed his excellent communication skills “the Great Communicator.” • Fun Fact: Some allege that someone on Reagan team stole Carters “Play Book” thus was able to counter every point during the debate

  4. Who was Reagan? Born and raised in the Midwest. Became a “B movie” actor Became President of the Screen Actors Guild (actors union) Became Gov. of California as a Republican

  5. Reagan’s Presidency • Very Symbolic of the 1980’s • Back to strong anti-communist rhetoric • Huge military build up that reignited the Arms Race resulting in high tension between USSR and US, but led to end of Cold War • Dismantled or weakened the programs of the Great Society • Deregulation • Weakened work safety • Relaxed banking rules • Relaxed environmental rules • Reagan was loved by some and loathed by others

  6. Two Views of Reagan Hero Villain Econ policy favored the rich and powerful and hurt poor and middle class Created a huge military build up that was dangerous and cost the US billions that we are still paying for Incompetent president who had no control over his subordinates which led to several major scandals • Pulled US out of poor econ • Ended the Cold War • Re-established US military dominance • A great communicator and likable man who inspired Americans • Refocused the Conservative Movement which couldn’t win a major election

  7. Reagan the Hero

  8. Economic Policy • Supported “supply side economics” AKA Trickle Down econ. • Theory: Cut taxes and reduce govt regulation on Big Business will encourage industry to invest in themselves and hire workers, thus stimulating the econ. At the same time slash govt spending on federal programs • Bush #1 called this “voodoo economics” • Reduced rules for Big Business: Environment, monopoly laws, safety rules thus can spend more money on themselves and grow

  9. Reagan Hero • Economy strengthenedas with any econ policy it is debated on whether policy did it or was it outside forces (the global oil crisis ended resulting in a stronger world econ.)

  10. Reagan Hero • Cold War ends: Reagan's military build up pushed the USSR’s econ to near collapse forcing them to break apart. • Satellite states (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and more) are freed • Germany in united

  11. Reagan Hero • Inspired the flailing conservative movement • Was an excellent communicator (he was an actor) that even his political enemies liked him personally • Fun Fact: Reagan loved Jelly Beans and always had a jar on his desk and would offer to visitors. He even sent them to space on the shuttle as a surprise for the astronauts.

  12. Reagan The Villain

  13. Reagan the Villain • Economic Policies: • Rich became richer. The wealthy received the biggest tax cuts while federal programs that aided the underserved were slashed. • Results: • Drastic increase in homelessness • Poverty rate went up • Unemployment among blue collar middle class grew • Dereg. Of banks led to Savings and Loan crisis • Pollution increased dramatically

  14. Reagan the Villain • Military buildup: • Results: Drastic increase in budget deficits and huge National Debt • 1981 deficit = $79 billion • 1986 deficit = $221 billion • National Debt becomes a problem • Large number of CIA covert operations in Latin America and middle east

  15. Reagan the Villain • Scandals – “Teflon President” • Iran Contra- Illegal selling of arms to Iran to use against Iraq (Iran our enemy, Iraq our friend) to free hostages. Using $ from sale to fund Contras in Nicaragua; also illegal • Impeachable scandal • Reagan denied all knowledge: Either lying, incompetent, or early Alzheimer's • Others: Savings & Loan, HUD, Reports of graft

  16. Scandal Results Investigations, hearings and books from those within, painted a picture of a President who was uninformed, disengaged, and lacked leadership within his admin Others view him as a victim of circumstance outside his control. On the outside, his charm, wit, and positive rhetoric won people over. Later diagnosed with Alzheimer's

  17. You Decide • Based on the facts here & in book. • Create a “villain” poster or a “hero” poster • Must include: • BOTH domestic and foreign policy elements • Written caption explaining poster and why you chose hero or villain • NEAT & in Color

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