...Each president of the United States that comes into office has a different agenda and a different way of running things. All of the decisions they make in office impact everyone. After the president leaves office, they leave a legacy behind. This legacy could either be satisfactory or unsatisfactory, depending on what they did while in office. Three presidents that left a big legacy on America are Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt and each of them impacted, either good or bad, the country in some way. While each left a legacy, one president's legacy was more impactful, in a helpful way, to America’s development and growth. Before Ronald Reagan came into office in 1980, there was a major recession in the late 1970’s. This means that there was a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity were reduced. Reagan’s promise to the people was that he was going to restore the economy, but everyone's question was how he planned to do that. His plan was to provide tax breaks to the very wealthy people. The idea was that if the wealthy class had more money, they could provide more jobs and the money would make its way down to the other classes, this was called trickle down economics (Corvo, Lecture). Reagan’s...
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...Running head: THE OVERRATED RONALD REAGAN The Overrated Ronald Reagan Kirston Gardner University of Phoenix Carole Lormand September 28, 2013 The Overrated Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th president is one of the most overrated men in history. Americans did not forget all the broken promises and dishonesty they dealt with while Reagan was in office. For many reasons he would be considered a good President but there are many more reasons that he would not. Reagan’s ratings were higher than the averages of his three immediate predecessors, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon (Frank Newport, 2004). When rating Reagan, many factors show that he is indeed overrated, not only as a president but an individual as well. During Reagan’s term in office Americans faced recession, debt, high unemployment, questionable foreign policy and wasteful spending among other things. As Reagan was sworn, one of the first incidents, which were the release of the 51 hostages from the American Embassy in Tehran, occurred. It seemed as if the Iranians feared the win of future President Ronald Reagan. However, there were a few incidents that occurred prior to the inauguration of Reagan that actually set the stage for the emanate release of the hostages (United States History). The Shah of Iran died right before the presidential rae was over. Shah’s return, one of the requests in negotiations with the Iranians, was neutralized. The negotiations were now closer to closure...
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...While Ronald Reagan is consistently put into light as the modern standard for conservatism, guiding America into the light it had not seen since the likes of JFK, LBJ, and Eisenhower, the American public and media has made his legacy out to be much more than he accomplished during his Presidency. Yes, Ronnie the Actor was able to polarize the Republican party, realign their leadership, promote Christian morale like never seen before, and give the name "Republican" an aura of honor. This debate should be restricted to Reagan's direct accomplishments as a President, none of which should relate to his contributions to the Republican party or to his revolutionizing Conservatism. These traits make him a very favorable President to some, however they do not make him one of the greatest Presidents of all time. The Con should present a case supporting Ronald Reagan's status as one of the greatest Presidents of all-time, and the Pro should defend its stance that not only is Ronald Reagan 1)"overrated", but that he is also 2)Not one of the best Presidents of all time. This issue may be taken as relative, to prove Reagan's superiority to other Presidents, or as subjective, by evaluating Reagan's accomplishments in domestic and foreign policy in relation to his failures. The American public voted Reagan the 4th Best President in US History, behind Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington, and this should be used as the standard of this debate. I know that this opening argument is very vague...
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...Running head: THE OVERRATED RONALD REAGAN The Overrated Ronald Reagan University of Phoenix Carole Lormand September 28, 2013 The Overrated Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th president is one of the most overrated men in history. Americans did not forget all the broken promises and dishonesty they dealt with while Reagan was in office. For many reasons he would be considered a good President but there are many more reasons that he would not. Reagan’s ratings were higher than the averages of his three immediate predecessors, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon (Frank Newport, 2004). When rating Reagan, many factors show that he is indeed overrated, not only as a president but an individual as well. During Reagan’s term in office Americans faced recession, debt, high unemployment, questionable foreign policy and wasteful spending among other things. As Reagan was sworn, one of the first incidents, which were the release of the 51 hostages from the American Embassy in Tehran, occurred. It seemed as if the Iranians feared the win of future President Ronald Reagan. However, there were a few incidents that occurred prior to the inauguration of Reagan that actually set the stage for the emanate release of the hostages (United States History). The Shah of Iran died right before the presidential rae was over. Shah’s return, one of the requests in negotiations with the Iranians, was neutralized. The negotiations were now closer to closure. Iraq then invaded...
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...Previously a radio broadcaster, actor and governor, in 1981 Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the 40th president of the United States. As a teen, Ronald Reagan lifeguarded, a job that his son believes formed his role in the United States government in years to come; he always wanted to save people. As a lifeguard, he protected and saved the lives of swimmers. As president, he took on a different role, saving the vitality of the nation. In 1962, despite the fact that he had been a Democrat his whole life, he became a Republican, believing the Democrat party left him. Some may have argued that he was not cut out to take on such a demanding role within the government, but many people fully supported his campaign, seeking a leader who could get them through tough times, especially because the election was going on simultaneously with the Iran Hostage Crisis. Stressing principles of low taxes and a strong defense, Reagan won the election. In a nation where the political pendulum was stuck to the left for the past 30 years, Reagan was able to shift it right, taking control over his nation with his charisma and political promises. Whether it was negative or positive, Reagan had a tremendous influence in America. The figure of the pendulum is a basic allegory for the American public opinion since the 1930s, and is especially affected by the life and career of Ronald Reagan. The entire pendulum is a representation of the atmosphere of America since the 1930s; this atmosphere includes...
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...Ronald Reagan is arguably one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America. Some say he is the greatest, some do not, but I say he is one of our best presidents. Reagan has affected this country through his character, defense strategies, and many other perks. President Reagan’s legacy has left people wanting his portrait on Mount Rushmore and onto United States currency. Overall, Ronald Reagan has left America with the confidence we all so greatly needed. In this paper, I will tell you all about President Reagan’s life and how Ronald Reagan affected America. February 6th, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois, a U.S. legend, named Ronald Wilson Reagan, was born on the second floor of his parent’s apartment. Ronald’s parent’s names were Nelle Wilson Reagan and John Edward Reagan. Ronald’s father, nicknamed “Jack”, was a shoe salesman that owned his own shoe store in Dixon, Illinois, which is where the...
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...Essay #5 – Reagan Administration POL 313 August 12, 2015 Former Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th president of the United States at the ripe old of 69 in a time when both, the popularity and the faith among the American people in the office of the president was greatly impaired. Reagan’s predecessor, Jimmy Carter`s tenure concluded with many unsolved domestic and international issues that in turn presented a great opportunity for Ronald Reagan to establish himself as a transformative president who shall restore the power to the presidency. In fact it would not be incorrect to state that, Reagan capitalized on America`s desperate desire to change the status quo during his presidency. 1970s was a chaotic decade for the United States of America; stagflation, unemployment, stubborn bureaucracy, ineffective congress, and most importantly, soviet expansion and loss of Vietnam war had demoralized the public. Nixon` Watergate scandal and the overall weakening of America`s image on the international platform only added more to America`s misfortune. By the beginning of the 1980s the government was almost entirely non functional before the eyes of the public; some go as far as to say that, Carter administration was a perfect example of how America could function without a president (Milkins, 2013). It is evident that in the beginning of 1980s America mainly needed three things; reclaim its title as a powerful nation in the world, a sense of...
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...speech “The Challenger Address” delivered by the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Americans had high expectations of the space programs which intended to provide the United States a great sense of achievement. The significance of the space program lies in essence in which symbolized American glory in science and technology. (Lambright) Therefore, the audience of Reagan’s speech was American public; those who had experienced the tragic national loss of seven American astronauts resulted from the failure of space regime. Evidence of Reagan constantly involving American citizens prevail throughout the speech. He specifically engaged the audience by employing words such as “we,” “us,” “schoolchildren of America,” giving the audience a sense of involvement in the national matter. Reagan also acknowledged pain of the families of the seven astronauts. He showed his understanding of pain of families by saying “we feel the loss, and we are thinking about you so very much,” “your loved ones,” which was an attempt to console them by implicitly suggesting that the families are the primary audience of this speech. Moreover, he created a feeling that he and his wife Nancy are too involved as part of the public. The occasion of speech determines what speaker attempts to address. Audiences expect the speaker to arrive conclusions in an appropriate behavior depending on the occasion. Reagan’s speech on space camp could be categorized in two dimensions: deliberative and...
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...Reagan Analysis Paper Reagan Analysis Paper Introduction Ronald Wilson Reagan was the fortieth president of the United States. A two term president, he served from 1981-1989. President Reagan won a landslide victory over Jimmy Carter running on a political platform consisting of jump starting the economy and bringing inflation down. This was to be accomplished through lowering taxes and cutting government spending. Many people consider Reagan an outstanding president but this paper contends he was an overrated president. This is based on the management of three issues facing his presidency. These are: economic policies, ending the Cold War, and the Iran-Contra affair. Economic Policies Throughout Reagan’s campaign he assaulted the Carter administration’s free-spending (Moss & Thomas, 2013, pp-208-210). He made promises to cut spending, but ultimately spent more. The most common misconception is that Reagan saved our economy with his famous Reaganomics. This of course included the modern trickle-down theory or supply-side economics, which included major tax decreases, specifically on the wealthy. These tax decreases, coupled with high military spending, created a massive debt and led the country into one of the worst depressions since the Great Depression. When Reagan entered the presidency in 1981 the national debt was at $900 billion. By the time he left it had over tripled to $2.8 trillion. To top it off, many of the military projects the money was used...
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...oppose to immigration. Nowadays, people insist that permitting immigrants to be part of this country is a bad decision. In 1986, former President Ronald Reagan passed a law in which he declared that: “There would be tighter security at the Mexican border, and employers would face strict penalties for hiring undocumented workers” (NPR Staff). He also “made any immigrant who'd entered the country before 1982 eligible for amnesty” (NPR Staff). In his act of forgiveness, he began the process of legalization of immigrants. He believed that immigrants were vulnerable since they didn’t have rights because the American Constitution didn’t protect them. He gave the best gift that anyone foreigner from Latin America desires. Hispanic men that entered this country clandestinely were given the opportunity to step away from the shadows and to begin a future they always desired (NPR Staff). My father was one of those men. He didn’t come to this country to look for trouble neither did he encourage violence. He was a teen that was looking for opportunities and Mexico didn’t provide enough resources that would accomplish that dream. He came to American because he knew he wanted a better future, so he worked diligently on agricultural field. His body was damaged by the sun, but being illegal was most perturbing because he was defenseless. Ronald Reagan’s kind act was a relief, and it gave him the green light. He later got married to my mother, and a few years later, my siblings and I were born in...
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...Ronald Reagan an Overrated President Tami Arreguin HIS/145 July 15, 2013 Nancy Fraleigh Ronald Reagan an Overrated President Ronald Reagan, the nation's 40th president, only recently became one of the most revered men in history. Reagan's ratings were higher than the averages of his three immediate predecessors Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon (Newport, Jones, & Saad, 2004) . How and why would so many Americans too soon forget all of the dishonesty and broken promises that came out of the White House while Reagan was in office? It is clear that many factors came into play that goes to show that Ronald Reagan is highly overrated as not only the president, but also an individual. One of the first situations that occurred, as Reagan was sworn in, was the release of the 51 hostages from the American Embassy in Tehran. It seemed that the projected win of the future President Reagan triggered some fear in the Iranians. However, there were a few incidences that occurred, prior to the inauguration of Reagan, that actually set the stage for the emanate release of the hostages. (United States History, n.d.) In July, near the last leg of the presidential race, The Shah of Iran died. The return of the Shah, being one of the many requests in negotiations with the Iranian’s, was now neutralized. This brought the negotiations one step closer to closure (United States History, n.d.). Also, shortly after the death of the Shah, Iraq invaded Iran which created...
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...Ronald Reagan Rob Holmes HIS/145 November 14, 2013 Professor Pass Ronald Reagan Ronald W. Reagan was born February 6, 1911, and died June 5, 2004; Severed two terms as the 40th President of the United States of America from 1981 to 1989, succeeding President Jimmy Carter. Know as conservative Republican, hard-line anticommunist and skilled orator that earned him the nickname “the Great Communicator” (Ronald W. Reagan, 2013). Remembered for his foreign policies and is credited with the demise of the Soviet Union and ending the cold war and the Iran-Contra affair. Reagan is often credited with the release the remaining 51 American hostages that had been held captive in Iran for 444 days. During the Jimmy Carter administration on November 4, 1979 Islamic revolutionaries stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran and captured 66 American hostages. The hostage crisis the most significant issue facing Americans in the final year of Carters final year as president and played a crucial roll in Carter not winning re-election (Iran hostage crisis. 2013). A political war was taking place in Iran with the left and right wing revolutionaries and their new leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini. The hostages were caught in the middle of the struggle. Iran issued the demand that as a condition of the hostage’s release, the shah who had entered the United States to seek medical treatment be extradited back to Iran. Iran also insisted that the United States stopped interfering in Iranian affairs...
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...The “Age of Reagan” comes from how Ronald Reagan’s presidency changed the lens through which Americans viewed politics and politicians. As a whole, Sean Wilentz framed Reagan as a new brand of president because of his previous career, his dealings with the Soviet Union, his popularity, and his legacy. Although Wilentz was vague about the successfulness of the Reagan administration, he emphasized the impact that all of these different aspects of Reaganism had on the country. To Wilentz, Reagan continued to come across as a charismatic star, and that reputation only grew after he left office. Part of this increase in popularity came from conservatives attributing the end of the Cold War to Reagan, as many conservatives were “conveniently glossing over their own records and their criticism of Reagan in 1987 and 1988…celebrating Reagan as a cunning statesman who had purposefully caused the downfall of the Soviet Union” (p 313). While...
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...On Friday October 16, 1981, President Ronald Reagan wrote in his personal diary, “Central America is really the world’s next hotspot. Nicaragua is an armed camp supplied by Cuba and threatening a communist takeover of all of Central America.” (The Reagan Diaries, 2007) For the next eight years as Commander-in-Chief, this mindset would shape his perspective on the small Third World country about the size of North Carolina. The Administration’s policies, actions, and attitudes toward Nicaragua and other perceived hostile nations became known as “Reagan Doctrine.” The defeat of the Nicaraguan Revolution became the “cornerstone of the Reagan Central American policy and the test case of Reagan Doctrine.” (U.S. Intervention in the Nicaraguan Elections and American Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era, 1992) Reagan Doctrine was not a label coined by President Reagan or his administration. It was a term used later by his critics to define his foreign policy strategy for countries around the world. The Reagan Doctrine was a strategy to aid anti-communist, or more specifically, anti-Soviet insurgencies in the Third World during Reagan’s two terms as president from 1981-1989. The primary goal was to overthrow Marxist regimes and/or prevent Marxist regimes from becoming established. Reagan wasted no time getting started in the implementation of his foreign policy. The Administration’s first comprehensive “U.S. National Security Strategy,” which was a document approved by the President...
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...Final Years of Reagan’s Presidency • Republicans lost control of the Senate in the off-year elections of November 1986. o Hope rose among Democrats that the “Reagan Revolution” might be showing signs of political vulnerability. • Democrats also relished the prospect of making political hay out of both the Iran-Contra affair and disquieting signs of economic trouble. • The “double mountains” of deficits-the federal budget deficit and the international trade deficit-continued to grow ominously. • Falling oil prices blighted the economy of the Southwest, slashing real estate values and undermining hundreds of savings and loans institutions. o The damage to the S&Ls was so massive that a federal rescue operation was eventually estimated to carry a price tag of well over $500 billion. • Meanwhile, many American banks found themselves holding near worthless loans they had unwisely foisted upon Third World Countries, especially in Latin America. o More Banks and savings institutions were folding than at any time since the Great Depression. o A wave of mergers, acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts washed over Wall Street, leaving many brokers and traders mega-rich and many companies saddled with mega-debt. Failures Tarnishing Reagan’s Presidential Legacy Ronald Reagan's successes in economics, politics and foreign affairs are not the most important. Just as important was how he responded to his failures, such as his response to his greatest failure—the Iran-Contra...
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