HIST 2112 Lecture 23 Outline of Last Lecture I The 1970s The hangover from the 1960s party A Disallusionment cynicism diminished expectation and a new suspicion of government B Death of the Liberal Consensus a The Product of the Perfect Storm of historical events and conditions II Vietnam and the Reaction against Rage A Political effects of the credibility gap B Watergate C Growing Disgust with Radicalism Weathermen Panthers Etc D Conservatives See This is what Liberalism has brought you III The End of Prosperity A Global Economic Competition B Guns and Butter Inflation from spending on Vietnam and the Great Society at the Same time C The Oil Crisis of 1973 1974 a Stagflation inflation stagnant growth b The Misery Index D Conservative Response a Economic Problems excessive government regulation 1 Excessive taxation 2 Inefficiency E The appeal of conservative arguments to Democratic hardhats IV Race The southern strategy and Busing A The Southern Strategy a Goldwater s southern success in 1964 b GOP lesson win over southern segregationists Democrats without alienating other republicans and win national power 1 Using broad strategic language States rights Getting government off your back Cracking down on the lazy and the criminal etc B Busing and the Limits of the White Northern Liberal support for Civil Rights Outline of Current Lecture I Reagan s Political Odyssey 1930s 1960s A Born 1911 in Illinois B The acting Years 1930 40 C From New Dealer to Right Winger a Reagan the liberal b HUAC and Reagan s anticommunism c Becomes Anti Big Government spokesman for GE d Joins GOP gives speeches for Goldwater especially 1964 speech D Reagan becomes Republican Governor of California 1966 II Jimmy Carter and the Rise of the New Right A Carter the moderate and the conservatization of the Democratic Party B The Iranian Hostage Crisis 1979 81 III President Reagan s Four Priorities 1980 88 A Revive old fashioned patriotism a End the Vietnam syndrome B Dramatically increase Military size strength a High tech weapons b Rollback containment the remix C Intense support for big business aggressive capitalism a Tax cuts for wealth Supply side economics b Cutting Welfare Programs c Deregulations environment safety etc 1 James Watt and Ann Garsuch Buford d Oppose Unions 1 PATCO strike 1981 D Push Traditional Values a Oppose abortion b Oppose gay rights 1 AIDS Crisis c Support Christian prayer in school Current Lecture Morning in America Ronald Reagan People really thought conservatives were seriously crazy in the 1960s How do we get from crazy conservatives in the 1960s to conservatives being the majority in the 1980s I Reagan s Political Odyssey 1930s 1960s A Born 1911 in Illinois B The acting Years 1930 40 People get to know him in a way that s not political at first He seems like a regular person C From New Dealer to Right Winger a Reagan the liberal o Supporting Helpful Government o Member of the Screen Actors Guild President for 20 years o Makes a lot of money and has to pay a whole heck of a lot in taxes he starts to align himself with more moderate conservatives who aren t for huge taxation b HUAC and Reagan s anticommunism o He becomes a friendly witness o FBI Informant o Basically Ratted out the Communists in the Movie Business c Becomes Anti Big Government spokesman for GE o Well spoken charismatic knows how to present himself perfect fit for 1964 election except that he s never been in politics d Joins GOP gives speeches for Goldwater especially 1964 speech II III o A time for choosing We re at war we don t need this extreme tax burden or the Soviets coming in and taking over America o Welfare Queen Aid to Dependent Children Welfare black people taking advantage of the system o Say to enemies There is a price we will not pay calculated speech to reach specific audience Taxes Communism People starting to tie these together Appearance of Welfare Coated Racism Apocalyptic Christian Language hits home with Christians at home D Reagan becomes Republican Governor of California 1966 o People start to write Reagan begging him to run for Governor and President after his speech o Cut health care call national guard to stop student anti war protests in CA cuts welfare cuts military spending Jimmy Carter and the Rise of the New Right A Carter the moderate and the conservatization of the Democratic Party Born again Christian What America Wants Democrat not super liberal closer to moderate Popular for Human Rights Activism B The Iranian Hostage Crisis 1979 81 Oil Crisis all of these problems arise that he tries to handle 1953 CIA enacted Coup in Iran that put Shah in control 1979 Shah flown to US for HealthCare Take over US Embassy Carter tries negotiation launches failed military rescue attempt America thinks Carter is spineless and representing America poorly on an international stage We have no more faith in government Void in American politics Ronald Reagan jumps into this void Reagan gives people hope fresh start President Reagan s Four Priorities 1980 88 Gets 51 of the popular vote against Carter Carter could ve easily won the election if there wasn t a third party candidate who got 7 of the vote People really wanted someone different in office Wins with the following Platform o We re going to get government off your back o Cut Taxes Stimulate Business Make America boom and be Capitalist again o Re new fight against Monolithic Communism Republicans get majority in Senate House democrats A Revive old fashioned patriotism o Simple view of patriotism America is my country o Emphasized Prayer in Schools and Pledge of Allegiance a End the Vietnam syndrome We feel humiliated on a national scale by Vietnam We lost lack of confidence in US government Reagan says Vietnam was a noble cause against fighting communism B Dramatically increase Military size strength a High tech weapons B1 bomber SDI strategic defense initiative Investing in the high tech initiatives b Rollback containment the remix Invasion of Granada 1983 Coo and this left leaning government takes over US sent troops in and within weeks the conflict is over because the US military reinstalls a constitutional government kind of a win within the US Americans were happy because US medical students were on the island and now they are protected from communism People outside of US viewed this as imperialism looked down on Iran Contra Affair 1986 Iran Contra is taking place between Nicaragua and Iran 1930s Nicaragua is under US type government 1979