Showing results for "Ronald Reagan" in United States

The Reagan Revolution: A Very Short Introduction identifies and tackles some of the controversies and historical mysteries that continue to swirl around Reagan and his legacy, while providing an illuminating look at some of the era's defining personalities, ideas, and accomplishments.

From master storyteller and New York Times bestselling Historian H. W. Brands comes the definitive biography of a visionary and transformative president In his magisterial new biography, H. W. Brands brilliantly establishes Ronald Reagan as one of the two great presidents of the twentieth...

In this short biography, Michael Schaller, acclaimed historian of the American political right, offers readers a poignant account of Ronald Reagan's life and achievements, from his small-town upbringing in rural Illinois to his cinematic success in Hollywood, entry into politics as governor of California, and meteoric rise to the White House, where he served for eight years.

President Reagan was a popular and transformative chief executive who chipped away at what he considered a runaway federal bureaucracy to bring a more conservative vision to all three branches of American gov­ernment. While the Iran-Contra affair during Reagan’s second term gal­vanized critics, he still managed to win major victories to curb what he perceived to be overreaching by Congress.

From the time he arrived on the political scene in 1964, throughout his presidency and beyond, Ronald Reagan used his speeches to inspire and reinvigorate America. When he spoke, Reagan said, he was "preaching a sermon". The American people saw his vision of America and his dreams for the future, and they overwhelmingly responded; he was reelected in 1984 by the largest number of electoral votes in the nation's history.

On March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan gave an address to the nation from the Oval Office challenging “the scientific community … to turn their great talents … to the cause of mankind and world peace, [and] to give us the means of rendering … nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete.”

The second of two debates between President Ronald Reagan and former Vice President Walter F. Mondale was held in Kansas City, Missouri on October 21, 1984. Edwin Newman was the debate moderator. Georgie Anne Geyer, Marvin Kalb, Morton Kondracke, and Henry Trewhitt were the four panelists who asked questions. This second debate was on defense and foreign policy.

The first of two debates between President Ronald Reagan and former Vice President Walter F. Mondale was held in Louisville, Kentucky on October 7, 1984. Barbara Walters was the debate moderator. James Weigart, Diane Sawyer, and Fred Barnes were the three panelists who asked questions.

The only debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter was held in Cleveland, Ohio on October 28, 1980, just days before the election on November 4, 1980. The debate, broadcast live on radio and television, was one of the most-watched presidential debates. Questions by four journalists focused on the following topics: U.S. armed forces, the nation’s economy, urban policies, international terrorism, strategic arms limitation, energy, social security, each candidate’ s assessment of his opponent, and closing statements.

On May 31, 1988, at the request of General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev, and standing below a bust of Lenin, Reagan spoke to and answered questions from a large audience of students and teachers at Moscow State University.

The 1985 State of the Union Address delivered February 6, 1985, on Reagan’s 74th birthday, reports the strongest economic growth in 34 years, 3-year inflation of 3.9%, and more citizens working than ever before. Despite progress Reagan notes “millions in our inner cities who long for real jobs, safe neighborhoods, and schools that truly teach” and people around the world “who struggle to break free from totalitarianism”.

The 1988 State of the Union Address delivered January 25, 1988, extols individual rights, the free market, and the value of work, family, and religion, resulting in “the longest peacetime expansion in history”. Reagan stresses unity and common goals, saying there are no Republicans, no Democrats -- just Americans.

The 1987 State of the Union Address delivered January 27, 1987, in the 200th anniversary year of the U.S. Constitution, notes dramatic improvements in the inflation rate, interest rates, housing starts, and the unemployment rate. Reagan regrets the Iran-Contra controversy and promises to get to the bottom of it and take whatever action is called for.

The 1986 State of the Union Address delivered February 4, 1986, was delayed following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster which killed its seven crew members. Reagan reports the U.S. is the economic miracle to which the world once again turns, with record economic growth and inflation cut from over 12 to under 4 percent.

In 1961 Reagan spoke out against socialized medicine. Since 1965 when Medicare and Medicaid were enacted, the federal government controls payment for most U.S. healthcare: hospitals, drugs, doctors, nurses, and so on. Has this been a blessing or a curse?

On the 50th inauguration since George Washington’s, Reagan marvels at America’s growth and inventions, including journeying to the moon and back. “There are no limits to growth and human progress when men and women are free to follow their dreams.” Our values of faith, family, work, and neighborhood were restored “when our economy was finally freed from government’s grip”.

The 1983 State of the Union address, delivered January 25, 1983, focuses on “what we can do together—not as Republicans and Democrats, but as Americans—to make tomorrow's America happy and prosperous at home, strong and respected abroad, and at peace in the world.”

On August 15, 1988, in the Louisiana Superdome, Reagan delivered a message for economic freedom. We transformed our government from one that was consuming our prosperity into one that would get out of the way of those who create prosperity.

On January 11, 1989, Reagan gave the following farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office. The two things I’m proudest of are the economic recovery which created 19 million new jobs and that America is respected again in the world.

In the 1982 State of the Union address on January 26, 1982, Reagan invokes his self-deprecating humor and calls for “a new spirit of partnership between this Congress and this administration”. Reagan cites the “stagflation” of the 1970s: double digit inflation, interest rates over 21%, and over 8 million unemployed.