Reagan to Clinton

The Turn to Conservatism

Ronald Reagan

• Movie Actor

• Anti-communist

• Gov. of California

• Conservative Leader

Results

The Conservative Turn

• Southern Democrats align with Republicans

• Social conservatism– Centrality of religion– “Family values”– Individualism– Fear of change

Ramping Up the Tension

• The Evil Empire, June 8, 1982

• Korean Airliner, September 1, 1983

• “The Day After”, Nov. 20, 1983

Election of 1984

Democratic challengers: Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro (First woman on major party ticket.)

Results: “Morning in America”

Nicaragua

• Sandinistas (communist rebels) overthrow dictator Somoza (1979)

• Contras are US backed insurgency

• Pres. Reagan supports Contras– Arm sales to Iran to funnel money to

Contras– Violation of Congress, big scandal

Iran Contra Affair

Mikhail Gorbachev

• New Soviet premier (1985) institutes new policies

• Glasnost– “openness” - political reform

• Perestroika– “restructuring” - economic

reform

“General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate.

Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

Reagan visits Berlin

June 12, 1987

The Fall of Soviet Communism• Gorbachev’s reforms unleash a tide of

activism across Eastern Europe

• Command economy can’t supply people’s needs and wants

• 1989: Communist governments topple

• 1991: Gorbachev survives attempted coup; Soviet Union begins to disintegrate

The Fall of the Wall

• November 9, 1989– Effective end of Cold War

Election of 1988

George H.W. Bush chooses Indiana Senator Dan Quayle as his running mate.

Democrats choose Gov. Michael Dukakis (MA) and Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (TX)

Election of 1988

George H.W. Bush

• Continued Reagan legacy– Managed Cold War wind down

• First Gulf War– Ejected Iraqi forces from Kuwait

• Moderate on many issues– Reached budget accord with

Democrats– Broke “Read My Lips” pledge

Election of 1992

Democrats: Gov. Bill Clinton (Arkansas) and Sen. Al Gore (TN).

Reform Party: Ross Perot – businessman from Texas.

Election of 1992

Bill Clinton

• Rocky first year

• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)– US, Mexico, Canada

• 1994 – Republicans sweep Congress– Clinton triangulates

Election of 1996

Scandals

• Clintons subject to several investigations by Republican congress– Whitewater– Paula Jones– Monica Lewinsky

• House votes to impeach in 1998– Senate clears Clinton following year

A New World• Communism collapses in

Europe– Russia now an ally

• Rise of extremist terrorism attacks– World Trade Center (1993)– Oklahoma city bombing (1995)– US Embassy (1998)– USS Cole (2000)

Election of 2000