Sleepwalking Through History: America in the Reagan Years Essay Example

the allocated time in the 1980 presidential debates, which even led some to sympathize with him (109).

In February 1981, Reagan unveiled a plan that aimed to achieve a balanced budget within three years and subsequently generate a surplus (131). Despite its significant inaccuracy, the American public embraced the proposal as well as Ronald Reagan - a former actor who transitioned into politics and was now seen as the economic savior of America.

During Reagan's administration, television programming underwent notable changes. For instance, popular shows like "60 Minutes" began to rise in popularity, subsequently leading to a surge in the number of news programs. The driving force behind these developments was predominantly economics. The populace's curiosity regarding the state of the country's economy propelled the growth of news shows, as they fulfilled the public's desire for information (143). Consequently, Americans increasingly focused on acquiring wealth, attaining personal success, and achieving happiness.

Despite encountering various difficulties, Reagan experienced a number of achievements during his time as president. These challenges encompassed an economic downturn, the existence of Manuel Noriega, and the notorious Iran-Contra scandal. This scandal compelled Reagan to acknowledge that he had no knowledge about certain hidden activities occurring without his awareness, revealing his failure to fulfill his responsibilities to the American people. Ultimately, in 1988, George Bush defeated Reagan (407).

When Reagan handed over the presidency to Bush, he left him facing a challenging situation with both positive and negative aspects. The country was in a stable economic state and there were no immediate crises for Bush to handle. However, there were some pending national bills that needed attention and the savings-and-loan crisis demanded prompt and bold actions (440).

Despite

the high expectations and aspirations bestowed upon Reagan during his presidency, many of his intended goals remained unfulfilled. The budget was not successfully balanced, and economic prosperity was not achieved for the American people. In fact, the nation experienced a recession in 1982, causing numerous plants and factories to temporarily shut down before eventually recovering.

According to Haynes, Reagan lacked awareness of the challenges of running for and serving as president. This viewpoint may hold some truth. Despite the accomplishments during Reagan's presidency, there were also negative outcomes and poor decision-making on his part.

Despite displaying poor judgment in handling the Iran-Contra scandal and the economy, President Reagan managed to leave the country relatively stable. It is yet to be determined how history will judge his presidency compared to others, especially with many more presidents to come. Future presidential actions will play a role in evaluating Reagan's decisions. Although Haynes argues that Reagan lacked understanding, it may be premature to rush to such a conclusion.

Haynes does not mention President Ronald Reagan's unparalleled popularity as a president, which is widely recognized as his most notable characteristic. Throughout U.S. history, Reagan is often praised as the most beloved president due to his strong connection with the American public, making him a cultural icon. Many believe that Reagan played a crucial role in ending the Cold War and his relatable American demeanor brought a fresh perspective to the presidency. Considering these factors, it is likely that the Reagan era will be remembered as a positive period in American history. However, since enough time has not passed since the 80s, it remains uncertain how Reagan's legacy will compare to future presidents

and political leaders.