Ronald Reagan won the 1984 Presidential Race with 59% of the popular vote and 525 electoral votes, more than any other presidential candidate in history. His opponent, the former Vice President to Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale was in favor of raising taxes in order to lower the federal deficit. This was something the majority of Americans did not agree with and a large reason he lost.
In Reagan's first term, starting in 1981, he stimulated ecnomomic growth and cut taxes. These reforms led to the nation's trust in him and his victory in 1984. At the end of Reagan's second term in office the nation was in it's longest period of peace without recession or depression due to his tax cuts, ability to create jobs, and efforts to strengthen national defense.
The Reagan era is looked back upon with fond memories. He did a lot for the people of this country by lowering taxes and stimulating economic growth. If the economic growth was stimulated this means that most Americans had excess money and spent it on goods and services instead of just necessities.
Ronald Reagan was very much in support of national defense, as his reaction to the civil war in Lebanon shows. After the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the early 1980's, American troops were dispatched. American Marines were removed from Lebanon in February 1984 though after a Muslim terrorist drove a truck filled with explosives into a building filled with sleeping marines, killing 241 and wounding 115.
Another international situation that happened when Reagan was in office was the Iran-Contra Affair. This was a political scandal that took place in 1984 when U.S. hostages were being held in Iran. In order to take care of the problem the U.S. and Israel sent weapons to a moderate group in Iran that wanted to help release the hostages. This plan eventually turned into members of the executive branch selling weapons to Iran officials in exchange for the hostages, all of which was unknown to President Reagan. In the end, 11 members of the government were convicted of crimes related to this incident.
Reagan's willingness to jump in and help other countries in need is evidence of his knowledge of the importance of national defense. This is very much like the current times, like Iraq for example. The President saw a need to help Iraq and that is what happened.
References:
America in the 1980's by Michele L. Camardella
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