You know, I used to think Reagan was just that charming actor-turned-politician until I dug into his presidency. What did Ronald Reagan actually do in office? Turns out, he reshaped America more than any president since FDR. Grab some coffee – this isn't your textbook summary.
Funny story: My college professor once called Reagan "the Great Disruptor." I didn't get it then. After researching his tax returns (yes, seriously), I finally understood.
The Reaganomics Revolution: More Than Just Tax Cuts
Reagan didn't tinker with the economy; he dropped a bomb on it. His first move? The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. We're talking:
- Top income tax rate slashed from 70% to 50% overnight
- Corporate taxes cut by $150 billion (that's $450 billion today!)
- Capital gains tax reduced to 20%
But here's where things get messy. I remember interviewing small business owners for a project – half swore Reagan saved their businesses, the other half blamed him for wage stagnation. Who's right? Let's see the data:
| Economic Indicator | Pre-Reagan (1980) | Post-Reagan (1989) | Real Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation Rate | 13.5% | 4.1% | Massive win for savers |
| Unemployment | 7.1% | 5.4% | Created 16 million jobs |
| National Debt | $907 billion | $2.85 trillion | Tripled in 8 years |
The debt explosion still makes me angry. How could a conservative hero balloon deficits? His team argued it forced Congress to slash spending (spoiler: it didn't).
The Deregulation Tsunami
Reagan didn't just cut taxes – he unleashed business. Remember the airline industry before deregulation? Tickets cost a fortune! His team:
- Fired 11,000 air traffic controllers during the PATCO strike (controversial but crushed union power)
- Dismantled energy price controls – gas prices initially spiked then stabilized
- Loosened banking rules (planting seeds for the 2008 crash, some argue)
I tried finding 1980s stockbrokers for a documentary. Most credited Reagan for their yachts – but admitted insider trading ran wild.
Cold War Game Changer: How Reagan Outplayed the Soviets
When Reagan called the USSR an "evil empire," diplomats gasped. But was it genius or reckless? Let's break down what Ronald Reagan did as president to end the Cold War:
"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" – That 1987 Berlin speech gave me chills when I visited the memorial. But the real work happened behind closed doors.
His four-part strategy:
- Military Buildup: Increased defense spending to 6% of GDP – Soviets couldn't match it
- Star Wars: The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) scared the Kremlin into negotiations
- Backchannel Deals: Secret talks with Gorbachev starting in 1985
- Proxy Wars: Funded anti-communist rebels from Afghanistan to Nicaragua
The INF Treaty That Changed Everything
In 1987, Reagan did the unthinkable – signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with the Soviets. This wasn't symbolism:
| Weapon Type | U.S. Destroyed | USSR Destroyed |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-launched missiles (1,000-5,500 km range) | 846 | 1,846 |
| Missile launchers | 289 | 825 |
Visiting a missile silo demolition site in Texas changed my perspective. Those weren't props – real nukes got chopped up.
Social Policies: The Quiet Culture Wars
While everyone talks economics and nukes, Reagan subtly reshaped American society. Wonder why churches are political today? Reagan pioneered it.
- War on Drugs: Signed laws creating mandatory minimum sentences – filled prisons with non-violent offenders
- AIDS Crisis: Didn't publicly say "AIDS" until 1985 – thousands died while he delayed funding
- Religious Right: Courted evangelicals with anti-abortion judges and school prayer support
My lesbian aunt still fumes about his AIDS response. "Silence = Death" wasn't just a slogan – it was policy failure.
The Judicial Legacy
Reagan appointed more judges than any modern president:
| Court Level | Appointments | Key Names | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court | 3 | Scalia, O'Connor, Kennedy | Shifted court right for decades |
| Appellate Courts | 83 | Robert Bork (rejected) | Created today's confirmation battles |
O'Connor later regretted some decisions. I wish I'd asked her about that before she passed.
Scandals and Secrets: The Dark Corners
No discussion of what Ronald Reagan did as president is complete without the ugly stuff. The Iran-Contra affair wasn't some minor blip – it nearly toppled his presidency.
In plain English: Reagan's team secretly sold weapons to Iran (despite an embargo) and used the cash to fund Nicaraguan rebels (after Congress banned it). When exposed?
Reagan went on TV claiming "We did not trade weapons for hostages." Declassified documents later proved otherwise. As a history buff, this hypocrisy still stings.
Key players:
- Oliver North: Marine who orchestrated deals – became conservative martyr
- Caspar Weinberger: Defense Secretary indicted for perjury
- Reagan himself: Claimed ignorance but approved early meetings
Personal Trials: Bullets and Illness
Seventy days into his presidency, John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan outside the Hilton. What most forget:
- Secret Service failure: Let Hinckley stand 15 feet away
- Medical miracle: Bullet missed heart by 1 inch
- Leadership moment: Joked to surgeons "I hope you're Republicans"
His Alzheimer's diagnosis years later explained his foggy second term. Watching his farewell letter video now? Haunting.
What Did Ronald Reagan Do as President? FAQs
Did Reagan really end the Cold War?
He accelerated its end through military pressure and diplomacy, but Gorbachev's reforms were equally crucial. Most historians call it a 60/40 Reagan advantage.
Why do critics hate Reaganomics?
Three reasons: Wealth gap widened (top 1% income grew 50% faster than middle class), debt exploded, and social programs were cut. His supporters argue it revived business investment.
How involved was Reagan in Iran-Contra?
The Tower Commission found he approved weapons sales to Iran but didn't know about fund diversion. Declassified notes show he greenlit the illegal scheme's framework.
What lasting laws did he create?
Immigration Reform Act (1986) granted amnesty to 3 million, Tax Reform Act (1986) simplified brackets, and COBRA health coverage started under him.
The Legacy: Why Reagan Still Matters
Love him or loathe him, you can't escape Reagan's shadow. Modern debates about taxes, Russia, or presidential power start with him. After visiting his library twice, I noticed something odd – Democrats bash his policies but copy his communication genius.
Final thought? Reagan believed in America's "shining city on a hill." Whether that light blinded us to inequality is still being debated. But to understand modern politics, you must understand what Ronald Reagan did as president.
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