by Henry Olsen
Rockefeller agreement (Compact of Fifth Avenue), 46
Schmitz as critic of, 104
U.S. Senate race (1950), 2
as vice president, 27
Watergate scandal and, 126, 172
working-class voters and, 162
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), 161
nuclear weapons, 36, 159, 205, 219, 221
INF Treaty, 186, 187, 221–22
nuclear freeze, 205
SALT II, 160
Star Wars defense system, 205
Obama, Barack, ix, 249
Afghanistan War and, 244
character and personality, 239
Democratic midterm losses, 2010 and, 240–41
Democratic midterm losses, 2014 and, 251
election (2008), 237–39, 274n12
explanation for victory of, 246–47
failures of presidency, 239–40
immigration and, 251
Iran deal, 251
ISIS and, 251
liberalism and, ix
Medicaid expansion, 250, 264
Obamacare, 239, 250, 260, 264
Paris accords, 251
popular vote and, 245–46
progressives and, 239–40
on Reagan, 227
reelection (2012), 245–46, 274n12
Republican Party resurgence after election of, 230
TPP and, 251
as unity candidate, 237–38
working-class revolt against (2010), 240–41
working-class support for, 239, 254
Obamacare, 239, 250, 260, 264
what Reagan would do, 264
O’Donnell, Christine, 307n22
Office for Management and Budget (OMB), 182, 187, 192
oligarchy, 8
FDR’s view of rule by the “moneyed few,” 13
Olsen, Henry
admiration of Buckley, 90
as California conservative, ix
California State Assembly bid, 263
career, ix
college conversation on Reagan and cutting government size, 131, 291n3
in College Republicans, Claremont McKenna College, 160–61
Czechoslovakia and end of the Cold War, 223
direction for Republican Party and, 267–68
favorite passage from Reagan’s speeches, 176
findings on Reagan, 3
first and only meeting with Reagan, 161
Obama election and Republican losses (2006, 2008), effect of, ix
at Reagan Presidential Library, 37, 40
Reagan’s acceptance speech and, 176
Reagan’s election results (1980) and, 180
at Reagan’s gravesite, 64, 224
research on Reagan, x
San Fernando Valley smog and, 120
“WIN” buttons and, 293n33
Olympic Games, Los Angeles, 1984, 209
O’Neill, Tip, 192
Orwell, George, 1984, 26
Paine, Thomas, 175
Panama Canal
Buckley-Reagan Firing Line debate, 90, 286n52
Ford and Panama Canal Treaty, 148, 149
Paul, Ron, 262, 263, 301n49
Pew Research Center’s “Beyond Red versus Blue” (2011), 242–44
Trump voters and, 252
Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Reagan speech to (1961), 163
Poland, 198, 223
populism
George H. W. Bush and, 230
Reagan and, 114, 118, 148
Portman, Rob, xviii, 261
Priest, Ivy Baker, 118
private sector
big business blamed for inflation, 17
GE and Reagan’s conservatism, 34–36
government interference in, 33–34, 35
labor-management partnerships and, 36
labor unions and, 42
Reagan’s views on, xv, 13–14, 22, 33, 35–36
social responsibilities of, 83, 127
tax burden as danger to, 38
See also government regulatory powers
progressives, Progressive Party, 16
“Bull Moose” ticket of 1912, 4
in California (1910–14), 96
Democrats embracing ideas of, 48, 50, 134, 146, 228, 247
as dominating government, 257
left-wing platform of, 16, 277n64
New Deal and, 15–16, 17, 134
New Democrats versus, 231
Obama and, 238, 239
presidential election, 2000, and, 233, 234, 235
presidential election, 2016, and, 254
socialism and, 16, 21
Wallace and, 2, 168
working-class rejection of, 240
property rights
Constitution and conservative positions on, 112
eminent domain and, 74
libertarianism and, 135–36
Reagan on, 115–16
Reagan’s opposition to public access to California coastline and, 124
Reagan’s opposition to urban renewal and, 74
Rumford Act and, 79, 107
Public Religion Research Institute’s 2013 Hispanic Values Survey, 248
Qadaffi, Moammar, 198
Rafferty, Max, 119, 288–89n52
Rancho del Cielo, CA, 128
Rand, Ayn, 291–92n11
Atlas Shrugged, 291–92n11
The Fountainhead, 291–92n11
Reagan, Jack (father), xi, 4, 29, 276n40, 291n3, 291n10
Reagan, Nancy Davis (wife), 34, 99, 182, 299n7
daughter, Patricia, born, 27
family of, Republican, 21
marriage, March 1952, 27
on Reagan’s development of conservative ideas, 19–20, 159
son, Ron Jr., born, 28
Reagan, Neil (brother), 276n40
Reagan, Nelle Wilson (mother), xi, 4, 274n13
Reagan, Patricia (daughter), 27
Reagan, Ronald
age as campaign issue, 171
birth of, 4
character and personality, 95, 107, 120, 173, 191, 202, 204, 207, 297n105
charisma and, 54
children born to, 27, 28
death of, 227
divorce from Jane Wyman, 34
family and early life experiences, xi, xix, 12, 258, 276n40, 291n3, 291n10
fear of flying, 27
Hollywood acting career, 1, 14, 19, 27, 33–34, 128, 291–92n11
love of outdoors, 120
marriage to Nancy Davis (March 1952), 27
as negotiator, 104
nicknames “Dutch” and “the Gipper,” 18, 19
ranches of, 120, 128
religion and, 167, 176
Republican friends, 18
Trump compared to, xix–xx
words on his gravestone, 64, 224
in World War II, 1–2
Jane Wyman and, 14, 34, 273n2
—political career
biggest backers, 18
as California governor, xiv, xv, xvi, 53, 99–128
California gubernatorial campaign (1965–67), 70, 71–97
as campaign head for Bowron (1953), 27
comparison to Lincoln, Churchill, and FDR, 182
“Death Valley days,” 129–83
in the Democratic Party, 1, 2, 11, 14, 22, 30, 33–34, 36
Douglas campaign backed by, 2
early, during the 1950s, 27
Eisenhower’s campaign and, xiii, 2, 22–23, 27
factors in rise of, 2
as first-time voter, 1, 4, 209, 274n14
Goldwater campaign and rocket to political stardom with “the speech,” 51–70, 97, 168
liberal causes joined by, 2
as national figure, xvi, 32–33
Nixon and, 23, 45, 46–47
partisan shift, from Democrat to Republican, xiv, 2–3, 18, 28–29, 33–34, 36, 209–10, 274n13
party unity and, 72, 74, 113, 118, 119, 259–60
presidential ambitions, xvi, 101, 152
presidential bid (1968), 117–18
presidential bid (1976), 127, 129, 130, 132, 141–42, 146, 147–52
presidential bid (1976), choice of running mate, 151, 294n34
presidential campaign slogan (1980), 230
presidential candidacy (1980), 129–30, 169–80
presidential candidacy announcement (1979), 170
presidential election (1980), xvii, 180, 240, 298n112
presidential election (1984), 212, 250
Republican coalition built by, xvii, xvii, 188, 231, 245, 253–56
Rockefeller backers and, 113
Spencer-Roberts as campaign consultants for, 75
“truckers and cashiers test” and, 235
working-class voting for, xvi, xvii, 18, 93, 94, 121, 162, 180–82, 212–13, 235
—political ideas and strongest beliefs, x
as “all-American,” 22, 52
on American exceptionalism, 41, 50, 54
anti-communism of, xii, xix, 17, 18, 21, 28, 30–32, 36, 37, 45, 47, 48, 56, 81, 115, 130, 148, 159–60, 177–78, 205
as antigovernment, 3, 13, 20, 22, 37, 38, 43, 94, 130, 167–68, 188
anti-Neo-Fascism of, 30
bigotry, discrimination and, xix, 12, 77–78, 79–80, 81, 108, 112, 177, 201
on bureaucracy, xiii, 18, 21, 28, 30–32, 35, 36, 37, 38–39, 44, 72, 83, 119–20, 130, 144–45, 146–47, 158, 164–65
Chicago proposal (1976) and, 141–44
civil rights policies, 108, 113, 201–2
conservatism of (New Deal conservatism), xiv, xvii, xviii, 1, 3, 19–52, 54–70, 72, 82, 83, 113, 114, 115, 118, 130–33, 166, 169–70, 200, 259
conservative principles outlined, nine, 132–33
continuity of ideas, 21, 165, 186, 194, 205, 260, 264
core principles/strongest beliefs of, x, xv, xvi, xviii, 11, 12–13, 14, 21, 40–41, 44–45, 47–50, 56, 121, 156, 159, 164–65, 207, 223, 227, 257–59, 261
Creative Society of, xiv–xv, 72, 83–92, 146
defense spending and a strong military, 133, 134, 164, 191, 204
dignity of the ordinary person and, xvi, xviii, 50, 77, 84–88–89, 121, 123, 164, 223, 259
economic ideas and policy, xviii–xix, 17, 40, 49, 56, 133–34, 172, 185–87, 193–94, 214, 260–61, 265
on education and federal involvement, xiii, xv, 39, 40–41, 88, 100, 137, 141, 142, 155, 166
environmental issues, 100, 115, 119–20, 121, 123, 124–25, 127, 289n53
FDR admired by, x, xi, xvi, 1, 3, 11, 20, 150, 185, 275n29
as FDR’s heir, 150, 178
foreign policy, 32, 36, 47, 50, 114–15, 133, 134, 140–41, 148, 159–60, 164 (see also Soviet Union; Vietnam)
the “forgotten American” and, 12, 68, 69, 207, 209, 229
on freedom, xviii, 13, 14, 20, 26, 35, 36, 37, 41, 56, 78–79, 85, 92, 108, 130, 140, 210
on government as overreaching, 13, 35, 37, 41, 48, 68, 171
government placing an economic floor under people’s standard of living without erecting a ceiling penalizing initiative and effort, 40, 41, 55, 62, 67, 74, 214, 261
government planning and control opposed by, 28, 39, 49, 50, 57, 74, 85, 92, 134, 147, 164, 166, 170–71, 211
on government spending, 49, 147
on government’s purpose, xiii, xix, 40, 44, 259
on government waste and inefficiency, xix, xx, 21, 41, 76, 100, 102, 104–5, 109, 118, 141–42, 144, 170
on health care, xiii, xvi, 46, 47–49, 87, 102, 104, 106–7, 111, 155, 163–64, 168–69, 211, 216, 258, 264
helping the “truly needy” and, xiii, xv, 14, 40, 41, 44–45, 48–50, 54, 55, 62, 64, 67, 74, 83, 84, 86–89, 95, 104, 106–7, 121, 123, 124, 137, 141, 165, 168–69, 170, 190, 214, 216, 218, 253, 257–58, 261, 263–64, 276n46, 284n13
on housing and federal involvement, xiii, 48, 74, 89, 104, 144, 211
“Human nature resists change” belief, 68, 125, 232, 237, 241
ideology rejected by, 131, 152, 153, 154–55, 158, 187, 188
labor unions and, xiii, 11, 21, 32, 41–44, 83, 96 (see also Screen Actors Guild)
libertarianism and, 134–41, 291n9
on limiting government growth, xv, xvi, xvii, 30, 38, 76
love for average Americans/the common individual, 12, 79, 155, 188–90, 196, 207–8, 223–24, 227, 229, 235, 258
New Deal and domestic policy issues, x, xi, xii, xiii, xiv, xv, xvi, xvii, 1, 3, 10–11, 14, 17, 19, 20, 22, 29, 37, 39, 40, 48, 54, 55, 56, 72, 75, 82, 83, 100, 130–31, 133, 156, 162, 167–68, 170, 177, 191, 211, 258
“The New Republican Party,” ideas posited, 132–34, 152–58, 166
philosophy of government, x–xi, xvi, 2, 15, 44, 54, 68, 73, 74, 82, 85, 95, 106, 107, 118, 120, 127, 141, 190, 217, 218, 263–64, 284n13, 291–92n11
on popular control of government, 36, 39, 44, 53–54, 56
positions in gubernatorial kickoff speech, 81, 83
on private enterprise, xv, 13–14, 22, 33, 35–36
property rights and, 74, 79, 107, 115–16, 119–20, 124, 136
the self-chosen life and, 54, 85, 108, 121
on self-government, 12–13, 41, 56, 84, 85–86, 90, 128, 199, 224, 253, 257, 262, 268
on social issues, 113, 166–68, 201–2, 295n70
taxes and, xiii, xix, 18, 21, 36, 37, 41, 47, 48, 49, 56, 76, 100, 104–5, 138–39, 142, 162–63, 165, 190–95, 214, 260, 264–65, 266
trade policy, 196–97, 212, 213, 253, 265
on U.S. Constitutional mandates, 53
as a “working-class Republican,” xi, xiii
—presidency of, 185–225
administration of, 32
American spiritual rebirth and, 206
arms control and, 186, 187, 219, 221–22
assassination attempt on, 191, 299n7
Bush as vice president, 197, 220, 230
conservative critics of, 156, 177, 187, 188, 192–93, 200–201, 202, 216–19, 222
defense spending, 191, 204
economic and military crises faced by, 182, 185
economic growth and, 185–86
economic recovery plan, 190–91, 193–94
El Salvador and, 116, 198, 200
entitlements and, 187
extension of the Voting Rights Act, 201
federal budget, 190–91, 201, 205, 216
federal deficit, 260
fidelity to his core principles during, 186, 187, 188, 194, 195, 205
foreign policy, 186, 191, 197–200, 204
Gorbachev and, 213–14, 219–23, 304n95
government regulations cut, 190
Grenada invasion, 205, 209
halting Communist expansion and, 186, 219
health insurance plan, 187, 216
immigration and, 187
inauguration (1981), 185, 188–90
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), 186, 187, 221–22
Iran-Contra scandal, 213
letter to Brezhnev, 199, 203
Libya and, 198
nuclear freeze opposed by, 205
OBM director Stockman and, xvii, 187–88, 192–93, 200, 216–19, 241, 261, 301n47, 303n79
as oldest president, 129, 152, 185, 212
platform, xvi
principle of “need” and, 190–91, 192
programs up for elimination by, 216, 266, 303n76
recession, 1982, 200
reelection campaign (1984), 206–10, 212
reelection landslide win (1984), 209, 212
Reykjavik summit, 221
Schweiker in cabinet of, 151
Social Security compromise, 205–6, 301n49
Soviet Union and, 186, 191, 198, 202–4, 205
spending and tax cuts, 163, 190–94, 196, 197, 200, 204, 206, 215–16, 266, 299n8, 300n39, 303n76
“Star Wars,” 205
State of the Union address (1982), 208
State of the Union address (1983), 208
State of the Union address (1985), 214–15
>
State of the Union address (1986), 216
tax increases, 186, 201, 202, 206, 301n47
tax reform, 213, 214–15, 299n8
trade and tariffs, 187, 196–97, 212, 213, 265
U.S. Congress and, 182–83
welfare reform, 216
White House personnel and, 120, 202
—speeches, interviews, famous lines, 130–31, 297n96
America as “the last best hope of man on earth,” 14
America as the “shining city on a hill,” xx, 14, 225
Americans “have a rendezvous with destiny,” x, 61, 150, 174, 175, 224, 268
British Parliament speech (June, 1982), 203–4, 214, 221
California Fertilizer Association speech (1958), 39–40, 163, 261, 300n18
as California governor, First Inaugural Address, 102
as California governor, Second Inaugural Address, 123
California gubernatorial campaign, kickoff speech, 83
California Realtors speech (1963), 49
Carter debate with, 178–80
Chicago Tribune interview (1948), 32, 33
Conservative League of Minneapolis, “Losing Freedom by Installments” (early 1960s), 47, 89, 211–12
CPAC’s ninth meeting speech, 208
CRA and United Republicans of California speeches (1967), 109
Creative Society speech, 83–92, 146
Economic Club of Chicago (1975): Chicago proposal, 141–44, 147, 292n15
endorsement of the public New Deal in, 20–21
essence of Reagan’s conservatism and, 28
Eureka College commencement address (1957), 40–41, 88–89, 137
FDR’s sentiments echoed by, 13–14, 40, 74, 91, 150, 174–76, 179–80, 196, 216, 224, 297n96
First Inaugural Address, 185, 188–90, 196, 207
government “helped the needy, not the greedy,” 122
“government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem,” 188
Hoover’s anti-Roosevelt speeches compared to, 38
Los Angeles County Young Republicans (1964), 73, 78, 89
Los Angeles Rotary Club (1948), 17
“the mashed potato circuit,” 53, 132, 162, 195, 291–92n11
Meet the Press interview, 95–96
Mondale debate (1984), 166
“Mr, Gorbachev, tear down this wall!,” 221
“The Myth of the Great Society” (1965), 73–74
national speaking efforts, early 1960s, 47
national television address (March 31, 1976) during presidential primaries, 148–51
New Hampshire debate (1980), 172–73
“The New Republican Party” speech (1977), 130, 132–34, 152–58, 166, 225, 228
New York City speech (1959), 45
in the 1950s, 28
as Nixon surrogate speaker for 1960 presidential campaign, 45
