Research Paper: Ronald Reagan

Leadership Effectiveness

Ronald Wilson Reagan, the United States 40th president serving from 1981 to 1989 was

an American leader and communicator who led the discrepancy of foul American government

practices. Though Reagan failed to overspend the United States defense budget he was also

know for cleaning up and strengthening the American military combat. However, we must not

forget how Reagan shaped and reformed tax brackets for the Americans from communist

methods to the growth and stimulation of this economy.

Ronald Wilson Reagan born to John Edward Reagan and Nelle Wilson in Tampico,

Florida on February 6, 1911, was a known as a public actor and host before becoming United

States 40th president. During Reagan’s years of growing up though, Ronald Reagan would

experience having an alcoholic father, that same man would also taught Ronald Reagan about

racial equality. However, little did we know that these life lesson would help Ronald Reagan

with the African American movements in civil rights matters. It also could have been Ronald’s

mother who had a strong Christian faith and struck Ronald with her powerful prayers. Ronald

Reagan pursued his sport and acting interest during high school and continued to thrive in works

and curriculum that would enhance that passion. After graduating Ronald Reagan worked as an

actor in many films but it was until his role as George “the gipper” from Knute Rockne, All

American film that would lead him to public fame.

What made Ronald Reagan an effective leader was his protection for Americans and how

he saw to have a better morning each day. Ronald Reagan, governor of California before running

for president was known as “The Great Communicator” for his great optimism and the way he
addressed viewers through television. For example, during a debate with President Jimmy Carter

in 1980, Ronald Reagan spoke directly to the voters of all class and status through television.

Ronald Reagan won presidency because of phenomenal communication bringing and attracting

both democratic and republican parties. Though, Ronald Reagan came from a democratic

background he would slowly transitioned to become a republican. Ronald Reagan known for his

charismatic view and quote such as “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run

their lives” (Reagan, 1981) would soon drop President Jimmy Carter’s democratic groups to

follow Ronald Reagan in his journey to Presidency and revitalize Republicans.

American Society During Reagan’s Term

So, what did Reagan really accomplish in term? Ronald Reagan was known for his tax

cut and structuring American economics. Ronald Reagan’s tax cut and economic approach led to

a decrease percentage of inflation (4 percent to 2 percent), and 16 million job growth. Reagan

brough taxation down from 70% to 28% reducing excessive tax rates and boosting tax revenues.

Though Ronald Reagan failed some leadership areas he, also regains American’s focus on the

nation itself. Ronald Reagan took a stance on the Cold War and made solid turning points on the

Cold War. As much as he wanted to abolish The Department of Education, he also supports the

utilization of upgraded military technology in education. After negative reports of the nation’s

educational system, Reagan increased the Department of Education by $6 billion dollars

resulting in the compromised of nearly %50 revenue from different sources of education.

Though there was an amount of unnecessary funding and spending through the Reagan’s

administration, Reagan did reduce government spending and regulation. This leading to an

economic boom with many growth and expansion of the stock market and jobs. Reagan’s social

policy such as the Family Support Act also helped establish programs to needy families with
children, providing skills and training to individuals for employment. Reagan also saved Social

Security by passing the 1983 Social Security Act.

Reagan was also known for reshaping labor unions and accomplishing against air-traffic

controllers that has been precedent for decades. We can almost compared 40th president Ronald

Reagan to current U.S. President Donald Trump who thrives on “making America great” through

his tax reform on foreign countries and union buster, bringing back overseas jobs to Americans.

Both presidents strongly focus on the root cause of unemployment and how Americans should

thrive on at home problems first.

Failed Leadership through Weakness

Reagan with a hands-off leadership style was also criticized in many ways due to his lack

of control in the administration which, led to illegal activities such as the “Iran-Contra” scandal.

This affair consisted of top U.S. government sending and financially aiding Iran for the release

of 7 American hostage that was held by Hezbollah a Muslim organization. Such secret operation

led by his own administration and investigated by congress has left a negative mark. Reagan

himself was known breaking vows by initiating military affairs with Libya, Grenada, El

Salvador, Nicaragua, and Lebanon. Ronald Reagan weakness also consisted of him increasing

defense budget and creating many defense factories that was not necessary. For example, in the

1980’s there were 50 defense suppliers and as of 2004 there are only 5.

Another event that led Ronald Regan to fail was his launch and funding on programs that

would investigate crime. Known as the “War on Drugs” wasted millions of dollars and yet,

increased violent crime to 21% from 1981 – 1989. Ronald Reagan’s behavior and response on

crime was a chosen option from individuals and therefore led him to discriminate the root cause
national poverty and the culture that revolves around it. For example, during Ronald Reagan’s

campaign in 1980, he pledges to balance federal budget but during his eight years in term

Reagan never submitted those balance. When Reagan took office, the Federal debt was at $994

billion and when he left term it increased to $2.9 trillion. These types of events showed us that

Reagan made bad decision and did not manage federal budget well. In fact, Reagan was know as

the first president since Hoover to add more trade barriers increasing trade restraint for 12% in

1981 to 23% in 1988.

With Ronald Reagan’s bad faith in education let us not forget his response about the

health risks of AIDS. Though it was first discovered in the early 1980’s president Ronald Reagan

did not mentioned anything about the epidemic of it during his term. This leading to over 20,849

death by 1987 when Reagan decided to come public with the situation. If Reagan would of spoke

about it sooner and funded medical program versus defense and other over funded programs,

information and prevention on AIDS would have saved thousands of people. For example,

Ronald Reagan aided in complex and expensive defense programs such as “Strategic Defense

Initiative” or “Star Wars” that cost taxpayers 33 billion dollars in which, the program demised in

1993. President Ronald Reagan was also known to failed within social policy due to his slash in

not funding programs like food stamps and subsidizing housing. This causing poverty rate from

12% to 15% and unemployment from 7% to 11%.

Another weak movement Ronald Reagan praised on was to abolish The Department of

Education. During his term he slashed federal aid of $1 billion to schools and set The

Department of Education’s budget to 19%. Ronald Reagan believed that funding The

Department of Education was all a “bureaucratic boondoggle” meaning it was a waste of time,
money and effort spent on. Though being known to see eye to eye with the average citizen, this

movement was a failure and educational itself.

Reagan known for his under educational quote “trees caused more pollution than

automobiles do” during his term leased million of national lands for oil, gas, and coal

development. With Ronald Reagan’s hands-off leadership style, it has led to events and decisions

such as cutting 25% fund to the 19272 Clean Water Act and mismanaging a 1.6 billion program

by Anne Gorsuch, Reagan’s appointee of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Historical Conditioning

Being known for being one of the oldest presidents elected, Ronald Reagan came into

term at the age of 69 on November 4, 1980 and was reelected at the age of 76 breaking his own

record. On March 30, 1981, outside of the Washington Hilton Hotel, Ronald Reagan was

targeted by John Hinkley who attempted an assassination on the President. Ronald Reagan was

shot under his left arm and the bullet lodging into his lung, inches away from his heart survived

the assassination.

During his newly role as president of the United States there was currently 52 American

hostages held by a Muslim group and during Reagan’s term, he was able to end a 444-day

hostage event. The Cold War which, was actively happening during Ronald Reagan’s eight years

of presidency might be one of the assumptions on his large defense spending. Besides being

involved in illegal affairs with other countries president Ronald Regan was known for lifting the

grain embargo imposed on Soviet Union by the previous president Jimmy Carter. President

Ronald Reagan also came into term during the recession and with the amount of spending that he

debt American with, Ronald was also able to end the recession in November 1982.
 I believe that we can conclude the fact that actor and governor of California, Ronald

Reagan walked into term as a president during middle eastern chaos. Though, not like previous

president who experienced World War l and ll, Reagan won many voters emotion at a crucial

time. Ronald Reagan knew of the situation, studied it, and addressed it to the nation just how

they wanted to hear it, therefore led to some broken promises.