Inaugural Parade 01/20/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C49(11)) from NA

1981

Reagan proclaimed in his Inaugural Address that "government is not the solution to our problem."
  • but "voodoo economics" and "wedge politics" and "sleaze factor" and "nancyfication"

    Hostages freed after 444 days on Reagan's $16m Inauguration Day

    Nancy wore 4 dresses by Adolpho, Blass - Ron ordered 3.5 tons Jelly Bellys

    White House renovations to cost $44 million; Nancy's new china to cost $209,508

    Inaugural Family Photo (standing from left to right) Geoffrey Davis, Dennis Revell, Michael Reagan, Cameron Reagan, President Reagan, Neil Reagan, Dr. Richard David, Ron Junior. (sitting from left to right) Anne Davis, Maureen Reagan, Colleen Reagan, Mrs. Reagan, Bess Reagan, Patricia Davis, Patti Davis, Doria Reagan 01/20/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C140(12)) from NA
    Reagan Inauguration speech

    Reagan agenda:
    1. Stop inflation - the "silent thief"
    2. Cut spending, taxes, welfare, bureaucracy
    3. Strengthen defenses
    4. Confrontation rather than negotiation
    5. Social Issues: pro-school prayer, anti-abortion
    Poseidons on USS Charleston

    inner circle: James Baker, Chief of Staff, "grand producer" Michael Deaver, Deputy, Ed Meese, A-G

    Triad of B-1 bomber, MX missile, Trident sub restored
    - AL Haig at confirmation hearing for Secretary of State: "There are more important things than peace - things which we Americans must be willing to fight for."
    600-ship Navy; neutron bomb started

    Reagan Doctrine confronted the Brezhnev Doctrine behind the CIA "veil"



    AWACs sold to Saudis - U.S. became global arms merchant

    "Rawhide" shot by John Hinckley March 30, told "Rainbow" "Honey, I forgot to duck"

    Reagan waving to crowds immediately before being shot in an assassination attempt, Washington Hilton Hotel 03/30/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C1426(16)) from NA
    Chaos outside the Washington Hilton Hotel after the assassination attempt on President Reagan 03/30/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C1426(26)) from NA

    "Who's in charge?" - "Vicar" Haig (State) vs. "Cap" Weinberger (Defense) - Haig would resign June 1982, replaced by hawkish George Shultz

    STS-1 landing

    1st shuttle Columbia flew April 12, 1981
    - then Challenger 1983-86, Discovery 1984, Atlantis 1985, Endeavour 1992
    April 28 - Economic Recovery program speech and grain sales soared
    Sandra Day O'Connor first woman to Supreme Court
    - also Elizabeth Dole as Secretary of Transportation
    - but O'Connor was not a Reaganite revolutionary: she opposed school prayer and the death penalty for juveniles, favored affirmative action for women, called the homeless "retarded"

    "Bonnie & Clyde" of the Far Right: James Watt tried to sell offshore oil leases; Anne Burford opposed the Clean Air Act (81,000 tones per day from autos; Mt. St. Helens produced 2000 tons in one day).

    James Edwards appointed to Energy Department; Terrel Bell to Education

    Shuttle Columbia
    Sandra Day O'Connor 07/15/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C3015(7) ) from NA
    1st Cabinet 02/04/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C487(2) ) from NA
    Reagan fired PATCO strikers, called baseball strike "cultural terrorism"

    Senate rejected 96-0 Reagan's proposed OASDI cuts (Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance), but passed Social Secuirty tax (SS & Medicare were 27% of total federal budget, part of the "safety net" protected by Congress since FDR)

    Reagan signed largest U.S. tax cut and took David Stockman to the "woodshed"

    Poland martial law, Solidarity outlawed, Welesa imprisoned

    Reagan responded with pipeline sanctions

    Next - Reagan 1982

    revised 5/5/04 by Steven Schoenherr | Reagan links | Cold War Policies