Ronald Reagan was sworn into office on January 20, 1981. Shortly into his presidency, Reagan survived an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. This happened March 30, 1981. The bullet pierced one of the president’s lungs and narrowly missed his heart. Soon after recovering Reagan turned his focus on eliminating government rather than on redirecting government. With that goal, his administration embraced “supply-side” economic ideas that gained popularity among the New Right. President Ronald Reagan began to implement policies to reduce the federal government’s reach into the wallets of Americans, including tax cuts intended to spur growth (known as Reaganomics). He also promoted increases in military spending. By 1983, the American …show more content…
He won against Walter Mondale and his running mate Geraldine Ferraro. She was the first female vice-presidential candidate from a major U.S. political party. During his second term, the Soviets and Americans signed an agreement to eliminate nuclear missiles. He also encouraged Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall. Over two years later, Gorbachev allowed the people to dismantle it. One of Reagan’s most far-reaching victories occurred through judicial appointments. Reagan named 368 district and federal appeals court judges during his two terms. Some noted that almost all of the appointees were white …show more content…
Reagan’s policies hampered civil rights. Spending cuts enacted by Reagan and Congressional Republicans shrank food stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, school lunch, Medicaid and job training programs that provided crucial support to African American households. Over his presidency he did not support many civil rights bills. He initially opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Later he signed the Voting Rights Act. In 1988, he vetoed the Civil Rights Restoration Act but his veto was overridden by Congress. Ronald Reagan and his wife returned to California and resided in Los Angeles, after leaving the White House in January 1989. In Simi Valley, California, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum opened. Five years after returning to California, Reagan revealed to the American people that he had been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He died in 2004 at his Los Angeles home at age 93. Reagan was buried on the grounds of his presidential library. Short