Ronald Reagan Inaugural Speech Analysis

When President-elect Ronald Reagan was inaugurated in January of 1981, his inaugural speech resembled many statements made throughout his campaign just the year before. The calling of lower taxes, a strong national defense and military, a smaller governmental presence in the lives of American citizens as well as a much tougher stance on the role of Communism throughout the world. The status quo now pitted itself against a war with a newly elected president whose ideology had nearly been extinct in American politics ever since the 1960’s and the rise of civil rights. Through President Reagan’s challenging of the status quo, the presence of new leadership and “model” is noticeably present. The “Model the Way” practice of leadership is noticeable

As mentioned previously, Ronald Reagan already challenged the status quo when he called for significant changes to the country. Rather it be changing and reducing taxes through fixing the tax code, increasing military spending, etc., we’re able to see this. It is without surprise that many people considered candidate Reagan’s ideas “radical” during the 1980 campaign, since the vast majority of political ideas and platforms largely contained a more liberal philosophy. In his first speech as president in his inaugural address, President Reagan swatted the vast increase in the government’s role in the past two decades. Rather than have the government attempt to solve all of our problems, the government is the cause for all our problems that America currently faces. Along with President Reagan himself, the Democrats were also elected into a majority in the House of Representatives in 1980. Due to this, the newly elected president Reagan would be forced to take risks in working with a half Democrat-controlled Congress. Since President Reagan didn’t have a majority in Congress that coincided with his philosophy, caution was necessary as well as compromise with an opposing political party in order to pass policy and keep his campaign

“Encourage the Heart” practice largely includes thanking the members of your team as well as to celebrate the victories and successes that have existed during a specific period of time. During his Farewell Address, President Reagan looks back on his accomplishments and actions during the past eight years during his tenure as president. With lowering and cutting taxes so Americans can keep more of their income, to increasing the strength of our military to insure Americans are protected, etc., his major achievements are brought up once more and reflected upon. However, for President Reagan, he disputed the fact that over the past eight years that America had been a victim of the “Reagan Revolution”; instead, he attributed America’s success to the re-embracement of our traditions and values. With his final goodbye to the nation, President Reagan effectively informed Americans that the status of the country is in much more beneficial shape than it was eight years