topic 5

• Ronald Reagan’s presidency was one of controversy and success. Modern day Republicans idealise his legacy
• reagan had multiple scandals, resulting in the investigation, indictment, or conviction of over 138 administration officials.
• Reagan admitted that he had sold weapons to Iran in order to secure the release of 6 US hostage in Lebanon (unsuccessfully)
• He wanted a shift away from the ‘Great Society’ which he saw as encouraging a reliance on welfare, and he also wanted to reduce ‘big government’
• Many people agreed with Reagan that it was time to return to individualism.
• Reagan won a landslide victory in the 1980 election against Jimmy Carter.
• Prior to his presidency, he was the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975, following a career as a Hollywood actor
• "government is not the solution to our problem, government is our problem"