Reagan Administration in the United States
Republican Party: The Reagan Era
Introduction to Reagan Administration
As president, Reagan, backed by a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress, embarked on a program to increase military strength and curtail many of the social welfare programs of previous Democratic administrations. Reagan won a landslide reelection victory in 1984. In the midterm elections of 1986, however, which turned mostly on local and regional issues, the Democrats took control of Congress for the first time since Reagan took office, with a net gain of eight seats in the Senate (55-45) and five seats in the House (258-177). The Republicans gained 8 governorships-24 to the Democrats’ 26. In 1988 the strength of the Republican Party helped presidential nominee George Bush overcome the effects of the scandal known as the Iran-Contra affair, as well as the traditional handicaps faced by an incumbent vice president running for higher office. Republican losses in other races from 1988 through 1990, however, left the Democrats with increased majorities in the Senate, the House, and state governorships.” (1)
Resources
Notes and References
- Information about Reagan Administration in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia