Throughout the 1970s, the title of presidency was tarnished as Republican President Richard Nixon was forced to resign in 1974 due to the Watergate Scandal. Because of his connection to Nixon, Vice President Gerald Ford’s presidency was unpopular as well. Ford’s successor to the Oval Office, Democrat Jimmy Carter, had a rather unsuccessful presidency as he only won one term. While both political parties controlled the presidency during the 1970s, political scholars view this era of presidents as one of the worst decades in U. S. history.
By the 1980 election, the people of the United States wanted something new. Republican candidate Ronald Reagan captured the hearts and minds of Americans, easily defeating Carter’s reelection bid in 1980. Running for his second term in 1984, Reagan hoped to capitalize on his successful first term. Reagan’s only obstacle of taking the Oval Office once again was his opponent, Democrat Walter Mondale, former lawyer and Senator from Minnesota. In the beginning of 1980 there was a huge deficit, where the inflation rate went from thirteen point five percent to the low of five point one percent in 1982.
Unemployment exceeded to ten percent, this was the lowest it had been in forty years. With Reagan already in office he knew that there must be a change in the early 80s. He knew that if he corrected United States economic problem that he would have the trust of the citizen for the election of 1984. At the end of 1982 the United States was flourishing once again, the economy was promising due to the new economic system of Reaganomics. Incumbent Ronald Reagan believed that the United States become very strong due to Reaganomics. Between the years of 1983-1990 the economy grew because it was parallel population growth.
The census of 1984-1990 shows that we’ve had the most growth on the west coast. Having twenty percent more people than we had in the previous census, all but three states had a population growth. The principles of Reaganomics was to lower taxes and increase the spending money towards our military. Now that taxes are lowered the United States no longer provided any social programs. There were pros and cons with this new economic system, the economy was doing substantially well while our social problems worsen. An example of a social problem would be the drug rate.
Approximately thirty seven percent of the population over the age twelve had used an illegal drug at least once. The drug rates grew due to the lack of abuse programs available. These were secondary issues that the citizens of the United States were facing, but internationally there were many world affairs. Reagan was ending the fear of communism by an agreement with Gorbachev by signing Intermediate Nuclear Force. This agreement states that the Soviets wouldn’t use nuclear weapons against the United States. As communism was coming to an end, rising fear of terrorism became a reality.
The United States was involved with the Iran Contra. With Reagan’s new economic policy he stated that he would tower taxes and spend that to focus on the military. The United States was sending weapons to Iran in return for hostage soldiers. Ronald Reagan thought that this would improve the relationship between the U. S. and Iran. Later on he confessed that he has faced an arms-for-hostage swap. Unaware that these weapons were being sold to the Nicaraguan rebels. There was a lot of disappointment in Reagan, although the citizens were really forgiving towards him about this incident.
Republican Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois on February 6th 1911. Reagan always had charisma which led to his success of being a sports announcer, and as an actor throughout college. Serving in the Army during World World Two, Reagan showed his leadership skills as he became captain after three years. Discharging from the Army in 1945, Reagan found himself a part of an interest group from 1945-1952. He campaigned as a Democrat for Dwight D. Eisenhower then again for Richard Nixon in 1960. Becoming the governor of California for two full terms within 1967-1975, during this time Reagan announced his change in political review.
Declaring his presidential nomination by the end of his governor’s office. After making unsuccessful bids for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 and 1976, Reagan finally received his party’s nod in 1980. Being one of the last republican candidate to enter the race, he soared to the top of the election due to his new strong conservative beliefs. Reagan had a varieties of views of the platforms that America was facing at the time. The platform that Reagan stressed about the most would be homeland security.
His plank for this issue was that the United States needed a strong military due to the increasing fear of terrorism. He strongly believed that terrorism was growing at a rapid rate, and he made it his priority in his campaign. Capturing citizens’ minds about the upcoming problem, people wanted to believe that Reagan was the perfect person for this issue. Through all of the support, Reagan had a great deal of funds. His matching funds requested from PAC $10,421,010, receiving donors of matchable contributions: $255,465, also receiving $10,100,000 from PAC.
Within Reagan’s propaganda, he advertised in newspapers, radio and mainly on television; he states that all Americans will have a job, everyone would have fewer hours and have time off. Winning his first election with George Bush as Vice President, Reagan did every well during his first term, doing as he said he would while he was campaigning. Following his promises gained the citizens trust. This reassurance that he would win his second election. Democrat Walter Mondale was born in Minnesota on January 5, 1928. Mondale was known as an attorney up until he ran for Senate in 1966, also winning another reelection in 1972.
He became Vice President with Jimmy Carter leading the United States. With Carter’s defeat by Ronald Reagan in 1980, Mondale then challenged himself by running for presidency the following election. Mondale’s planks were ideal for a liberal, believing women’s rights, designed to prohibit racial discrimination in housing, reform of the Indian reservation education system, and more. Mondale requested matching funds from the PAC : $9,819,910, receiving $203,772 from donors matchable contributions, also receiving $9,494,921 from PAC. Mondale’s campaign differs from Reagan.
Mondale was alongside with Geraldine Ferraro, making a standout with the first female as Vice President candidate. Their campaign was publicized by newspaper, radio, and television; leaving a big impression to the minorities. The National Organization for Women was a third party that supported Mondale and Ferraro. Its down to the vote to see whether Walter Mondale wins due to full support from the minorities or Ronald Reagan with his loyal followers from his previous election. The number of voter registration in 1964-1984 were 169,963 thousand, only 59. 9 percent voted.
This number isn’t surprising, on average every Presidential election there’s only fifty percent voter turnout. There were 61. 1 percent of the voters were white, 55. 8 were blacks, and 32. 6 were spanish/ mixed races. There were 59 percent of these voters were male while 60. 8 perecent were females. Ages from eighteen to twenty four only 40. 8 percent, voters of the ages twenty five through forty four had 58. 4 perecent. The ages of forty five through sixty four had 69. 8 percent and 67. 7 percent for the ages range of sixty five and older. Reason for the higher female voting percentage was due to Geraldine Ferraro.
She influenced so many women to make a stand at this time era. Having The National Organization for Women very pleased knowing that they would have a stand in the election. With all of these factors this raised a big question of who would win the election. The election of 1984 differs from all of the elections in the previous years. Ronald Reagan won the electoral college vote by a landslide, receiving five hundred twenty five electoral vote. Mondale only received thirteen electoral votes, which were from his home state of Minnesota and Washington D. C. Our primary in Pennsylvania was Republican.
Reagan won 53. 3 percent of Pennsylvania, winning twenty five electoral votes. The population vote however was really close, Reagan having 58. 8 percent while Mondale had 40. 6 percent. Although the popular vote doesn’t have anything to do with the electoral vote. An advantage that Ronald Reagan had was that he won his first election by a landslide. Making his second term easy to do the same. Althought his opponent Walter Mondale was a strong opponent, the people didn’t want to hear anything from Mondale. Ronald Reagan won the citizens of the United State with his outstanding first term.
