City On A Hill

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City On a Hill: The Reagan Legacy

During Reagan’s time in office that lasted eight years, the rate of inflation fell from the

1970s peaks, Soviet Union relations with America thrived( the end of the Cold war freed tens of

millions), unemployment fell (to 5.3%) while income rose (Thompson Jr 490). Former British

prime minister referred to Ronald Reagan as the man who won the Cold War without firing a

shot (Thompson Jr 490). Reagan’s principled nature characterized him as a transparent and

steadfast man; features evident in his 196 speech where he highlighted issues like smaller

government, tax cuts, and standing up for the interests of America. He believed in America and

held great optimism for the future. He constantly invoked the shining city on a hill metaphor

regularly admonishing that people had not seen anything yet (Thompson Jr 490). Reagan’s bid

for presidency was based on the appeal to democrats and independents to be a part of his

community of shared values. Unlike conventional conservative candidates, Reagan appealed to

democrats on the GOP convention and campaign trail. For Reagan, intellectualism was what

constituted common sense (Thompson Jr 490). He maintained that conservatism revolved around

challenging to the status quo. Reagan and Reaganism were concepts that revolved around

agitating against orthodox wisdom of conventional political parties and entrenched power.

Although the fact of America was an existential concept, Reagan restored the idea of America.

At the end of his two term presidency, Ronald Reagan had cemented his legacy, the

Reagan Revolution; Reaganomics, which is regarded as supply side economics (Khan 820). His

belief that government was the problem influenced his policies aimed at reinvigorating

Americans and reducing their reliance on entitlements from the government. His 1980 campaign

pledge was restoring “the great confident roar of American progress and optimism,” which many

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believe he fulfilled (Khan 820). Ronald Reagan came in to a fractured Republican Party and an

even divided country, considering the Vietnam War, Watergate Scandal and Pentagon Papers

(Khan 820). However, at the end of his term, he left America more confident in its future than

before. With over 1000 books written on his presidency, a Ronald Reagan day proclamation, the

Reagan Libraries, naming buildings after him, testimonials of people who encountered the man

and the push to have his face curved onto Mount Rushmore are important.

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SURNAME 1 City On a Hill: The Reagan Legacy During Reagan’s time in office that lasted eight years, the rate of inflation fell from the 1970s peaks, Soviet Union relations with America thrived( the end of the Cold war freed tens of millions), unemployment fell (to 5.3%) while income rose (Thompson Jr 490). Former British prime minister referred to Ronald Reagan as the man who won the Cold War without firing a shot (Thompson Jr 490). Reagan’s principled nature characterized him as a transparent and steadfast man; features evident in his 196 speech where he highlighted issues like smaller government, tax cuts, and standing up for the interests of America. He believed in America and held great optimism for the future. He constantly invoked the shining city on a hill metaphor regularly admonishing that people had not seen anything yet (Thompson Jr 490). Reagan’s bid for presidency was ...
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