Ronald Reagan Leadership
Ronald Reagan
(1911-2004)
Movie actor who became American president (1980-9).
Extremely popular in America, because he (pictured right) ended the Cold War with Russia (then the Soviet
Union), and gave Americans renewed hope and spirit after years of high inflation and unemployment.
Why was he a great
leader?
1. Communication
He lived up to his nickname of “The Great Communicator” with his down-to-earth language
and self-deprecating humour that touched Americans’ hearts.
After a failed assassination attempt in 1981, he told his wife, Nancy (pictured right in 1983), “Honey,
I forgot to duck”, and joking about his old age, he often said,
“I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I’m in a Cabinet
meeting”.
2. Principles
He strongly believed in the principles of
He attacked government interference in people’s lives, and the welfare state, which he believed made people
lazy, .
“Government is not the solution to a problem. Government is the problem”, he said.
3. Economic success
In 1981 he:
- slashed income tax by a quarter,
- reduced interest rates and increased competition
These policies aimed to
- motivate people to work harder.
- encourage companies to become more profitable and increase their
production.
This was called supply-side economics, nicknamed “Reaganomics” and very
similar to the policies of Britain's Margaret
Thatcher (pictured right together in 1981).
This gave America its longest ever period of prosperity from 1982 until 1991.
Middle class and wealthier people did particularly well, helped by the rapidly rising stock market.
4. Tough
Helped by his close friend, Margaret Thatcher.
he was tough in his stance against the Soviet Union (now Russia), rapidly increasing military
spending.
Previously America had adopted the more conciliatory policy of détente.
His policy led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and its empire in Eastern Europe, symbolized by the collapse
of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
In a 1987 speech at the Berlin Wall (pictured right above), he told the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev
(pictured right in 1987), to “tear down this wall”.
5. Learning
His policy towards the Soviet Union became more conciliatory, negotiating arms reduction treaties after a NATO
military exercise in 1983 nearly triggered off a nuclear war.
But he did controversially support the “star wars” plan of armed satellites orbiting over the earth to protect
America from nuclear attack.
He also learned from listening to and understanding other people’s views.
For example, he spent billions on AIDS after initially ignoring the disease.
6. Renewed hope
Like Franklin D. Roosevelt (pictured
right) in the 1930’s, he got people believing in themselves again.
“As long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future will be
ours”, Reagan said.
7. Vision
Reagan (pictured right in 1964 with his wife, Nancy) always had a clear future ideal for
America, based on the individual’s:
- security from outside attack.
8. Image
His political opponents, the Democrats, called him the “Teflon president”, because his charm
and clean image meant no political dirt could stick on him.
9. Delegation
He picked good people, making clear his broad policy aims and then giving them the
power to carry them out.
Delegation allowed him to work less and relax
more (pictured right in 1976 at his Californian ranch).
He spent an eighth of his presidency (345 days) riding and doing chores at his ranch.
Key quotes on leadership
But if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has
the capacity to govern someone else?
Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority and don’t
interfere.
Key quotes on government and
politics
Government is the problem.
If you invent a better mousetrap, the government comes along with a better mouse.
Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close
resemblance to the first.
Key quotes on
society
We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.
Information is the oxygen of the modern age.
Key quotes on
change
Status quo, you know, is Latin for the mess we’re in.
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