The Comeback of US Conservative Party in 1980 in White House - Essay Example

THE COMEBACK OF US CONSERVATIVE PARTY IN 1980 IN WHITE HOUSE The conservatives had been in the dark and out of the White House for many decades until 1980 when they won under Ronald Reagan. It did not come as a surprise owing to the events, which occurred before. The 1976 election brought Jimmy Carter to the White House. As a Democrat candidate, Americans had hopes of him, though his domestic policies failed to please many citizens, and his image as an international leader was damaged with the Iranian hostage drama, which continued until the inauguration of his successor. Despite all this, his Democratic Party was unmoved by all these events and Carter had no difficulty securing the party nomination. This was an opportunity for the opponents to challenge Carter. The Republican Party was very active and developed a strong opposition to the Democrat candidate. The Republicans saw Ronald Reagan as the most potent and favorite candidate to contest the presidential seat. Some of the Republicans candidates he contested with included George H. W. Bush, and John Anderson. Reagan managed to be successful in the primaries making Anderson drop out from the Republican Party and George Bush switching some positions to become the flag bearer’s running mate. As the campaign began, Carter was ahead, but Regan managed to beat him in debate making him overcome the perception that he held a radical position that was dangerous to the US. In November, voters entrusted Reagan, and he became the US president making him initiate 12 years of Republican rule in the White House. Therefore, the conservatives under Ronald Reagan became a better messenger to emerge victoriously and enter the White House. Ronald Reagan, who was the conservative’s presidential candidate, had a familiar image that contributed to his success in the 1980 election.1 He was good looking, smooth in delivery, honeyed voice, and appealing to voter’s emotion that brought and convinced the electorates to vote him. Personal qualities contributed and counted in his election. Reagan kept the voters attention as his speeches were catching and soothing to the ears. Besides his personal appeal, Regan’s speech, “A time for choosing” was a revelation of his political philosophy that was blended with exceptional skills and rhetoric.2 From his speech, it is evidenced that Regan delivered a profound ideological speech that strongly attacked the liberals and the Democratic Party of LBJ’s Great Society era, making it appeal to the electorate. Regan attacked his opponents on the use of “Great Society” and acceptance of government activities since they were never implemented, and the nation kept on waiting for the great society. Moreover, he made great efforts in transcending partisanship as he portrayed his views as common sense. For instance, his speech was inclusive of the public as he used the words, “you and I are told that we have to choose between right or left…. there is only up and down…”.3 Through this, he attacked his opponents, hence appealing to the voters through his emotional speech. He represented himself to the voters that he was beyond partisan, but as an American as evidenced in his speech. He fused the two parties, conservatives and democrats Americans in United States of America making him have an upper hand in uniting the parties and playing above party politics. Reagan expanded the base through the persuasion of independents and disaffected the Democrats. Despite the compelling speech, which attracted emotional appeal from the voters, the Conservatives had a good idea, which they sold to the electorates leading them to occupy the White House. They based their ideas on the Barry Goldwater platform initiated in 1964.4 Goldwater was concerned and dwelt more on a limited, constitutional government, individual’s freedom and personal responsibility. However, the Goldwater campaign strategy was considered extremist in 1960s, leading to his defeat and receiving only 38.5% of the popular vote and winning only six states.5 The landslide loss to the conservatives opened a new chapter to the new generation of the party as they laid the groundwork for the modern conservative movement that won the White House race in 1980. The ideas of Goldwater inspired Ronald Reagan and Americans were ready for the Goldwater’s brand of conservatism following the failures of Democrats to deliver their promises. Reagan campaigned using the same policies and managed to get two landslide victories, making him develop a notion that Goldwater did not lose but just took 16 years to count the votes.6 Reagan’s ideas were the best in winning the election because it promised the electorate and committed to supply-side economics and tax cuts to help remove recession and enhance economic growth. The conservatism managed to keep their promises as the economy added over 17 million new jobs and employment falling to 5% as well as doubling the stock market.7 From all these, it is evidence that Goldwater ideas came to be appreciated, leading to the victory of conservatism hence occupying the white house. Similarly, the conservatives occupied the White House because of their stand and policies.8 Different parties, including Democrats change policies every election time because of many reasons such as partisan in fights. The pressing hard economic times that Americans faced with the Democrats made them yawn for the change of policies towards delivering and improving the economy. Goldwater’s policies were rejected for almost sixteen years, and this did not deter the conservatives from standing their ground on policies as their opponents seek new ways of luring voters. Compromising party policies to address the current situations sometimes help and sometimes become disastrous as in the case of the Democrats. However, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan refused to compromise their party policies and ideas, even as they lose to their opponents. They refused to compromise their party principles and ideologies, and this would bring devastating effects such to the party. Similarly, Goldwater refused to moderate his message to score a political point, even after realizing that unyielding conservatives would lead to defeat. Reagan was not afraid to take a political risk of upholding the conservative’s principles even after receiving pressure to temper with the policies to obtain political gains. Hence, the conservatives under the aspiration of Regan managed victory because he knew what he believed. Further, it is evidenced that the cheerful persistence of the conservative’s party led to their victory in 1980. The conservative party experienced defeat, frustration, unfair treatment, and attacks on the aspirant characters. For instance, Goldwater was once accused as racist by Martin Luther King, compared to Hitler and named the dangerous lunatic. Reagan also faced setbacks as he failed to unseat the moderates before finally winning the presidential nomination on the Republican ticket.9 Despite all these developments and events, Regan maintained a confident demeanor, and they were branded different names. Names such as "happy warrior" and "happy malcontent" of the optimistic and constant smile they portrayed even after several defeats and humiliation. Their patience also made them appeal to the voters because they kept and played by the rules as opposed to their opponents who employed evil tactics towards winning the election. In turn, Reagan brought rhetoric that saw the comeback of the Republican after the Democrats under Carter messed and failed to deliver on the promises. This provided a suitable platform for the Republican to occupy the White House and deliver their promises to the Americans. Moreover, the Conservatives under Regan were victorious because they strategized on the weaknesses of the Democrats under Crater.10 This made them appeal to the diverse social classes of the American society. For instance, he campaigned to improve the economy, and this was welcomed across the American social classes. The US military had some weaknesses under the leadership of the Democrats, and Regan promised to restore the dwindling military strengths by increasing the spending.11 Similarly, the tax was a major challenge for the majority of the US citizens and the Conservative party promise to reduce it was a good move to the electorates hence gaining more voters through persuasion and promises. He criticized the windfall profit tax that the Democrats enacted regarding domestic oil production since it was destroying rather than building the economy. All these economic policies looked attractive and convincing to the voters making favor the Republicans and vote out the Democrats party. Lastly, the Republican appeal to the minority status individuals in the American society increased their chances of winning by a larger margin.12 During the period of the campaign, there was a discussion on the issue of human rights with many complaining that the Carter government did not support womens rights. Carter administration supported the Equal Rights Amendment hence being unfair to women. Reagan appealed to the women and promised to uphold their rights by appointing them to the cabinet positions. He also promised to appoint a female justice to the Supreme Court, which appealed to the women activist leading their support. Reagan also promised to work with the governors in fighting discrimination against women leading to him to endorse womens rights in his nomination acceptance speech. Thus, women supported him, hoping that he would guarantee their rights. In conclusion, the conservatives managed a comeback to win the 1980 presidential election because Ronald Regan was appealing to the voters. He successfully sold the party policies and improved on the weaknesses of the Democrats under Carter. His rhetorical speech, “A time for Choosing” portrayed many promises that lured people with a promise to improve the economy and reduce taxation. More so, the endorsement by the minority helped him consolidate votes leading to Conservative party victory and occupation of the White House. Bibliography Reagan Foundation. “A time for choosing” by Ronald Reagan. 2009. YouTube. Available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBswFfh6AY Voices of Freedom. Chapter 26: The triumph of conservatism 1969-1988. n. d. Available from file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/7446753_voices_of_freedom_ch26%20(1).pdf Read More