He went on "And now we are seeing a sight many believed they would never see in our lifetime: the receding of the tide of totalitarianism." The economic ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades. Using the list of inaugural address from the lesson, have students choose (or assign) one of the speeches. In addition, the huge increases in military spending, combined with insufficient cuts in other programs, produced massive budget deficits, the largest in the countrys history; by the end of Reagans second term, the deficits would contribute to a tripling of the national debt, to more than $2.5 trillion. At the same time, he insisted on, and for the most part, was successful in gaining increased funding for defense. His triumph capped the rise of the new right/conservative wing of the Republican Party and ushered in a new era of governing. Therefore I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.''. I could say ''you'' and ''your,'' because I'm addressing the heroes of whom I speak -- you, the citizens of this blessed land. As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. The. You and I, as individuals, can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but for only a limited period of time. In the days ahead I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. This essay examines Ronald Reagan's first inaugural address. As president, Reagan enacted supply-side economic policies, or "Reaganomics," that reduced tax rates to stimulate the economy, while controlling the cash supply to lower inflation. Teachers can choose to have students focus on one or more historical inaugurations and analyze the speeches by looking at the historical challenges facing the nation, topics discussed in the speech, or rhetorical elements of the inaugural addresses. In his first Inaugural address on January 20, 1981, President Ronald Reagan addresses major issues affecting the nation, including rising inflation, the Iran hostage crisis, and unemployment. And as we renew ourselves here in our own land, we will be seen as having greater strength throughout the world. He also elevated William Rehnquist to chief justice in 1986 upon the retirement of Warren Burger. You are to decide the important questions upon which rests the happiness and the liberty of millions yet unborn. We will again be the exemplar of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom. As the president called for international cooperation to stop the influx of illegal drugs, especially cocaine, into the U.S., First Lady Nancy Reagan led the campaign against drug abuse, urging the nation's youth to "just say no.". The administration modified its economic policy after two years by proposing selected tax increases and budget cuts to control rising deficits and higher interest rates. Have the students provide information on the following categories as they view the inaugural address. He gave a speech in the tradition of Franklin Roosevelt's second inaugural and Ronald Reagan's first: Like both, Obama's was unapologetic in offering an argument for his philosophical. Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol | Architect of the Capitol Here again, Carter had foreshadowed Reagan policies. In 1845, James Polks inaugural address was transmitted by telegraph, widening the proximate audience. When Reagan took office the economy was one of double-digit inflation and interest rates near 20%. Reagan had a clear social, economic, and foreign policy agenda, and with political guile and personal persuasiveness he was able to achieve many of his goals. Handout: Presidential Inaugural Address Rubric (Google Doc). We will match loyalty with loyalty. Reagan believed that the nation should negotiate with theSoviet Unionfrom a position of strength. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Reagan led the battle for a Social Security reform bill designed to ensure the long-term solvency of the system, and oversaw the passage of immigration reform legislation, as well as the expansion of the Medicare program to protect the elderly and disabled against "catastrophic" health costs. Has the White House ever been renovated or changed? To summarize the inaugural address, discuss the following prompt: Option: Inaugural Address Guiding Questions: Have the students view one of the inaugural addresses included in this lesson. Teachers can assign videos to students or have them choose. In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem. Discounts apply to military member only. "It is time to check and reverse the growth of government, which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed. Reagan advanced domestic policies that featured a lessening of federal government responsibility in solving social problems, reducing restrictions on business, and implementing tax cuts. We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow. January 20, 2021 6:30 AM The Gipper's first inaugural address revived the concept of American exceptionalism, while stressing national unity. Analyzing Historical Presidential Inaugural Addresses | C-SPAN Classroom He remarked in 1965, The platitude quotient tends to be high, the rhetoric stately and self-serving, the ritual obsessive, and the surprises few.9, Despite Schlesingers doubts, several inaugural addresses have withstood the test of time and become noteworthy examples of presidential rhetoric. This is the message of his inaugural address. He also signed, reluctantly, trade legislation designed to open foreign markets toU.S.goods. At 73 years of age, Reagan became, at the time, the oldest man ever elected president, receiving 525 electoral votes, the most of any presidential candidate. On January 20, 1981, Ronald Reagan gave his "First Inaugural Address" with the United States listening; some people were able to experience firsthand Ronald Reagan's passion and views for our country, in Front of the Capitol Building, while others tuned in to listen on the momentous occasion. Samuel Alito's ConservatismBurkean and American - Adam J. White By defining and keeping in check the power and influence of the government, Americans could work together to recover and build a better future. Why do you think this is? Using the notes from the speech, they will summarize what they learned by completing the following prompt: Write your Own Inaugural Address- Imagine that you were elected president. A severe recession in 1982 pushed the nation's unemployment rate to nearly 11 percent, the highest it had been since the Great Depression. At the same time, he proposed large increases in military expenditures ($1.5 trillion over a five-year period) and significant cuts in discretionary spending on social-welfare programs such as education, food stamps, low-income housing, school lunches for poor children, Medicaid (the major program of health insurance for the poor), and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Begin class by having students answer the following questions about inaugural addresses. Putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work. . What points did the president make in the body of the speech? Currier & Ives 1876 lithograph of the first inauguration of George Washington. Secret Service Code Names of 11 U.S. Presidents, 11 Memorable Quotes from U.S. Presidential Debates, U.S. Presidents and Their Years in Office Quiz, 43 Questions About Politics (Mostly in the United States) Compiled from Britannicas Quizzes, Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization. Handout: Inaugural Address Analysis by Topic (Google Doc) We suffer from the longest and one of the worst sustained inflations in our national history. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no . All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. Handout: Inaugural Address General Note-Taking Chart (Google Doc). Ronald Reagan's Berlin Wall Speech - 12 June 1987 . *Active military/veterans need to purchase tickets at the Front Desk to receive discount. Your dreams, your hopes, your goals are going to be the dreams, the hopes, and the goals of this administration, so help me God. An illustration of a magnifying glass. Inaugural Address 1981 Senator Hatfield, Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. President, Vice President Bush, Vice President Mondale, Senator Baker, Speaker O'Neill, Reverend Moomaw, and my fellow citizens: To a few of us here today this is a solemn and most momentous occasion, and yet in the history of our nation it is a commonplace occurrence. Reagan Strategy for The Cold War and The Evil Empire Address The first inaugural addresses of Reagan and Obama Ronald Reagan: Biography, Facts & Movies - History First Inaugural Address. Reagan consistently received very high approval ratings. The rankings are provided here: https://www.cfr.org/blog/remembering-best-and-worst-inaugural-addresses, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2013/01/18/the-10-most-famous-inaugural-addresses/, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/01/17/best-and-worst-inaugural-addresses/96664320/, https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/01/18/the-5-best-inaugural-addresses, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/best-worst-inaugural-addresses/story?id=18253082, https://www.cnn.com/2013/01/20/politics/top-5-inaug-addresses/index.html. In 1981 Congress passed most of the presidents budget proposals, though the tax cut was scaled back slightly, to 25 percent. His concluding sentence is often quoted, although not always in its entirety: With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan-- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. One of the bullets entered Reagans chest, puncturing a lung and lodging one inch from his heart; another critically wounded Press Secretary James Brady. Once they have completed the chart, they should use the rubric to assign scores for each category. Then apply your knowledge of American history in order to answer the questions that follow. Lastly, they tend to be shorter, under 2,000 words.12 The abbreviated length may indicate the speech contains a singular theme or focus.13. By Appointment Only, Admissions & Discounts for March 24-Aug. 13, 2023. When he entered office in 1980, Reagan believed that the United States had grown weak militarily and had lost the respect it once commanded in world affairs. Earn a master's degree without leaving home! The 1970s were a tough decade for the United States. Handout: Comparing Historical Inaugural Addresses (Google Doc). What topics or issues are not discussed in his speech? Was it concise? Remarks by National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleezza Rice on the War on Reagan elevated William Rehnquist to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and appointed three justices to the bench: Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia, and the first woman named to the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor. Reagan served as arguably the first true conservative U.S. president in over 50 years. Our reluctance for conflict should not be misjudged as a failure of will. These combined efforts were named "The Reagan Doctrine." Previously, the East Portico of the Capitol had been used. Describe the overall message of the inaugural address. President Reagan gives his farewell address - History Reagan lived to see the dismantling of the Soviet Union's communist empire and it's retreat from surrounding neighboring countries which ultimately resulted in the toppling of the Berlin Wall in the fall of 1989. Analysis of Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address Reagen's Address RONALD REAGAN was elected leader in 1980, beating the incumbent JIMMY CARTER. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country. Photograph of Lincoln delivering his second inaugural address in 1865. President Kennedy 1961 Inaugural Address. Reagan Sworn In; Inaugural Parade Canceled by Cold : Health Threat to Students will choose (or be assigned) one of the inaugural addresses from the list. Lectures in History President Reagan's First Inaugural Address CSPAN January 7, 2023 11:00am-11:55am EST University of Kansas rhetoric and political communication professor Robert Rowland taught a class on President Ronald Reagan's first inaugural address. In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. Please note! But unlike most Presidents who face great crises, Ronald Reagan, in some sense, chose his moment. Use the handout linked below to have students view one of the inaugural addresses and complete the activity. Steps will be taken aimed at restoring the balance between the various levels of government. (Farewell Address to the Nation, delivered in the Oval Office on January 11, 1989) Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music. On the eve of our struggle for independence a man who might have been one of the greatest among the Founding Fathers, Dr. Joseph Warren, president of the Massachusetts Congress, said to his fellow Americans, "Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of . How does the president use individual the issues and topics above to give this message? Senator Hatfield, Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. President, Vice President Bush, Vice President Mondale, Senator Baker, Speaker O'Neill, Reverend Moomaw, and my fellow citizens: To a few of us here today this is a solemn and most momentous occasion, and yet in the history of our nation it is a commonplace occurrence. From time to time, we have been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. It is time for us to realize that we're too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. Inaugural Address - Friday, January 20, 1961 Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) First Inaugural Address - Tuesday, January 20, 1953 Second Inaugural Address - Monday, January 21, 1957 Harry S. Truman (1949-1953) Swearing-In following the Death of President Roosevelt - Thursday, April 12, 1945 Inaugural Address - Thursday, January 20, 1949 And let there be no misunderstanding: We are going to begin to act, beginning today. Instead, the text of inaugural speeches provides an initial blueprint of governance for the electorate. Rather, the key is to explain why they decided it was in their interest to do so and whether Reagan's words and deeds played any role in that decision. Additionally, inaugural addresses serve as a guidepost for historians, both contemporary and forthcoming, who will subsequently evaluate and contextualize a presidents decisions and leadership. Simi Valley, CA 93065, Research Room Hours The Declaration of Independence flames with his eloquence. N.p., n.d. Off to one side, the stately memorial to Thomas Jefferson. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. ", In his first inaugural, Roosevelt confronted the paralyzing force of the economic depression engulfing the country by diminishing its power: So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. He then used a biblical reference (money changers) to describe those financiers responsible for money shortages. The address was broadcast live on radio and television. Abstract. They will view the speech and analyze the speech from an historical perspective. Ronald Reagan: Election and domestic policies - Khan Academy Have Any U.S. Presidents Decided Not to Run For a Second Term? Our forbearance should never be misunderstood. ", 40 Presidential DriveSimi Valley, CA 93065. And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. His speech points out that the government was part of the problem in that present economic distress, not just the nation alone. He won reelection in 1984 by one of the largest margins in US history. OPTIONS FOR ANALYZING HISTORICAL PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL ADDRESSES: Inaugural Address General Note-Taking Chart (Google Doc), Inaugural Address Guiding Questions (Google Doc), Presidential Inaugural Address Rubric (Google Doc), Inaugural Address Analysis by Topic (Google Doc). He stated: Those who say that we are in a time when there are no heroes just don't know where to look.. He delivered a more detailed speech at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on May 22, 1964. Our Constitution is so simple and practical that it is possible always to meet extraordinary needs by changes in emphasis and arrangement without loss of essential form., This short, 14-minute speech contains perhaps the most famous sentence in the history of inaugural addresses: And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. Kennedys famous call for public service was one of the few lines in his speech focused on domestic policy. Chief Justice Warren Burger administered the oath of office, which took place, for the first time ever, at the West Front of the Capitol. All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.". President Ronald Reagan - First Inaugural Address - YouTube From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. There, on the western front, he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy artillery fire. Free video-based materials for social studies teachers, 2023 National Cable Satellite Corporation, President George W. Bush 2005 Inaugural Address, President George W. Bush 2001 Inaugural Address, President George H. W. Bush 1989 Inaugural Address, Inaugural Address General Note-Taking Chart, Handout: Inaugural Address Guiding Questions, Bell Ringer: Franklin Roosevelts 1933 Inauguration, Bell Ringer: The Inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt, Bell Ringer: Inauguration History: The Role of the First Lady. . Inaugural Address | The Ronald Reagan Presidential - Reagan Foundation Analysis Of Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address Well, this administration's objective will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunities for all Americans with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination. Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), a former actor and California governor, served as the 40th president from 1981 to 1989. At the end of this open mall are those shrines to the giants on whose shoulders we stand. Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States on November 4, 1980. We hear much of special interest groups. Ronald Reagan Library. This overall approach became known as "Reaganomics," or as Republican primary candidate Vice President George H.W. While many labor leaders disliked Reagan, especially after he fired the air traffic controllers when they refused to end their strike (1981), he was popular with labor union members. This essay has been submitted by a student. Witness President Ronald Reagan delivering his first inaugural address, January 20, 1981. Third, they underscore the collective nature of ideas rather than focusing on the president in first person as the sole originator of those conceptions (we rather than I). Ronald Reagan Inauguration Speech - Analyzing Speeches - Weebly Ronald Reagan: Outdoor band concert was held on the West Front lawn on the day before the inaugural. As Reagan left office, the nation was experiencing its sixth consecutive year of economic prosperity. All must share in the productive work of this ''new beginning,'' and all must share in the bounty of a revived economy. What is the primary message of this address? The second inauguration of Ronald Reagan as president of the United States was held in a televised ceremony [1] on January 20, 1985, at the White House, [2] and was repeated the following day, January 21, 1985, at the Capitol's rotunda. Rhetorical Analysis Of Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Address In 1997, the Bill Clinton gave the first inaugural address broadcast live through the internet. He echoed throughout the streets of this democracy what true revolutionary ideas were. President Reagan's Favorite Treat - Jelly Beans, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Scholars Program, Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration Events, President Reagan's Birthday Celebration 2012, Faith Public Policy Forum with Pepperdine University Featuring Natan Sharansky, Ronald Reagan Centennial Postage Stamp Issued, Ronald Reagan's Centennial Birthday Celebration, A Concert for America A Tribute to Ronald Reagan, The Leadership of President Ronald Reagan: Lessons and Legacy Tom Brokaw, Ronald Reagan Centennial U.S. Postage Stamp Unveiling, Essay Series on Presidential Principles and Beliefs, A Time For Choosing with Governor Glenn Youngkin, ESSAY SERIES ON PRESIDENTIAL PRINCIPLES AND BELIEFS.