Title: The Reagan Evolution of the Presidency -- Discusses how the presidency evolved under Reagan, and compares his presidency with that of Ike Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson.

Essay by Banquo7High School, 12th gradeA+, January 2004

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The Presidency of the United States of America is a dynamic position; many Americans may make the mistake of believing the job is a static one, holding dearly to tradition and custom. The responsibilities intrinsic in the title are never carried out the same way twice, making each president as a snowflake: unique in each his subtle - or not so subtle - ways. In this dynamic position, each holder contributes to the evolving job description as the changing times necessitate; however, once in a while, a president comes along who revolutionizes the presidency - Ronald Reagan was such a man. It is thus essential to compare Reagan's presidency to that of others past to truly understand the nature of the shift from national liberality to conservatism.

The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 signified the departure of the American people from the generalized liberal frame of mind so prevalent in the post-World War II years.

Revolutionizing not only American politics but also the Presidency itself, the nation sought conservative methods to rid itself of the economic woes of the 70's, and Reagan helped forge a lasting conservative "coalition," signaling the defeat of the New Deal-ers. Domestically, Reagan was the picture of conservatism, attempting to deliver on his campaign promise to balance the faltering budget with "Reaganomics:" cutting anything and everything from the government he saw as extraneous; among those weakened were Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and school meal plans. Furthermore, Reagan attempted raise the GNP by lowering industry regulations on health, safety, and environmental protection. In foreign policy, however, it was said he "did not have a firm grasp of world issues, history, or geography" (People & A Nation 910). He did not help to disprove this statement in his dealings with other countries; $6 billion in aid to...