American Experience (1988–…): Season 10, Episode 11 - Reagan: Part I - full transcript

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME
TO THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

I'M DAVID McCULLOUGH.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT PART ONE

OF OUR SPECIAL TWO-PART
BROADCAST, "REAGAN."

RONALD REAGAN, THE 40th
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

HELD OFFICE FROM JANUARY 1981
TO JANUARY 1989...

FOR EIGHT HIGHLY EVENTFUL,
CRUCIAL YEARS

A TIME OF HIGH PROSPERITY
AND PAINFUL RECESSION

OF MUCH STAR-SPANGLED OPTIMISM

AND THE TERRIBLE,
OVERHANGING FEAR

THAT THE WORLD MIGHT
BE BLOWN TO PIECES.



IT WAS THEN, TOO, THAT
THE COLD WAR ALL BUT ENDED...

A TURNING POINT IN HISTORY

THE IMPORTANCE OF WHICH
CAN HARDLY BE OVERSTATED.

WHAT DISTINGUISHES OUR FILM

IS THE PRESENCE OF SO MANY OF
THE PROTAGONISTS IN THE DRAMA

INCLUDING MIKHAIL GORBACHEV

AS WELL AS MEMBERS
OF THE PRESIDENT'S OWN FAMILY...

NANCY, MAUREEN, RON AND PATTI.

INDEED, THIS IS
THE FIRST FILM BIOGRAPHY

IN WHICH HIS FAMILY
HAS AGREED TO APPEAR.

RONALD REAGAN WAS SO OFTEN
UNDERESTIMATED.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, EVER

THAT A MOVIE STAR COULD TWICE BE
ELECTED GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA

LET ALONE TWICE
ELECTED PRESIDENT?



ANOTHER THEME IN OUR FILM

IS THE EXTENT OF HIS
RELIGIOUS CONVICTION

BEGINNING WITH HIS BOYHOOD.

NEVER IN THE HISTORY
OF THE COUNTRY

HAD THERE BEEN A PRESIDENT
WITH HIS BACKGROUND.

THERE HAD BEEN LAWYERS APLENTY
IN THE JOB

FARMERS, TEACHERS, SOLDIERS

BUT NEVER AN ACTOR, WHICH LEFT
A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDERING.

ASKED ONCE NEAR THE END
OF HIS SECOND TERM

IF HE HAD LEARNED
ANYTHING AS AN ACTOR

THAT WAS OF USE TO HIM
IN THE PRESIDENCY

HE REPLIED, "THERE HAVE
BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE WONDERED

HOW YOU COULD DO THE JOB
IF YOU HADN'T BEEN AN ACTOR."

"REAGAN," PART ONE.

YOU KNOW,
I RECEIVED AN INVITATION

THAT SAID, "PLEASE COME
TO ELLIS ISLAND JULY 4

"FOR THE HUNDREDTH
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

OF AN AMERICAN INSTITUTION."

SOMEBODY GOOFED.

MY BIRTHDAY
ISN'T UNTIL FEBRUARY.

Narrator:
ON JULY 4, 1986

AS HE LIT A REFURBISHED
STATUE OF LIBERTY

RONALD REAGAN WAS AT
THE HEIGHT OF HIS PRESTIGE.

MANY WONDERED WHICH AMERICAN
ICON WAS BEING CELEBRATED.

Reagan:
TONIGHT WE PLEDGE OURSELVES
TO EACH OTHER

AND TO THE CAUSE
OF HUMAN FREEDOM

A CAUSE THAT HAS GIVEN LIGHT TO
THIS LAND AND HOPE TO THE WORLD.

Chorus:
♪ O BEAUTIFUL
FOR SPACIOUS SKIES... ♪

Narrator:
RONALD REAGAN SAW AMERICA
AS A SPECIAL PLACE

A SHINING CITY ON A HILL,
SET BY GOD BETWEEN TWO OCEANS

AS A BEACON OF FREEDOM
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

REAGAN IS BRILLIANT

AT CREATING A KIND OF
RAPPORT WITH THE COUNTRY

APPEALING TO ITS BETTER ANGELS

APPEALING TO THE NATIVE OPTIMISM

WHICH IS SO MUCH A PART OF
OUR CULTURE AND OUR TRADITION.

♪ GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE ♪

♪ AND CROWN THY GOOD
WITH BROTHERHOOD... ♪

Man:
WHEN HE WAS ASKED,
ON THE EVE OF HIS ELECTION

"WHAT IS IT, GOVERNOR,
THAT PEOPLE SEE IN YOU?"

AND REAGAN RESPONDS,
"WOULD YOU LAUGH IF I TOLD YOU

THAT THEY LOOK AT ME
AND THEY SEE THEMSELVES?"

Woman:
AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND

WHY PEOPLE HAD
THIS ADULATION FOR HIM.

I THOUGHT HE COULD
POSSIBLY PRESS THE BUTTON.

YEAH.

I WAS TERRIFIED.

Man:
IF YOU SEEK HIS MONUMENT, LOOK
AROUND AT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE.

YOU DON'T SEE THE BERLIN WALL.

YOU DON'T SEE THE IRON CURTAIN
FROM STETTIN TO TRIESTE.

Narrator:
HE WAS AMERICA'S MOST
IDEOLOGICAL PRESIDENT

IN HIS RHETORIC

YET PRAGMATIC IN HIS ACTIONS.

HE BELIEVED IN BALANCED BUDGETS,
BUT NEVER SUBMITTED ONE.

HE HATED NUCLEAR WEAPONS,
BUT BUILT THEM BY THE THOUSANDS.

HE WOULD WRITE CHECKS
TO A POOR PERSON

AS HE CUT THE BENEFITS OF MANY.

HE UNITED THE COUNTRY
WITH RENEWED PATRIOTISM

BUT HIS VISION OF AMERICA
ALIENATED MILLIONS.

HE PREACHED FAMILY VALUES

BUT PRESIDED OVER
A DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY.

YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO FIGURE HIM OUT.

I DON'T THINK HE'S
FIGURED HIMSELF OUT.

I HAVEN'T FIGURED HIM OUT.

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY
WHO HAS FIGURED HIM OUT.

THERE IS THIS MYSTERY ABOUT
REAGAN THAT PERVADES EVERYTHING

WHICH IS, HOW MUCH WAS HE
AWARE OF WHAT HE WAS DOING?

Narrator:
INATTENTIVE TO DETAIL
AND OFTEN DISENGAGED

REAGAN LED A REVOLUTION
BASED ON A FEW SIMPLE IDEALS...

TO FREE AMERICANS
FROM BIG GOVERNMENT

AND THE WORLD FROM
COMMUNIST OPPRESSION.

Man:
BEFORE REAGAN

EVERY WESTERN LEADER HAD

THE SAME STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
REGARDING THE SOVIET UNION

WHICH IS TO NOT LOSE.

REAGAN CAME IN AND HE SAID

"I DON'T WANT TO PLAY TO NOT
LOSE; I WANT TO PLAY TO WIN."

Man:
HE'S TOUGH.

HE BRACES TO TALK TO YOU.

IT'S CONFRONTATIONAL.

NOT UNPLEASANT,
BUT CONFRONTATIONAL.

Man:
I OFTEN THINK OF HIM AS
A NICE, SOFT, SILKY PILLOW

AND YOU COULD TOUCH IT
AND FEEL IT, IT WAS VERY NICE.

BUT IF YOU DECIDED,
WELL, LET'S TAKE A HARD PUNCH

AND YOU HIT IT HARD

YOU WOULD FIND IN THE MIDDLE
A SOLID-STEEL TEMPERED BAR.

THAT WAS THE REAL RONALD REAGAN.

THAT WAS THE ESSENCE OF REAGAN.

Narrator:
AS PRESIDENT,
RONALD REAGAN EVOKED

A SIMPLER PLACE
AND A SIMPLER TIME.

Crowd:
REAGAN, REAGAN, REAGAN, REAGAN!

Narrator:
SMALL TOWNS, PATRIOTIC VALUES,
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

AN IDEALIZED AMERICA

THAT NO LONGER WAS...
THAT PERHAPS NEVER WAS...

EVEN FOR RONALD REAGAN.

HE WAS BORN IN 1911

ON THE MAIN AND ONLY STREET
OF TAMPICO, ILLINOIS

IN CIRCUMSTANCES SO POOR

THAT YEARS LATER,
WHILE VISITING HIS BIRTHPLACE

"HE VISIBLY RECOILED."

HIS FATHER, JACK

WAS A SHOE SALESMAN
WITH A TASTE FOR WHISKEY

WHO SPENT HIS LIFE
IN SEARCH OF HIS BIG BREAK.

FROM AGE FOUR, DUTCH...
AS HIS PARENTS CALLED HIM...

LIVED THE LIFE OF A GYPSY.

EVERY YEAR A NEW TOWN...

NEW NEIGHBORS...

FRIENDS LEFT BEHIND.

DUTCH HAD NOWHERE TO GO,
EXCEPT WITHIN.

Man:
ALWAYS IN CHILDHOOD,
YOU WILL SEE THIS DISTANCE.

IN A GROUP
OF SMALL-TOWN SCHOOLCHILDREN

LITTLE RONNIE WILL
ALWAYS BE SITTING

WITH HIS FACE ON HIS LEFT HAND...

A REMOTE LITTLE BOY

WHO SOMEHOW HELD HIMSELF
ALOOF FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.

HE CARRIED THIS... DISTANCE,
THIS REMOTENESS, THIS ALOOFNESS

RIGHT THROUGH.

ON THE ONE HAND

HE'S ONE OF THE WARMEST,
MOST AMIABLE, GENTLEMANLY

KINDEST PEOPLE
YOU'D EVER WANT TO MEET.

AND YET HE HAS
ALMOST NO CLOSE FRIENDS.

I MEAN, REALLY, IN FACT,
NO CLOSE FRIENDS.

Narrator:
REAGAN WOULD RARELY SPEAK
OF THE PAIN OF HIS CHILDHOOD.

HE WOULD RECALL IT

AS "ONE OF THOSE RARE
HUCK FINN-TOM SAWYER IDYLLS.

"THERE WERE WOODS AND MYSTERIES

"LIFE AND DEATH AMONG THE SMALL
CREATURES, HUNTING AND FISHING;

"THOSE WERE THE DAYS

WHEN I LEARNED
THE REAL RICHES OF RAGS."

Man:
I THINK IT'S THAT KIND

OF WILLFUL OPTIMISM
IN THE FACE OF REALITY

AS EXPERIENCED
AND DEFINED BY OTHERS

THAT TELLS YOU A LOT
ABOUT RONALD REAGAN

AND PERHAPS EVEN IS ONE CLUE
TO UNDERSTANDING HIS PRESIDENCY.

Narrator:
DUTCH WAS NINE YEARS OLD

WHEN THE FAMILY FINALLY
SETTLED IN DIXON, ILLINOIS.

A TOWN OF 8,000

DIXON WAS THE ESSENCE
OF "MAIN STREET" AMERICA.

REAGAN WOULD REMEMBER IT
AS "A SMALL UNIVERSE

"WHERE I LEARNED STANDARDS
AND VALUES THAT WOULD GUIDE ME

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE."

Dallek:
IT WAS THE ERA
OF CALVIN COOLIDGE'S PRESIDENCY.

VALUES THAT COOLIDGE ESPOUSED

WERE SMALL-TOWN, CHURCHGOING...
RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM

THE OLD 19th-CENTURY VALUES
OF AMERICA.

IT'S A TIME WHEN AMERICANS
ARE PARTICULARLY DRAWN

TO THIS SMALL-TOWN WORLD,
BECAUSE IT'S BEGINNING TO PASS.

IT'S BEGINNING TO BE ECLIPSED
BY THE RISE OF AMERICAN CITIES.

Narrator:
THE 1920s WERE A TIME OF CHANGE
AND OPPORTUNITY

EVEN FOR THE UNPREDICTABLE JACK.

HE OPENED HIS OWN SHOE STORE,
THE FASHION BOOT SHOP

WHICH BECAME A POPULAR SPOT
IN DOWNTOWN DIXON.

Morris:
HIS FATHER LOVED
TO TELL STORIES

STAND OUTSIDE HIS STORE

AND SCHMOOZE WITH
WHOEVER WALKED PAST.

IN FACT, REAGAN SAID

THAT HIS FATHER WAS THE BEST
STORYTELLER HE EVER KNEW.

Narrator:
JACK HAD A WEAKNESS
DUTCH HAD LONG KNOWN ABOUT

BUT NEVER CONFRONTED.

"I WAS 11 YEARS OLD
THE FIRST TIME I CAME HOME

"TO FIND MY FATHER FLAT ON
HIS BACK ON THE FRONT PORCH.

"HE WAS DRUNK,
DEAD TO THE WORLD

"HIS HAIR SOAKED
WITH MELTING SNOW.

"I BENT OVER HIM, SMELLING
THE SHARP ODOR OF WHISKEY.

I MANAGED TO DRAG HIM INSIDE
AND GET HIM TO BED."

Dallek:
ONE OF THE THREADS I SEE RUNNING
THROUGH RONALD REAGAN'S CAREER

IS A GREAT ATTRACTION
TO AUTONOMY, TO INDEPENDENCE

TO FREEDOM.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THIS WAS
A REACTION AGAINST THE FACT

THAT HIS FATHER HAD THIS
DEPENDENCY ON A SUBSTANCE

AND THAT HE COULDN'T
CONTROL HIMSELF.

HE WOULD NEVER SAY ANYTHING
NEGATIVE ABOUT HIS FATHER

BUT THE MORAL DISDAIN
BEHIND WHAT HE WOULD SAY

WAS QUITE PALPABLE.

HE THOUGHT OF HIS FATHER,
IN OTHER WORDS

AS A MAN WITH A WEAKNESS

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN
STRONG ENOUGH TO CONQUER IT.

Narrator:
REAGAN'S MOTHER, NELLE,
A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN

BECAME HIS MORAL COMPASS.

WITH HER GUIDANCE, HE BEGAN
TO TAKE CHARGE OF HIS LIFE.

Morris:
HE HAPPENED TO READ A NOVEL

WHICH HIS MOTHER HAD PICKED UP
SOMEWHERE

CALLED THAT PRINTER OF UDELL'S.

IT'S THE STORY OF A YOUNG MAN

BORN IN A RATHER UGLY
INDUSTRIAL MIDWESTERN TOWN

WHO DISCOVERS... THROUGH
A SERIES OF BITTER EXPERIENCES

WITH AN ALCOHOLIC FATHER...

WHO DISCOVERS THAT HE HAS GOT
THE GIFT OF ORATORY

AND THROUGH HIS GOOD LOOKS
AND HIS VOICE

AND HIS CONVICTIONS

HE MANAGES TO CREATE A WHOLE
SOCIAL MOVEMENT IN THIS TOWN.

THE YOUNG MAN, DICK FALKNER,
GOES OFF TO WASHINGTON

TO TAKE HIS MESSAGE
TO THE WORLD.

HE WENT TO HIS MOTHER
WHEN HE FINISHED THAT BOOK

AND HE SAID,
"I WANT TO BE LIKE THAT MAN

AND I WANT TO BE BAPTIZED."

Narrator:
REAGAN EMBRACED
HIS MOTHER'S FAITH

BASED ON GOOD WORKS, THE BIBLE

AND THE BELIEF THAT THE HAND
OF GOD GUIDES DAILY LIFE.

Smith:
I THINK IT'S EASY TO
UNDERESTIMATE THE PLACE

THAT FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANITY
PLAYS IN REAGAN'S LIFE.

IT'S A CYNICAL AGE

AND WHEN WE HEARD

THAT THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T GO
TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY

WE WROTE HIM OFF
AS A PHONY EVANGELICAL.

IN FACT, FROM HIS MOTHER

HE IMBIBED DEEPLY
OF FUNDAMENTALIST FAITH.

SHE GAVE HIM THIS SORT OF SENSE
OF DESTINY

WHICH WAS A HUGE PART OF IT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE
GOING TO BE THE GREAT MAN

YOU DON'T HAVE TO FRET
AND WORRY ABOUT IT

BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY
WILL COME AND SEIZE YOU.

Narrator:
NELLE'S CHURCH,
THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

BECAME THE CENTER
OF REAGAN'S LIFE.

HE LED PRAYER MEETINGS,
TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL

EVEN DATED THE MINISTER'S
DAUGHTER, MARGARET CLEAVER.

REAGAN DETERMINED
TO LIVE THE STORYBOOK LIFE

OF AN AMERICAN YOUTH.

HE PLAYED FOOTBALL,
EXCELLED IN SWIMMING

AND OFTEN HAD THE LEAD
IN SCHOOL DRAMAS.

HE WOULD LATER REMEMBER
THOSE DAYS

AS THE HAPPIEST IN HIS LIFE.

BUT LIFE WAS SWEETEST
TWO MILES UPSTREAM FROM DIXON

ON THE ROCK RIVER

WHERE DUTCH REAGAN
WAS THE LIFEGUARD.

Morris:
"THE ROCK RIVER FLOWS FOR YOU
TONIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT."

IT WAS SOMETHING
A RADIO ANNOUNCER SAID TO HIM

AFTER HE WAS ELECTED.

CAME OVER THE AIRWAVES.

I'VE NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT.

"THE ROCK RIVER FLOWS FOR YOU
TONIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT."

I THINK THE ROCK RIVER WAS
THE CENTRAL SYMBOL OF HIS YOUTH.

Narrator:
RONALD REAGAN IS REMEMBERED
AS ACTOR, GOVERNOR, PRESIDENT

BUT IT WAS ON THE ROCK RIVER
THAT HE FIRST DISCOVERED

THE ROLE HE CAME TO LOVE BEST.

Woman:
I CAN REMEMBER HIM YET,
VERY BRONZED

WITH HIS LIFEGUARD SIGN
ON HIS SWIMSUIT

AND A WHISTLE AROUND HIS NECK

WHERE HE WATCHED
ALL THE YOUNGER KIDS

SO THEY WOULDN'T GET
INTO TROUBLE.

WE JUST ALL REMEMBER HIM
AS LIFEGUARD.

THAT'S THE WAY SO MANY OF US DO.

Narrator:
EVERY DAY, DUTCH ARRIVED
AT LOWELL PARK AT DAWN

FETCHED HUNDRED-POUND
BLOCKS OF ICE

STOCKED THE SNACK BAR

AND FOR THE NEXT TEN HOURS

WATCHED SWIMMERS NEGOTIATE
THE CURRENTS OF THE ROCK RIVER.

DURING SIX SUMMERS
AS A LIFEGUARD

HE PULLED 77 PEOPLE
FROM THE WATER.

Man:
HE ALWAYS WENT UP
AND CUT A NOTCH IN THE LOG

AFTER HE PULLED THEM OUT.

AND THEY WEREN'T PROBABLY
ALL GOING TO DIE, YOU KNOW.

THEY ALL WEREN'T GOING TO DROWN

BUT THEY WERE
IN SERIOUS SHAPE OUT THERE.

THEY NEEDED HELP
TO GET OUT OF THE WATER

BECAUSE OF THE RIVER CURRENT.

AND 77 IS HIS COUNT

AND THERE WAS 77 NOTCHES
IN THE LOG OUT THERE.

Morris:
THE POIGNANT THING
ABOUT THE ROCK RIVER IS

THAT IN HIS DOTAGE,
AFTER HE LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE

WHEN HE BEGAN TO LOSE HIS MIND

THE ONE THING HE WOULD
STILL WANT TO TALK ABOUT

WAS HIS DAYS AS A LIFEGUARD
ON THE ROCK RIVER.

HE HAD A PICTURE IN HIS OFFICE

OF THE SPOT WHERE
HE USED TO STAND AS A BOY

AND HE WOULD SAY...

"YOU SEE, THAT'S WHERE
I USED TO BE A LIFEGUARD.

I SAVED 77 LIVES THERE."

HIS SUBSEQUENT CAREER...

HIS SUBSEQUENT POLITICAL CAREER,
AT ANY RATE...

WAS DEVOTED
TO THE GENERAL THEME OF RESCUE.

Narrator:
IN 1928, AT A TIME WHEN
FEW AMERICANS WENT TO COLLEGE

REAGAN ATTENDED EUREKA COLLEGE,
RUN BY THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

HE MAJORED IN SOCIOLOGY
AND ECONOMICS.

"I GOT POOR MARKS,"
REAGAN LATER ADMITTED

"BUT I COPPED OFF THE LEAD
IN MOST PLAYS.

AND IN FOOTBALL,
I WON THREE VARSITY SWEATERS."

REAGAN GRADUATED
FROM EUREKA IN 1932.

IT WAS THE DEPTHS
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

BUT IT TOOK REAGAN
ONLY SIX WEEKS TO FIND A JOB

AT WOC RADIO.

LATER HE MOVED TO DES MOINES
TO WORK AS A SPORTSCASTER.

LIFE WAS EASY FOR RONALD REAGAN.

HE HAD MONEY, INDEPENDENCE

AND THE TIME TO LEARN TO RIDE.

FOR THE NEXT FOUR SUMMERS

USING ONLY STATISTICS
COMING THROUGH TELEGRAPH

REAGAN TRANSPORTED HIS LISTENERS

TO THE BLEACHERS
OF WRIGLEY FIELD

WITH HIS VIVID RECREATIONS
OF BASEBALL GAMES HE NEVER SAW.

Cannon:
IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE REAGAN IS
REALLY A MASTER COMMUNICATOR

IT REALLY IS ON RADIO.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT REAGAN'S
CAREER AS AN ACTOR

AND AS A PRESIDENT
AND AS A SPEAKER, JUST GENERALLY

HE WAS A POWERFUL RE-CREATOR.

HE RE-CREATED OUR EXPERIENCES.

I REMEMBER HUGH SIDEY
TELLING ME

THAT WHEN HE WAS A CHILD IN IOWA

IN THE '30s,
IN THE DUST BOWL YEARS

HE USED TO HEAR RONALD REAGAN'S
VOICE COMING OVER THE AIRWAVES.

AND HE SAID... JUST DOING
BASEBALL COMMENTARY

BUT HE SAID, "THERE WAS
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT VOICE

"THAT GAVE ME, AS A CHILD

THE FEELING THAT LIFE WAS GOING
TO GET BETTER."

Narrator:
REAGAN HAD LONG DREAMED
OF BECOMING AN ACTOR

AND IN 1937,
HE WENT TO HOLLYWOOD.

HE RECALLED THE MOMENT
HE STEPPED ONTO THE SET

OF HIS FIRST FILM,
LOVE IS ON THE AIR.

"I WAS SURROUNDED
BY A WALL OF LIGHT

"WHICH GAVE ME A FEELING
OF PRIVACY

"THAT COMPLETELY DISPELLED

ANY NERVOUSNESS
I MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED."

REAGAN HAS ALWAYS LIKED
TO BE LOOKED AFTER.

HE LIKES TO HAVE A JACK WARNER
IN CHARGE OF THE FINANCES.

HE LIKES TO HAVE A WARDROBE
MISTRESS AND A SUPPORTING CAST.

HE LIKES TO BE SURROUNDED
BY THE BUSYNESS OF A GREAT...

COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE.

AND THAT'S WHERE, I THINK

RONALD REAGAN BECAME
A CORPORATE PERSON.

Narrator:
RONALD REAGAN WOULD MAKE
MORE THAN 50 FILMS.

ONLY IN ONE
DID HE PLAY THE VILLAIN.

Dallek:
REAGAN LOVED THE HERO'S ROLE

BECAUSE HE FANTASIZED HIMSELF
AS A HEROIC FIGURE.

THE FIRST TIME
HIS MOTHER SEES HIM

IN THE FIRST FILM HE PLAYS IN

SHE LOOKS AT THE SCREEN,
AND SHE SAYS, "THAT'S MY DUTCH."

AND WHAT SHE'S SPEAKING TO IS

THE IDEA THAT HE'S HIMSELF
ON THE SCREEN

THAT HE'S, IN A SENSE

PLAYING OUT THE FANTASY
THAT HE HAS

THAT HE'S VERY COMFORTABLE WITH.

Narrator:
REAGAN WAS BECOMING
A BOX OFFICE DRAW.

GUARANTEED WORK AND STEADY PAY

HE BROUGHT NELLE
AND JACK TO CALIFORNIA

AND BOUGHT THEM THE ONLY HOME
THEY EVER OWNED.

IN 1940, HE MARRIED A PROMISING
YOUNG ACTRESS, JANE WYMAN.

RON AND JANE BECAME THE DARLINGS

OF THE WARNER BROS.
PUBLICITY MACHINE

A VALUABLE ASSET FOR AN INDUSTRY
PREOCCUPIED WITH ITS IMAGE.

Cannon:
THEY WERE ALWAYS WORRIED,
THE PEOPLE WHO RAN THE STUDIOS

THAT SOME WHIFF OF SCANDAL
INVOLVING THEIR BRIGHT STARS

WOULD CAUSE PEOPLE

TO STOP TURNING UP EN MASSE
AT THE BOX OFFICE

OR THAT THE LEGION OF DECENCY

WOULD TURN ON THEM
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

REAGAN AND WYMAN WERE...
WERE REAL, YOU KNOW.

THEY WERE IN LOVE,
THEY WERE WHOLESOME.

PEOPLE LIKED TO LOOK AT THEM.

IF YOU WANTED TO CELEBRATE
THE MARRIAGE, REAGAN WAS WILLING

SO THEY DID.

Narrator:
WITH THEIR DAUGHTER MAUREEN

AND THEIR ADOPTED SON MICHAEL

THE REAGANS WERE PROMOTED
AS THE PERFECT HOLLYWOOD FAMILY.

Man:
RONALD REAGAN CAME UP
FROM MIDDLE AMERICA.

HE CAME UP IN THE MOVIES
IN A TIME

WHERE MOST OF THE MOVIES
WERE DESIGNED

TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD
WHEN THEY LEFT

RATHER THAN TO FEEL SAD.

HE REFLECTED THESE KINDS
OF QUALITIES.

Narrator:
REAGAN WAS CAST AS
FOOTBALL LEGEND GEORGE GIPP

IN KNUTE ROCKNE, ALL AMERICAN.

IT WAS HIS FIRST MAJOR FILM

THE ONE THAT EARNED HIM
THE NICKNAME "THE GIPPER."

TRY IT ANYWAY.

ALL RIGHT, IF YOU INSIST.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

GIPP.

GEORGE GIPP.

WHAT'S YOURS?

IS HE KIDDING ME?

HELLO, HANDSOME.

OH, HI, JEB.

MY, YOU'RE
A DREAM TONIGHT.

HOW'S THE PARTY?

I DON'T KNOW,
SHE HASN'T COME OUT YET.

WHO ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

OH, A FRIEND OF MINE.

PROMISED ME
A SURPRISE TONIGHT.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
THE REST OF MY LIFE.

Narrator:
IN 1940, HE PLAYED OPPOSITE
SCREEN GIANT ERROL FLYNN

IN SANTA FE TRAIL.

BUT THE HEIGHT
OF HIS ACTING CAREER

WAS AS DRAKE McHUGH
IN KING'S ROW.

RANDY!

WHERE'S THE REST OF ME?!

DRAKE.

RANDY!

YES, DRAKE?

IT WAS THAT ACCIDENT.

Narrator:
BY THE TIME KING'S ROW OPENED,
AMERICA WAS AT WAR

AND SO WAS RONALD REAGAN...

BUT ONLY ON THE SCREEN.

REAGAN SPENT THE WAR MAKING
TRAINING FILMS AT CULVER CITY

LESS THAN TEN MILES FROM HOME.

HE CERTAINLY LOVED...

LEARNED AND LOVED
TO WEAR UNIFORMS

TO ACT LIKE A SOLDIER,
TO SALUTE PROPERLY.

THERE'S NOTHING HE ENJOYED MORE
AS PRESIDENT THAN SALUTING.

AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF

HE WOULD DO THAT LITTLE
EXTRA FLIP TO THE SALUTE

WHICH YOU HARDLY EVER SEE
IN THE ARMED SERVICES ANYWAY.

IT WAS A REAL HOLLYWOOD SALUTE

BUT IT MEANT
A GREAT DEAL TO HIM.

Narrator:
HOLLYWOOD EMERGED
FROM WORLD WAR II

WITH A NEW UNDERSTANDING
OF THE POWER OF MOVIES

IN SHAPING AMERICAN VIEWS.

MANY WHO HAD MOBILIZED
IN SUPPORT OF THE WAR

NOW TURNED THEIR ATTENTION
TO OTHER CAUSES.

"I BLINDLY JOINED EVERY
ORGANIZATION," REAGAN WROTE

THAT WOULD GUARANTEE
TO SAVE THE WORLD."

AS A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

HE SPOKE ON ISSUES RANGING FROM
THE DANGERS OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

TO RACIAL EQUALITY.

IF HE KNEW SOME OF HIS
ASSOCIATES WERE COMMUNISTS

HE DID NOT SEEM TO CARE.

Cannon:
HE'S INVOLVED IN THESE,
YOU KNOW, LEFTIST ORGANIZATIONS

WHERE THE COMMUNISTS CLEARLY
WERE STRUGGLING FOR CONTROL.

THE COMMUNISTS VALUED HOLLYWOOD.

REAGAN IS ONE OF THESE PEOPLE
WHO WOULD DISMISS THIS

WHO WOULD DISMISS THE COMMUNIST
CONSPIRACY, THE COMMUNIST THREAT

AND THEN WHEN HE BECAME
CONVINCED THAT IT WAS REAL

HE OVERDRAMATIZED IT
AND OVERREACTED TO IT.

Narrator:
THERE HAD LONG BEEN COMMUNISTS
IN HOLLYWOOD...

WRITERS AND DIRECTORS QUIETLY
EXERCISING THEIR INFLUENCE

IN RELATIVE FREEDOM.

BUT AS THE UNITED STATES
AND THE SOVIET UNION

SLID INTO THE COLD WAR

THEY WERE EYED
WITH GROWING SUSPICION.

REAGAN CONFRONTED
COMMUNIST ACTIVISM IN 1946

WHEN, AS A MEMBER OF
THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD BOARD

HE WAS ASKED TO MEDIATE
A DISPUTE BETWEEN RIVAL UNIONS.

ONE WAS LED BY A RUMORED
COMMUNIST, HERB SORREL.

SORREL'S UNION WENT ON STRIKE.

"THE LEADERSHIP DOES NOT WANT
A SETTLEMENT," REAGAN CONCLUDED.

"IT STANDS TO GAIN BY CONTINUED
DISORDER AND DISRUPTION."

Morris:
REAGAN LIKED ORDER,
STABILITY AND SECURITY

AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE
INVOLVED IN PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

AT THE STUDIO GATES, WHICH
HE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED...

BUSES BEING OVERTURNED,
WINDOWS SMASHED, STONES THROWN

BOTTLES BRANDISHED,
SOME BLOODSHED...

THE FACT THAT
HE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THIS

PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED IT,
ASSOCIATED IT WITH "RED"

AS HE WOULD HAVE SAID,
"RED DOMINATION OF THE UNION"

THAT'S WHAT TURNED HIM.

Narrator:
SORREL AND REAGAN
WENT HEAD-TO-HEAD.

WHEN REAGAN CROSSED THE PICKET
LINE OUTSIDE WARNER BROTHERS

SORREL CALLED FOR
A BOYCOTT OF HIS MOVIES.

REAGAN WAS CALLED A FASCIST.

AN ANONYMOUS PHONE CALLER
THREATENED TO DISFIGURE HIS FACE

SO HE COULD NEVER ACT AGAIN.

HE BEGAN CARRYING A GUN.

"NOW I KNEW
FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE

"HOW COMMUNISTS USED
LIES, DECEIT AND VIOLENCE

TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE
OF SOVIET EXPANSIONISM"

REAGAN LATER RECALLED.

Dallek:
HE'S THE HEROIC FIGURE
BATTLING AGAINST COMMUNISM.

IT'S NOT SIMPLY THAT HE'S
FIGHTING AGAINST COMMUNISM

BUT THAT HE'S RESCUING
THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD.

HE'S RESCUING HOLLYWOOD.

HE'S HELPING
TO RESCUE THE COUNTRY

FROM THE COMMUNIST MENACE.

HIS EFFORT WAS TO DENY THEM

ANY REAL FOOTHOLD
IN OUR GUILD, FOR EXAMPLE.

I RECALL,
AT ONE MEMBERSHIP MEETING

AS HE ADDRESSED
THE AUDIENCE, HE SAID

"YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THAT
WE HAVE SOME COMMUNISTS HERE"

AND HE POINTED.

"THEY'RE GOING TO TRY

TO MAKE 11 OR 12 PEOPLE
SOUND LIKE HUNDREDS"

AND HE FOUGHT ALL THE WAY,
VERY HARD AND VERY DILIGENTLY

AND I THINK, SUCCESSFULLY.

Narrator:
REAGAN BECAME
AN INFORMANT FOR THE F.B.I.

AND IN 1947, AS PRESIDENT
OF THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD

HE TESTIFIED
AS A FRIENDLY WITNESS

BEFORE THE HOUSE UN-AMERICAN
ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE.

Reagan:
I WILL BE FRANK
WITH YOU

THAT AS A CITIZEN,
I WOULD HESITATE...

OR I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE
ANY POLITICAL PARTY OUTLAWED

ON THE BASIS OF
ITS POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

BECAUSE WE'VE SPENT
170 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY

ON THE BASIS THAT DEMOCRACY
IS STRONG ENOUGH TO STAND UP

AND FIGHT FOR ITSELF AGAINST
THE INROADS OF ANY IDEOLOGY

NO MATTER HOW MUCH
WE MAY DISAGREE WITH IT.

HOWEVER, IF IT IS PROVEN

THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS
THE AGENT OF A FOREIGN POWER

OR IS IN ANY WAY NOT
A LEGITIMATE POLITICAL PARTY...

AND I THINK THE GOVERNMENT
IS CAPABLE OF DOING THAT

IF THE PROOF IS THERE...
THEN THAT IS ANOTHER MATTER.

Narrator:
TEN WRITERS AND DIRECTORS
WERE SENTENCED TO PRISON...

NOT FOR BEING COMMUNISTS

BUT FOR REFUSING TO
COOPERATE WITH THE COMMITTEE.

THEY AND MANY OTHERS WERE
INCLUDED IN A BLACKLIST

AND DENIED WORK.

Cannon:
REAGAN WENT ALONG
WITH THE BLACKLIST.

NOW, I DON'T THINK THIS IS...

I DON'T THINK HE DESCENDED
THE MORAL DEPTHS, OR ANYTHING.

HE DID WHAT MOST PEOPLE DID

AND HE DID IT
SOMEWHAT MORE RELUCTANTLY

AND SOMEWHAT MORE SLOWLY
THAN MOST OF THEM.

BUT THE FACT IS, IS THAT
THE BLACKLIST IS A BLEMISH.

Narrator:
REAGAN HAD DISCOVERED
HIS FIRST POLITICAL PASSION...

ANTICOMMUNISM.

HE PAID A HIGH PRICE
FOR HIS OBSESSION.

Cannon:
REAGAN CAME HOME AND WAS TOLD

"THIS IS OVER,
THE MARRIAGE IS OVER."

AND THAT HE WAS
TOTALLY STUNNED BY IT.

IT WAS LIKE HE WAS, YOU KNOW,
HIT BY A TON OF BRICKS

AND THAT WAS... IT WAS
A VERY, VERY HARD THING FOR HIM

TO ACCEPT OR GET OVER.

Narrator:
"PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE LET
SOMEONE ELSE SAVE THE WORLD"

HE LATER WROTE,
"AND SAVED MY OWN HOME."

Morris:
REAGAN WAS IN DEEP DEPRESSION.

HE'D LOST HIS WIFE.

HE BREAKS HIS LEG
IN AN AMATEUR BASEBALL GAME

AND IS HOSPITALIZED
FOR MOST OF 1949.

AND BY THE TIME HE'D HOBBLED
OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ON CRUTCHES

HE WAS A CHANGED MAN.

AND I REMEMBER HIM SAYING
ONCE, OVER DINNER

TELLING THE STORY
OF THAT AWFUL YEAR:

"AND THEN ALONG CAME NANCY DAVIS
AND SAVED MY SOUL."

Narrator:
WHEN RONALD REAGAN
MET NANCY DAVIS

SHE WAS A YOUNG ACTRESS
UNDER CONTRACT AT M.G.M.

WEALTHY AND
SOCIALLY WELL CONNECTED

SHE SHARED WITH RONALD

THE EXPERIENCE OF
AN INSECURE CHILDHOOD.

ABANDONED BY HER FATHER

NANCY WAS LEFT
IN THE CARE OF AN AUNT

WHILE HER MOTHER, ACTRESS EDITH
LUCKET, TOURED THE COUNTRY.

NANCY WAS EIGHT
WHEN EDITH MARRIED

A PROMINENT CHICAGO
NEUROSURGEON, LOYAL DAVIS.

ALMOST OVERNIGHT, SHE ENTERED
A WORLD OF PRIVILEGE.

IN 1949, WHEN SHE WAS
MISTAKENLY INCLUDED

ON A LIST OF
HOLLYWOOD COMMUNISTS

NANCY SOUGHT RONALD REAGAN'S
HELP TO CLEAR HER NAME.

THEY WERE MARRIED IN
A PRIVATE CEREMONY, IN 1952.

SEVEN MONTHS LATER,
PATTI WAS BORN.

Woman:
MY PARENTS HAVE

ABOUT AS CLOSE A RELATIONSHIP
AS I'VE EVER SEEN ANYONE HAVE.

THEY... THEY REALLY, SORT OF,
COMPLETE...

COMPLETE EACH OTHER.

THEY'RE KIND OF
TWO HALVES OF A CIRCLE.

Ron Reagan:
HE'S A GUY WHO'S ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO DISLIKE

WHO ALWAYS THINKS
THE BEST OF PEOPLE;

CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY
WHO'S, YOU KNOW, EVER MET HIM

WOULD EVER WANT TO DO
ANYTHING BAD TO HIM;

WOULD EVER WANT
TO GO BEHIND HIS BACK;

WOULD EVER WANT
TO STAB HIM IN THE BACK.

UM... THAT'S JUST NOT
WITHIN HIS REALM OF THINKING.

HE JUST CAN'T CONCEIVE OF IT.

NANCY, ON THE OTHER HAND

IS FAR MORE CUNNING
ABOUT THAT SORT OF STUFF.

SHE HAS NO TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING
STABBING IN THE BACK.

THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE
THEIR RELATIONSHIP POLITICALLY

WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS
THE C.E.O., HE WAS THE BOSS

AND SHE WAS
THE PERSONNEL DIRECTOR.

AS THEY WENT THROUGH LIFE,
THERE WAS ALWAYS...

NANCY HAD TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOU.

SHE WOULD RESEARCH YOU,
SHE'D FIND OUT ABOUT YOU.

SO SHE SPENT ALL HER TIME

LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
THAT WOULD SERVE HER MAN WELL.

Narrator:
WITH NANCY AS HIS PARTNER,
REAGAN RESUMED HIS LIFE.

AS PRESIDENT OF
THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD

HE EARNED A REPUTATION AS
A TOUGH AND SKILLFUL NEGOTIATOR

BATTLING STUDIOS AND PRODUCERS.

BUT AS AN ACTOR, HE WAS FAILING.

IN THE EARLY '50s, HE WAS CAST
IN UNMEMORABLE ROLES;

IN UNMEMORABLE FILMS,
LIKE CATTLE QUEEN OF MONTANA...

DO YOU KNOW WHERE
McCORD's TURNING HIM
OVER TO NATCHACOA?

ONCE NATCHACOA GETS
HIS HANDS ON HIM

THIS WHOLE TERRITORY WILL
BE ON FIRE BEFORE NIGHT.

Narrator:
OPPOSITE A CHIMPANZEE
IN BEDTIME FOR BONZO.

HELLCATS OF THE NAVY,
WITH NANCY, WAS A FLOP.

Woman:
IT WAS A VERY BAD TIME,
AND HE WAS, UM...

I MEAN, HE WAS ABOUT AS LOW
AS HE COULD GET, AT THAT POINT.

HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
A CAREER THAT HE LOVED SO MUCH

AND FELT THAT HE HAD
BEEN GOOD TO AND AT

WAS SLIPPING
THROUGH HIS FINGERS.

Narrator:
REAGAN TOOK A JOB

AT THE "LAST FRONTIER HOTEL,"
IN LAS VEGAS

SINGING AND DANCING IN
A THIRD-RATE VAUDEVILLE SHOW.

Woman:
HE ROLLED WITH IT, BUT IT...

BUT IT HURT, OF COURSE,
WHEN THE CAREER DRIED UP.

OF COURSE IT HURT.

IT WOULD ANYBODY.

BUT HE... AGAIN WE GET BACK

TO THE DEEP BELIEF THAT
EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

UM... AND THAT WHATEVER
HAPPENED TO HIM

THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT.

Narrator:
REAGAN WAS RESCUED
FROM OBSCURITY

WHEN GENERAL ELECTRIC SIGNED HIM

TO HOST A WEEKLY
TELEVISION SERIES, G.E. THEATER

AT AN ANNUAL SALARY OF $125,000.

Announcer:
IN ENGINEERING

IN MANUFACTURING SKILL

AT GENERAL ELECTRIC...

Narrator:
EVERY SUNDAY EVENING

RONALD REAGAN VISITED AMERICANS
IN THEIR LIVING ROOMS.

OUR PLAY TONIGHT IS ABOUT
A HOME AWAY FROM HOME...

A PROBLEM FACING
ONE OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES

ON OCCUPATION DUTY OVERSEAS.

NOW, TO COLONEL WHEELER,
A DOCTOR IN THE REGULAR ARMY

HOME IS WHEREVER HE IS QUARTERED

AT THE CONVENIENCE
OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Narrator:
HIS ROLE AS CELEBRITY SPOKESMAN

TOOK HIM TO G.E. PLANTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AFTER 17 YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD

REAGAN WAS REACQUAINTING
HIMSELF WITH AMERICA.

Cannon:
G.E. WAS PERFECT FOR HIM,
AND THE REASON IT WAS

WAS HE WAS ABLE
TO GET OUT ON THE ROAD

AND TALK TO PEOPLE, AT A LONG
DISTANCE FROM ANYBODY ELSE

SPEECHES THAT WERE RARELY
COVERED, AND IF COVERED AT ALL

WERE COVERED IN
A HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER

AND THERE WERE...
NO NATIONAL COVERAGE

AND HE WAS ABLE...
HE WAS FREE TO MAKE MISTAKES.

IT WAS A KIND OF APPRENTICESHIP
THAT ISN'T THERE FOR MOST PEOPLE

AND HE MADE THE MOST OF IT.

Narrator:
INITIALLY, REAGAN
REGALED HIS LISTENERS

WITH ANECDOTES ABOUT HOLLYWOOD

AND HIS FIGHT
AGAINST COMMUNISTS.

BUT SOON HIS SPEECHES BROADENED
TO INCLUDE OTHER CONCERNS.

Cannon:
THIS WAS A COMPANY

THAT WAS BASICALLY
A MIDDLE-CLASS COMPANY.

MOST OF THE WORKERS IDENTIFIED
WITH THE MIDDLE CLASS

AND A LOT OF THEM IDENTIFIED
WITH THE CONCERNS OF MANAGEMENT

THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY
RESTRICTIONS ON THEM.

Narrator:
REAGAN PICKED UP

ON THE GRUMBLINGS OF
G.E. EXECUTIVES AND EMPLOYEES

ANGRY ABOUT GOVERNMENT INTRUSION
AND RISING TAXES.

"I REALIZED THE ENEMY WAS
BIG GOVERNMENT," HE LATER WROTE.

REAGAN HAD FOUND
HIS POLITICAL MISSION.

HE WOULD FIGHT COMMUNISM
AND BIG GOVERNMENT.

HE DELIVERED HIS MESSAGE
WITH EVANGELICAL ZEAL

ACROSS THE NATION.

AFTER EIGHT YEARS
ON THE G.E. CIRCUIT

REAGAN EMERGED AS A RECOGNIZED
CONSERVATIVE SPOKESMAN.

NOW A WEALTHY MAN

HE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS
FAMILY "THE CALIFORNIA DREAM."

Ron Reagan:
HE'S ALWAYS WANTED A RANCH
AND ALMOST ALWAYS HAD ONE.

THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE PLACE

WHERE ALL OF US PROBABLY SPENT
THE MOST TIME WITH HIM.

YOU KNOW, HE MADE SURE

WE ALWAYS HAD HORSES,
AT A RELATIVELY EARLY AGE.

Davis:
I HAVE A LOT OF HAPPY MEMORIES
WITH MY FATHER

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER

AND I WAS... I TRIED TO KEEP UP
WITH HIM ATHLETICALLY

BECAUSE THAT WAS, UM...

WELL, I MEAN,
IT WAS SOMETHING I LOVED

BUT IT WAS ALSO A WAY
TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM.

BOTH MY BROTHER AND I
LEARNED TO SWIM

PROBABLY BEFORE WE COULD WALK.

MY FATHER,
HAVING BEEN A LIFEGUARD

BELIEVED THAT YOU
JUST LEARNED TO SWIM

AND THEN YOU ARE NOT EVER
GOING TO GET INTO TROUBLE.

Ron Reagan:
SO HE MADE SURE THAT
WE HAD SWIMMING LESSONS

AND HE ALSO USED TO TEST US
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE...

YOU KNOW, THROW US

JUST TO SEE THAT WE COULD REACT
QUICKLY AND, YOU KNOW, NOT PANIC

AND, YOU KNOW,
BE ABLE TO FIND THE SIDE.

AND HE WOULD PLAY
WITH US IN THE POOL

AND WE'D RIDE ON HIS BACK,
AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

Davis:
HE USED TO GIVE BIRTHDAY PARTIES

FOR EITHER ME OR RON,
OUT AT THE RANCH

AND HIRE A MAN
WHO HAD THIS TRICK HORSE

OR WHO COULD
COUNT WITH HIS HOOVES

OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW.

Ron Reagan:
THE FACT THAT
THERE WAS THIS HORSE.

THERE WAS ALWAYS THE SAME GUY

WITH THE SAME HORSE
AND THE SAME DOG;

THE SAME DALMATIAN
AND THE SAME PINTO PONY

BIRTHDAY PARTY AFTER BIRTHDAY
PARTY, AT THE MALIBU RANCH.

WHETHER IT WAS PATTI
OR ME, THERE HE'D BE.

Davis:
IT WAS SORT OF THAT
OZZIE AND HARRIET KIND OF HOME.

NO FAMILY IS
ENTIRELY HARMONIOUS.

I MEAN, OZZIE AND HARRIET
WEREN'T HARMONIOUS

IN REAL LIFE, EITHER

SO, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT...
OF COURSE NOT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO
THINK FAMILIES WERE IN THE '50s.

WE WERE CONSCIOUS, I THINK,
GROWING UP, ALL OF US...

AND I KNOW I WAS... THAT THERE
WERE REALLY TWO SETS OF PEOPLE

TWO DEFINITE AND DISTINCT SETS
OF PEOPLE INVOLVED
IN THE FAMILY.

THERE WAS MY MOTHER AND FATHER,
AND THERE WAS EVERYBODY ELSE

AND THAT, WHILE WE WERE
ALL PART OF THE FAMILY

WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE

THERE WAS A DISTINCTION
TO BE MADE;

THAT, YOU KNOW, WELL, IT REALLY
WASN'T ANYTHING LIKE...

IT WASN'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, SEEN
AND... BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD

BUT IT WAS... YOU KNOW,
WE WERE EXPECTED TO, UH...

WE WERE EXPECTED TO PUT
OURSELVES IN SECOND PLACE

TO WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING.

Man:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE TAKE PRIDE IN PRESENTING

A THOUGHTFUL ADDRESS
BY RONALD REAGAN.

MR. REAGAN.

Reagan:
THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Narrator:
REAGAN BURST ONTO THE NATIONAL
POLITICAL SCENE IN 1964

WITH A TELEVISED ADDRESS
ON BEHALF

OF CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE BARRY GOLDWATER.

Reagan:
I HAVE SPENT MOST
OF MY LIFE AS A DEMOCRAT.

I RECENTLY HAVE SEEN FIT
TO FOLLOW ANOTHER COURSE.

Narrator:
PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON
HAD JUST DECLARED

HIS WAR ON POVERTY, EXPANDING
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

Morris:
"THE SPEECH" AS IT'S KNOWN
AMONGST REAGANAUTS

THAT WAS THE CULMINATION OF...
THE QUINTESSENCE OF...

ALL HIS SPEECHES HONED
ON THE G.E. CIRCUIT.

ALL THE CATCHPHRASES
THAT HE'D FOUND WORKED WELL

ALL THE IDEOLOGY
THAT HE'D POLISHED

DURING HIS YEARS
AS A G.E. CORPORATE SPOKESMAN

AND EMERGING POLITICAL ORATOR

THEY ALL CAME TOGETHER
AT THIS MOMENT.

THIS IS THE ISSUE
OF THIS ELECTION:

WHETHER WE BELIEVE IN OUR
CAPACITY FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT

OR WHETHER WE ABANDON
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

AND CONFESS THAT A LITTLE
INTELLECTUAL ELITE

IN A FAR DISTANT CAPITAL
CAN PLAN OUR LIVES FOR US

BETTER THAN WE CAN PLAN
THEM OURSELVES.

Narrator:
TIME MAGAZINE CALLED THE SPEECH

"THE ONE BRIGHT SPOT
IN A DISMAL CAMPAIGN."

ALTHOUGH IT COULD NOT RESCUE
GOLDWATER FROM DEFEAT

IT PLACED REAGAN ON THE CUTTING
EDGE OF CONSERVATIVE POLITICS.

THERE WAS STILL
A BIG-GOVERNMENT GROUND SWELL

AMONG THE LIBERAL ELEMENTS

AND CERTAINLY THE IDEA OF
CONSERVATISM AS WE KNOW IT TODAY

WAS NOT SOMETHING

THAT POLITICIANS EMBRACED
VERY EAGERLY

NOR DID THE VOTING PUBLIC.

SO IN THAT SENSE, RONALD REAGAN
WAS AHEAD OF HIS TIME.

Narrator:
REAGAN'S MAVERICK ATTACK
ON BIG GOVERNMENT

BROUGHT HIM TO THE ATTENTION
OF CALIFORNIA ENTREPRENEURS

WHO WERE SEARCHING FOR
A CANDIDATE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR

IN 1966.

"THAT SPEECH,"
REAGAN REMEMBERED

"LED ME ONTO A PATH
I NEVER EXPECTED TO TAKE."

Reagan:
I'VE COME TO A DECISION

THAT EVEN A SHORT TIME AGO
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE

FOR ME TO MAKE.

AND YET I MAKE IT WITH NO
LINGERING DOUBTS OR HESITATION.

AS OF NOW, I AM A CANDIDATE

SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN
NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

CALIFORNIA IN THE 1960s

IS A SOCIETY THAT IS GOING
THROUGH TUMULTUOUS CHANGE.

HE RUNS IN 1966 AS A STAUNCH
GOLDWATER CONSERVATIVE

WHO WILL RESTORE
TO THE PEOPLE THEIR AUTONOMY

AND FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENT,
AND IT STRIKES RESONANT CHORDS

WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
IN CALIFORNIA

WHO WERE BOTHERED
BY THE WELFARE SYSTEM

BOTHERED BY THE HIGH TAXES

BOTHERED BY STUDENT RADICALISM

BOTHERED BY THE CRIME
IN THE STREETS

BOTHERED BY
THE INNER-CITY EXPLOSIONS.

AND ON ALL THOSE COUNTS
HE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE

IN APPEALING TO THE MASS OF
SUBURBAN VOTERS IN CALIFORNIA.

Narrator:
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR PAT BROWN
UNDERESTIMATED REAGAN

AND THE REVOLT BREWING
IN HIS STATE.

WHAT HAVE MY OPPONENT'S
CONTRIBUTIONS BEEN

TO THIS GROWING,
THRIVING STATE OF OURS?

HE'S DIVIDED HIS TIME
BETWEEN PROPAGANDA PICTURES

AGAINST EVERYTHING FROM MEDICARE

TO THE TENNESSEE
VALLEY AUTHORITY

AND STARRING IN SUCH
UNFORGETTABLE SCREEN EPICS

AS BEDTIME FOR BONZO.

THEY LOOKED AT RONALD REAGAN,
THAT DUMB ACTOR, AND THEY SAID

"OH, MAN, THIS IS THE GUY
WE WANT TO RUN AGAINST.

"HE HAS NO POLITICAL EXPERIENCE

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO HANDLE HIMSELF WELL."

SO WE DEVISED A TECHNIQUE

WHERE HE WOULD GIVE
HIS 20-MINUTE SPEECH

AND INCIDENTALLY RONALD REAGAN
WROTE ALL HIS OWN SPEECHES

WHEN HE RAN
FOR GOVERNOR IN 1966.

HE'D GIVE THE 20-MINUTE SPEECH

AND WE'D OPEN IT
TO 20 MINUTES OF Q&A

TO THE PEOPLE THERE
AT THE MEETING OR THE PRESS

AND IF HE COULD HANDLE
THOSE QUESTIONS, WE FELT

WE COULD GET OVER THE HUMP
OF, HERE'S AN EMPTY PERSON

WHO DOESN'T KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT GOVERNMENT

OR DOESN'T HAVE ANY REAL IDEAS.

Man:
RONNIE, HERE DO YOU STAND
ON THE DEATH PENALTY?

YOU'VE JUST EXPRESSED A QUESTION

WHICH IS ALSO AS MUCH ON THE
MINDS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE

AS BERKELEY.

THIS, TOO, IS A QUESTION ASKED
ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND AS I'VE ANSWERED TO THOSE
OTHER PEOPLE, I WOULD TELL YOU

I THINK ALL OF US HAVE WAVERED
BACK AND FORTH ON THIS ISSUE

BECAUSE OF OUR
JUDEO-CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND

OUR QUESTIONING AS TO OUR RIGHT
TO TAKE HUMAN LIFE.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE
THE RIGHT TO TAKE HUMAN LIFE

IN DEFENSE OF OUR OWN.

Man:
DO YOU DISCOUNT THE FACT

THAT MANY WOMEN MAY BE
INFLUENCED BY THE FACT

THAT YOU ARE A MOVIE STAR...

YOU'RE HANDSOME AND YOUNG
AND THAT SORT OF THING?

WELL, NOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE
IT BOTH WAYS.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER
SIDE HAVE BEEN SUGGESTING

THAT BEFORE I BECAME A CANDIDATE

THAT I WASN'T VERY ACCEPTABLE
AS A MOVIE STAR, THAT, UH...

SO, NO, I DO BELIEVE

THAT THE PEOPLE ARE AWARE
OF THE ISSUES

AND I THINK THEY...

Cannon:
HERE REAGAN IS.

HE'S ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

AND I CAME BACK
AND I CALLED MY EDITOR

AND HE SAID,
"WHAT DID YOU THINK OF HIM?"

AND I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW."

I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW
WHY THESE...

"WHY ANYBODY WOULD WANT
TO RUN AGAINST THIS GUY.

"WHY WOULD YOU WANT
TO RUN AGAINST SOMEBODY

"WHO EVERYBODY KNOWS AND LIKES

AND WHO IS...
WHO IS FRIENDLY AND POPULAR?"

Narrator:
AS REAGAN GAINED EXPOSURE, HIS
AIDES BEGAN TO SHAPE HIS IMAGE.

Nofziger:
A POLITICAL REPORTER
FOR KPIX IN SAN FRANCISCO SAID

"I WANT TO DO AN INTERVIEW
WITH REAGAN ON HORSEBACK"

AND I SAID,
"THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

THAT REALLY HUMANIZES HIM."

AND SO... AND HE HAD A RANCH
OUT IN MALIBU CANYON

OH, ABOUT 25 MILES
FROM DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES.

SO WE WENT OUT THERE AND
HE CAME OUT WEARING JODHPURS.

AND I SAID, "WHAT IN THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING

IN THOSE JODHPURS?"

"WELL," HE SAID

"THAT'S HOW I ALWAYS RIDE
AROUND HERE," VERY HUFFILY.

AND I SAID

"RON, WE'RE TRYING TO WIN
AN ELECTION HERE, YOU KNOW.

"PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA, AS THEY
SEE YOU IN THOSE JODHPURS

ARE GOING TO THINK
YOU'RE AN EASTERN SISSY."

HE SAYS, "WELL,
THIS IS WHAT YOU WEAR

WHEN YOU'RE JUMPING HORSES."

I SAID, "WE'RE NOT JUMPING
HORSES; WE'RE GOING FOR A RIDE.

"SHE WANTS YOU TO BE A COWBOY.

"I WANT YOU TO BE A COWBOY

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE
HERE WILL IDENTIFY WITH."

SO HE SAID, "WELL, ALL RIGHT."

SO HE WENT BACK IN AND CHANGED
INTO JEANS AND BOOTS.

Narrator:
REAGAN WOULD COME TO EMBODY

THE GREAT MYTH
OF THE AMERICAN WEST:

THE INDEPENDENT COWBOY
STANDING TALL.

Dallek:
IT FITS INTO THIS WHOLE
IMAGE OF HIM

AS A KIND OF TOUGH-MINDED
HEROIC FIGURE

SOMEONE WHO IS COMING
TO THEIR RESCUE.

AND THEY SEE HIM
AS AN HONEST MAN.

THEY SEE HIM
AS AN HONEST POLITICIAN

AS SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS HIS MIND.

THIS SMALL MINORITY
OF BEATNIKS AND MALCONTENTS

AND FILTHY-SPEECH ADVOCATES
HAVE INTERFERED

WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE
OF THAT UNIVERSITY

AND THEY'VE BROUGHT SHAME
ON A GREAT UNIVERSITY

A UNIVERSITY OF WHICH YOU AND
I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE VERY PROUD

AND WHICH FOR MANY YEARS
WE HAVE BEEN VERY PROUD.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE ARE
ENTITLED TO AN OPEN HEARING

TO REVEAL WHAT HAS BEEN TAKING
PLACE AND TO FIX RESPONSIBILITY.

Smith:
THERE WAS A SENSE
THAT TRADITIONAL VALUES

TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS
WERE BEING CHALLENGED

AND SO PEOPLE TOOK A CHANCE

AND THEY VOTED
ON A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE ACTOR

AGAINST AN ESTABLISHED

AND RELATIVELY POPULAR
INCUMBENT GOVERNOR.

Choir:
♪ O BEAUTIFUL
FOR SPACIOUS SKIES ♪

♪ FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN ♪

♪ FOR PURPLE MOUNTAINS... ♪

Narrator:
ON JANUARY 2, 1967, RONALD
REAGAN TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE

AS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA.

HE HAD NOT ONLY BEATEN BROWN

HE HAD BEATEN HIM
BY ONE MILLION VOTES.

I DO.

Man:
THAT YOU TAKE
THIS OBLIGATION FREELY

WITHOUT MENTAL RESERVATION
OR PURPOSE OF EVASION

AND THAT YOU WILL WELL
AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE...

Patti Davis:
I WAS HYSTERICAL
WHEN I FOUND OUT

THAT MY FATHER
HAD BEEN ELECTED GOVERNOR.

THE VIETNAM WAR WAS GOING ON.

UM...

BERKELEY WAS GOING ON.

THE, YOU KNOW,
THE ONE PLACE I WANTED TO BE

IF I HADN'T BEEN 14 YEARS OLD

AND AT A BOARDING SCHOOL
IN ARIZONA

WAS ON THE STREETS
OF HAIGHT-ASHBURY

BRAIDING FLOWERS INTO MY HAIR.

I MEAN, THIS WAS
MY GOAL IN LIFE.

AND NOW MY FATHER WAS
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.

SO THIS WAS... THIS WAS...

I JUST DIDN'T THINK IT WAS
A GOOD IMAGE FOR ME, YOU KNOW?

Narrator:
PATTI WAS NOT THE ONLY REAGAN
FACING AN IMAGE PROBLEM.

HER MOTHER DREW
THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESS

WHEN SHE REFUSED TO LIVE IN
THE GOVERNOR'S VICTORIAN MANSION

AN HISTORIC LANDMARK.

Nancy Reagan:
I HAVE TO TRANSLATE EVERYTHING

INTO BEING THE MOTHER
OF AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD.

YOU ARE RIGHT ON A BUSY CORNER.

I LOVE OLD HOUSES.

I'LL START WITH THAT.

AND I LOVE OLD THINGS
AND I LOVE TRADITION.

I DON'T THINK THERE
HAS BEEN A GOVERNOR

WITH AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD
CHILD BEFORE.

Narrator:
NANCY MOVED HER FAMILY TO
AN EXCLUSIVE SACRAMENTO SUBURB

BECOMING THE TARGET
OF CRITICISM.

SHE WAS DEVASTATED

WHEN WRITER JOAN DIDION
CALLED HER ACTRESS SMILE

"A STUDY IN FROZEN INSINCERITY."

THE GOVERNOR, TOO,
RAISED A FEW EYEBROWS

WITH HIS TALK
ABOUT BIBLICAL PROPHECY.

THE REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM HAD
STIRRED REAGAN'S INTEREST

WHEN HE TOLD HIM
THAT JUDGMENT DAY WAS NEAR.

REAGAN WOULD REPEAT
GRAHAM'S WARNING

ADDING, "FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE
FOR THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON."

ONE SIGN WAS WHAT HE CALLED

"THE COMMUNIST TAKEOVER
OF LIBYA."

WITH NO EXPERIENCE,
REAGAN FACED THE TASK

OF GOVERNING THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA.

WHEN A REPORTER ASKED WHAT KIND
OF A GOVERNOR HE WOULD MAKE

HE QUIPPED, "I DON'T KNOW.

I NEVER PLAYED GOVERNOR."

Cannon:
HE FACED AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE

BECAUSE REAGAN REALLY
DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING

ABOUT... ABOUT POLITICS
OR GOVERNANCE

AND HE HAD A LOT
OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM

WHO ARGUABLY KNEW EVEN LESS.

I MEAN, I REMEMBER
LYN NOFZIGER ONCE SAID

"YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T
JUST AMATEURS.

WE WERE NOVICE AMATEURS."

Narrator:
REAGAN'S FIRST DECISION

DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF
GOVERNMENT, PROVED A DISASTER.

HE DECIDES THAT, IN HIS NAIVETE
ABOUT RUNNING STATE GOVERNMENT

THAT YOU COULD JUST DO A TEN
PERCENT ACROSS-THE-BOARD CUT

AND THAT WOULD BE
EASY TO ACCOMPLISH.

WELL, HE FOUND OUT THAT
IT WAS NOT EASY TO ACCOMPLISH

AND THAT IT PROBABLY
WASN'T EQUITABLE.

Narrator:
ANNOUNCED AT A TIME
OF GROWING CAMPUS UNREST

THE CUTS PITTED THE GOVERNOR

AGAINST STUDENTS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY
TUITION FOR THE FIRST TIME.

LET 'EM THROW, LET 'EM THROW,
BUT I'M GOING TO GET OUT.

I DON'T CARE,
JUST SO IT'S OUTSIDE.

OKAY, NOW.

Policeman:
LITTLE MORE... MORE.

Narrator:
AFTER YEARS OF PLAYING THE HERO

REAGAN FOUND HIMSELF CAST
AS THE VILLAIN.

WE WERE DOWN AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA CAMPUS

IN SANTA BARBARA, AND ALL OF THE
STUDENTS WERE ALL MAD AT HIM.

WE'D COME BACK FROM LUNCH

TO GO BACK TO WHERE
THEY WERE HAVING THE MEETING

AND THE STUDENTS JUST KIND
OF LINED UP ALONG THE PATHWAY

AND THEY ALL GAVE HIM
THE SILENT TREATMENT, YOU KNOW

AND NOBODY SAID HELLO, NOBODY
WAVED, NOBODY DID ANYTHING.

THEY JUST STOOD
AND STARED AT HIM.

SO HE WALKED

THROUGH THIS GAUNTLET
OF PEOPLE VERY NONCHALANTLY

GOT UP TO THE DOORWAY
WHERE WE WERE GOING

TURNED AROUND
AND HE SAID, "SHH."

EVERYBODY BROKE OUT LAUGHING
AND HE WALKED ON IN.

Narrator:
REAGAN STRUCK A CHORD
WITH AMERICANS NATIONWIDE

WHO WERE BECOMING FED UP
WITH THE RADICAL '60s.

I SAW HIM MAKE A SPEECH
IN 1964 FOR GOLDWATER.

I SAID THERE'S THE MAN THAT
SHOULD BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT

AND THERE'S THE MAN WE NEED.

I LIKE THE WAY HE TAKES
A FIRM STAND ON THINGS

AND THE WAY HE GOES ABOUT THEM.

I THINK HIS VIEWS AGREE
WITH MINE.

HE HAS THE SAME TYPE
OF FEELING WITH THE PEOPLE

THAT JOHN KENNEDY HAD, I THINK.

HE'S THE HOPE OF AMERICA.

♪ RONALD REAGAN,
HE'S THE ONE ♪

♪ HE'S THE ONE TO BEAT ♪

♪ BECAUSE HE'S THE LEADER
OF THE G.O.P. ♪

♪ TO PICK UP THE VICTORY. ♪

♪ RONALD REAGAN,
HE'S JUST BEGUN ♪

♪ HE'S STILL OUR FAVORITE SON ♪

♪ AND THE NAME WILL HIT YA ♪

♪ I BET YA, I BET YA ♪

♪ IT'S RONALD REAGAN! ♪

Narrator:
A REAGAN DRAFT INITIATIVE
CAUGHT FIRE.

WHEN THE REPUBLICANS GATHERED
IN MIAMI IN 1968

REAGAN, AFTER ONLY 18 MONTHS
IN ELECTED OFFICE

WAS THE CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT
AMONG CONSERVATIVES.

BY THEN, FORMER VICE-PRESIDENT
RICHARD NIXON HAD A LOCK

ON THE NOMINATION.

I HEREBY PROUDLY MOVE ON BEHALF
OF MY FELLOW CALIFORNIANS

THAT THIS CONVENTION
DECLARE ITSELF

AS UNANIMOUSLY AND UNITED BEHIND
THE CANDIDATE RICHARD NIXON

AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, AND I SO MOVE.

Nofziger:
REAGAN WAS NOT UPSET.

HE TOLD ME, "LYN,
I JUST DIDN'T THINK

I WAS READY FOR IT."

SO, YOU KNOW, HE KNEW
HIMSELF VERY WELL

AND HE... OBVIOUSLY,
HE'D HAVE TAKEN IT

IF THERE BEEN THIS GREAT
DEMAND FOR HIM, BUT...

BUT HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD
BE BETTER OFF WAITING.

Crowd:
ON STRIKE!

ON STRIKE!

ON STRIKE!

ON STRIKE!

Narrator:
REAGAN RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA

TO FACE THE FIRST TRUE CRISIS
OF HIS GOVERNORSHIP.

THE STUDENT REVOLT,
WHICH HAD BEGUN IN 1964

REACHED ITS CLIMAX AT BERKELEY
IN THE SPRING OF 1969.

THE UNIVERSITY WAS PARALYZED
BY A STUDENT STRIKE

WHICH WAS JOINED BY MEMBERS
OF THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY

AND EVEN SOME PROFESSORS.

Morris:
THERE WAS A SPELLBINDING MOMENT
WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR

CONFRONTING A BUNCH
OF BERKELEY UNIVERSITY PROFS.

HE SUDDENLY RECOGNIZES
IN THEIR MIDST

A RADICAL FROM
HIS HOLLYWOOD DAYS.

HIS NAME WAS, I THINK, POPSKI.

AND HE SAID, "YOU,
POPSKI, I KNOW YOU

AND I KNOW WHAT YOU STAND FOR."

LOST HIS COOL.

THERE WAS
A DIRECT CONNECTION THERE...

THE ANARCHY THAT PREVAILED
ON THE BERKELEY CAMPUS IN 1969

WITH THE ANARCHY THAT HE SAW
IMMEDIATELY AFTER WORLD WAR II

OUTSIDE THE GATES
OF WARNER BROTHERS.

Narrator:
WHEN THE POLICE FAILED
TO BREAK THE STRIKE

REAGAN SENT IN
THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL.

THAT ONLY HEIGHTENED TENSIONS.

Reagan:
I BELIEVE THAT WHERE ANY GROUP'S
RIGHTS ARE BEING IMPOSED UPON

OR ANY INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS,
BY ANY OTHERS

IT IS THE OBLIGATION
OF GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT

THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

AT THE POINT OF BAYONET
IF NECESSARY.

Narrator:
THE NATIONAL GUARD
DESCENDED ON BERKELEY

REPLETE WITH BAYONETS.

IT OCCUPIED THE CITY
FOR 17 DAYS.

MOST CALIFORNIANS REGARDED
REAGAN AS A HERO

FOR RESTORING THE PEACE
AT BERKELEY.

OTHERS FELT HE HAD ACTED
AS A TRIGGER-HAPPY EXTREMIST.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR,
REAGAN RAN FOR REELECTION

WITH LITTLE TO SHOW
FOR HIS FIRST TERM.

HE HAD PROMISED TO LOWER TAXES,
BUT THEY HAD INCREASED

AND HE HAD FAILED TO CURB
THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT.

THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

SOME OF THE THINGS
THEY'VE SAID

ABOUT ME AND EDUCATION

THIS MAY GET YOU EXPELLED.

Narrator:
REAGAN WON IN NOVEMBER,
AND LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE

TO CUT BACK GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

WELFARE IS THE BIGGEST
SINGLE OUTLAY OF PUBLIC FUNDS

AT THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS
OF GOVERNMENT:

FEDERAL, STATE AND COUNTY.

AND WELFARE IS ADRIFT,
WITHOUT RUDDER OR COMPASS.

Narrator:
IN HIS FIRST TERM, REAGAN HAD
GOVERNED THROUGH CONFRONTATION.

NOW HE NEEDED TO COLLABORATE

WITH THE DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED
ASSEMBLY

IF HE WANTED
HIS WELFARE BILL TO PASS.

REAGAN WAS BEGINNING TO THINK
ABOUT HIS OWN LEGACY.

HE WAS BEGINNING TO THINK
ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

THAT HE WOULD BE LOOKED BACK ON
WHEN HE LEFT THE GOVERNORSHIP

AND I'M SURE PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE
THAT REAGAN WAS ALSO BEGINNING

TO BUILD OR TRY
TO BUILD A RECORD

TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT ON
FOR A SECOND TIME.

Narrator:
THE BILL PASSED.

REAGAN SAVED TAXPAYERS
TWO BILLION DOLLARS

AND LEARNED AN IMPORTANT LESSON.

Man:
IT PROVED TO HIMSELF THAT
HE COULD MAKE SOME CHANGES

THAT HE COULD NOT ONLY
TALK ABOUT AND MOVE PEOPLE

TO GET THINGS DONE

BUT HE COULD ACTUALLY MOVE

THE MECHANICS OF GOVERNMENT
TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND I THINK THAT CONFIDENCE
THAT IT GAVE REAGAN

WAS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE.

Meese:
AND SO WHEN HE LEFT

HE LEFT WITH A KIND OF A GROUND
SWELL OF APPROVAL IN THE STATE

AND A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

AMONG MANY PEOPLE,
THAT HE GO ON

AND PERHAPS RUN FOR
THE PRESIDENCY IN THE FUTURE.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE,
WAIT A MINUTE, HOLD IT.

YOU ARE ALL ASKING
THE SAME QUESTION

AND YOU ARE ALL GOING
TO GET THE SAME ANSWER

SO WE MIGHT AS WELL
DO IT ONCE, INSTEAD OF...

NO, I'VE MADE
NO CHANGE WHATSOEVER.

I HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY,
AND I REPEAT AGAIN

I HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THAT DECISION WILL BE.

WHEN THE TIME COMES,
I WILL ANNOUNCE IT, YES OR NO

AND I ASSUME THAT THAT WILL BE

SOMETIME BEFORE THE END
OF THIS YEAR.

THAT SUMMER, I HAD HAD EVERYBODY
OVER TO MY HOUSE FOR DINNER

AND WE WERE PLAYING CHARADES

AND, UM... I'VE FORGOTTEN
EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENED

BUT I GUESS IT WAS A BOOK TITLE

AND MY FATHER WAS
THE ONE DOING IT, AND HE...

AND FINALLY HE JUST STOOD THERE
AND JUST WENT... LIKE THIS

YOU KNOW, LIKE, "IT'S ME"

AND WE ALL SCREAMED,
"MAKING OF A PRESIDENT!"

Narrator:
IN HIS BID FOR THE 1976
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION

REAGAN FACED ENORMOUS ODDS.

HE WAS TAKING ON
PRESIDENT GERALD FORD

AND HIS OWN REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HE LOST TO FORD
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

AND KEPT ON LOSING.

Anderson:
I THINK THAT...

THAT IS A POINT IN TIME

AT LEAST... AT LEAST IN MY MIND,
WHEN YOU REALLY SAW

THE ESSENCE OF REAGAN'S
CHARACTER IN ITS FULL FLOWER.

AT THAT TIME,
IF I RECALL CORRECTLY

THE CAMPAIGN WAS BASICALLY
CONSIDERED DEAD IN THE WATER.

HE HAD JUST LOST FIVE STRAIGHT
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

TO PRESIDENT FORD,
AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY

WE WERE ABOUT TWO MILLION
DOLLARS IN DEBT.

Reporter:
DOES IT CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY

ANY OF THE POLITICAL
PLANS OF YOURS?

NO, NOT A BIT.

I'M GOING TO RUN AS HARD AS
I CAN, AND FIGURE I'M BEHIND.

AND THE QUESTION WAS,
"SHOULD WE QUIT?"

AND I THINK THE GENERAL ATTITUDE
WAS, IT'S NOT "SHOULD WE?"

IT'S "DO WE HAVE ANY CHOICE?"

WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION,
AND THE CONSENSUS WAS

"CERTAINLY, YOU HAVE TO QUIT."

REAGAN WAS JUST SITTING THERE
LISTENING TO THIS.

AND "I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW"

AND HE WAS LOOKING
AT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM

"THAT I AM GOING TO RUN
IN EVERY SINGLE PRIMARY

FROM HERE TO THE CONVENTION EVEN
IF I LOSE EVERY SINGLE ONE."

Narrator:
REAGAN SEARCHED FOR AN ISSUE
TO IGNITE HIS CAMPAIGN.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED
ABOUT OUR DEFENSE POSTURE.

DESPITE THE ASSURANCES OF
DR. KISSINGER AND MR. FORD

THE UNITED STATES IS NO LONGER

THE FIRST MILITARY POWER
ON EARTH.

THE SOVIET ARMY IS NOW
TWICE THE SIZE OF OURS.

RUSSIA'S ANNUAL INVESTMENT
IN WEAPONS

STRATEGIC AND CONVENTIONAL

NOW RUNS SOME 50% AHEAD OF OURS.

UNDER KISSINGER AND FORD

THIS NATION HAS BECOME
NUMBER TWO IN MILITARY POWER

IN A WORLD WHERE IT'S DANGEROUS,
IF NOT FATAL, TO BE SECOND BEST.

Narrator:
TELEVISED REPEATEDLY ON THE EVE
OF THE NORTH CAROLINA PRIMARY

REAGAN'S WARNING
OF A NEW COMMUNIST MENACE

BROUGHT HIM HIS FIRST VICTORY.

AS THE PRIMARIES MOVED TO THE
MORE CONSERVATIVE SOUTH AND WEST

THE CAMPAIGN GAINED MOMENTUM.

Reagan:
WE ARE AHEAD OF OUR
PROJECTIONS AT THIS TIME...

WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE

AND MANY PEOPLE SAY,
"WELL, YOU KNOW

IS THAT JUST WHISTLING PAST
THE GRAVEYARD OR SOMETHING?"

NO, WE'RE AHEAD TO THE EXTENT
THAT RECENTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME

I SAID I BELIEVED THAT THERE
WAS A VERY GREAT POSSIBILITY

IF NOT PROBABILITY, THAT
I COULD GO TO THE CONVENTION

WITH ENOUGH DELEGATES IN ADVANCE
TO WIN ON THE FIRST BALLOT.

Deaver:
AFTER WINNING SOME
OF THOSE PRIMARIES

NONE OF US THOUGHT
THAT IT WAS OUT OF OUR REACH.

SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN THAT
WOULD TURN THAT CONVENTION.

AND I THINK REAGAN
BELIEVED THAT.

MADAME CHAIRMAN

THE COMMONWEALTH
OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOME OF THE PHILLIES
AND THE PIRATES...

CASTS TEN... CASTS TEN VOTES
FOR GOVERNOR REAGAN

AND 93 VOTES FOR GERALD FORD.

Announcer:
20 VOTES FOR GERALD R. FORD.

Ron Reagan:
FORD HAD GIVEN
HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

AND HE THEN TURNED
TO THE SKY BOX

WHERE WE WERE,
WHERE MY FATHER WAS

AND... AND SORT OF BECKONED
MY FATHER TO... TO COME DOWN.

I THINK HE WAS
CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT

THAT NEARLY 50% OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE HALL, MAYBE EVEN MORE

REALLY WOULD HAVE
PREFERRED RONALD REAGAN

TO BE THE CANDIDATE.

Nancy Reagan:
THE RESPONSE OF THOSE DELEGATES

WAS SOMETHING UNBELIEVABLE,
JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

AND THERE WE WERE IN THIS BOX
WAY BACK IN THE BACK

AND WE STOOD, AND HE
KEPT DOING THIS TO THEM

TO TELL THEM TO SIT DOWN,
AND THEY NEVER WOULD SIT DOWN.

THEY WOULDN'T STOP YELLING...

AND YELLING FOR HIM,
AND "SPEECH, SPEECH."

I JUST HOPED THAT... THAT...

THAT RONNIE HAD SOMETHING
THAT HE WANTED TO SAY

BECAUSE HE SAID TO ME,
AS WE WERE RUNNING...

WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO...
TO BE UP ON THE STAGE...

AND AS WE WERE RUNNING
TO GET THERE, HE SAID

"I HAVEN'T THE FOGGIEST IDEA
OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY."

IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT...

I HAD AN ASSIGNMENT
THE OTHER DAY.

SOMEONE ASKED ME TO WRITE
A LETTER FOR A TIME CAPSULE

THAT IS GOING TO BE OPENED IN
LOS ANGELES 100 YEARS FROM NOW.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD

IN WHICH THE GREAT POWERS HAVE
POISED AND AIMED AT EACH OTHER

HORRIBLE MISSILES OF
DESTRUCTION, NUCLEAR WEAPONS

THAT CAN IN A MATTER OF MINUTES

ARRIVE IN EACH OTHER'S COUNTRY,
AND DESTROY

VIRTUALLY THE CIVILIZED
WORLD WE LIVE IN.

AND SUDDENLY IT DAWNED ON ME

THOSE WHO WOULD READ THIS LETTER
100 YEARS FROM NOW

WILL KNOW WHETHER
THOSE MISSILES WERE FIRED.

THEY WILL KNOW

WHETHER WE MET OUR CHALLENGE.

WHETHER THEY HAVE THE FREEDOMS

THAT WE HAVE KNOWN UP UNTIL NOW

WILL DEPEND
ON WHAT WE DO HERE...

MR. PRESIDENT...

Reagan:
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Morris:
AND THE POWER OF THAT SPEECH
WAS EXTRAORDINARY

AND YOU CAN JUST FEEL,
THROUGHOUT THE AUDITORIUM

THE PALPABLE SENSE
AMONG THE DELEGATES

THAT "WE'VE NOMINATED
THE WRONG GUY."

Narrator:
THE NEXT DAY REAGAN BID FAREWELL
TO HIS CAMPAIGN STAFF.

SURE, THERE'S
A DISAPPOINTMENT

IN WHAT HAPPENED,
BUT THE CAUSE...

THE CAUSE GOES ON, AND...

DON'T GET CYNICAL.

UH... DON'T GET CYNICAL

BECAUSE LOOK AT YOURSELVES,
AND WHAT YOU WERE WILLING TO DO

AND RECOGNIZE THAT THERE
ARE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS

OF AMERICANS OUT THERE
THAT WANT WHAT YOU WANT

THAT WANT IT TO BE THAT WAY

THAT... WANT IT TO BE
A SHINING CITY ON A HILL.

Anderson:
ON THE PLANE GOING BACK, I WENT
OVER, I HAD A CONVENTION TICKET

AND I ASKED HIM IF HE'D
SIGN IT AS A SOUVENIR.

AND WHAT HE WROTE WAS,
"WE FOUGHT, WE DREAMED

AND THE DREAM IS STILL WITH US."

AND LOOKING BACK ON IT NOW...

HE NEVER GAVE UP,
HE JUST KEPT RIGHT ON GOING.

IT WAS... IT WAS, YOU KNOW,
THIS INCREDIBLE, CRUSHING DEFEAT

AND IT DIDN'T CRUSH HIM.

HE JUST CAME BACK UP,
SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID

"OKAY, WHAT'S NEXT?"

AND THAT BEGAN THE CAMPAIGN
FOR THE YEAR 1980.

Narrator:
REAGAN RETREATED
TO HIS NEW RANCH

IN THE MOUNTAINS
HIGH ABOVE SANTA BARBARA.

RANCHO DEL CIELO,
"THE RANCH IN THE SKY."

Ron Reagan:
IT WAS A PLACE
WHERE HE COULD RENEW HIMSELF

AND REJUVENATE HIMSELF.

AND HE WOULD GO OUT, YOU KNOW,
FOR HOURS AT A TIME.

HE'D JUST SORT OF DISAPPEAR

UP INTO THE HILLS
AND INTO THE BRUSH

SOMETIMES WITH A CHAIN SAW.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS JUST
HAPPY AS A CLAM OUT THERE

DOING HIS RANCH THING.

Man:
HIS FORM OF RELAXATION
WAS VERY HARD PHYSICAL LABOR.

HE WAS NOT
A TYPE OF MAN TO RELAX.

WE STARTED BUILDING FENCES.

IT'S BEEN OVER THE COURSE
OF QUITE A FEW YEARS

BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY DESIGNED THE
FENCES OUT OF TELEPHONE POLES.

HE DESIGNED IT
SO WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE FENCE

EVERYTHING WAS UNIFORM.

WE STARTED TO JUST DO IT
AROUND THE HOUSE

BUT THEN WHEN
WE FINISHED WITH THAT

AND WE SAT BACK
AND LOOKED AND SAID

"WELL, WOULDN'T IT LOOK NICE
IF WE WENT AROUND THE POND?"

WELL, WE WENT AROUND THE POND
AND WE CREATED A PASTURE...

"WELL, THE PASTURE
NEEDS FENCING," YOU KNOW

SO WE WENT AROUND THE PASTURE,
THEN WE BUILT AN ORCHARD

AND "WELL, YOU KNOW

WE SHOULD PROBABLY CONTINUE
THE FENCE AROUND THE ORCHARD."

SO... THESE FENCES
ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

Narrator:
REAGAN WAS KILLING TIME

WAITING WHILE AMERICA RIPENED
TOWARD HIS CONSERVATIVE MESSAGE.

"PEOPLE WERE REBELLING,"
HE OBSERVED

"A PRAIRIE FIRE WAS SPREADING
ACROSS THE LAND."

Smith:
JUST STOP AND THINK

WHAT THIS COUNTRY
HAD BEEN THROUGH BY 1980...

WE HAD BEEN THROUGH
THE VIETNAM WAR

WE'D BEEN THROUGH WATERGATE

WE'D SEEN ONE PRESIDENT
AFTER ANOTHER TARNISHED

BY SCANDAL, BY FAILURE,
BY AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET.

BY 1980, WE WERE PRETTY CYNICAL.

BY 1980, WE HAD JUST BEEN
THROUGH A COUPLE OF YEARS

OF DOUBLE-DIGIT INFLATION.

WE'D SEEN THE SOVIET UNION

SEEMINGLY ON THE MARCH
AROUND THE WORLD

MOST NOTABLY IN AFGHANISTAN.

Narrator:
REAGAN RAN FOR PRESIDENT
ON A CONSERVATIVE PLATFORM

OF LESS GOVERNMENT
AND STRONGER DEFENSE

PROMISING TO RESTORE
AMERICA'S GREATNESS.

Reagan:
MY FELLOW CITIZENS

OF THIS GREAT NATION

WITH A DEEP AWARENESS

OF THE RESPONSIBILITY
CONFERRED BY YOUR TRUST

I ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION FOR THE
PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES.

THEY SAY THAT THE UNITED STATES
HAS HAD ITS DAY IN THE SUN

THAT OUR NATION
HAS PASSED ITS ZENITH.

THEY EXPECT YOU
TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN

THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

NO LONGER HAVE THE WILL
TO COPE WITH THEIR PROBLEMS

THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE ONE OF
SACRIFICE AND FEW OPPORTUNITIES.

MY FELLOW CITIZENS,
I UTTERLY REJECT THAT VIEW.

Maureen Reagan:
HE WAS SO UNHAPPY ABOUT WHAT
WAS HAPPENING TO THE COUNTRY...

THE FACT THAT PEOPLE
DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES

THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT
THEY COULD MAKE THINGS BETTER

THAT AMERICA WAS A NATION
IN DECLINE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND HE KNEW IN HIS HEART
THOSE THINGS WERE NOT TRUE.

AND HE BELIEVED THAT,
AS PRESIDENT

HE COULD MAKE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE LOOK INSIDE THEMSELVES

AND RECREATE WHAT THEY NEEDED TO
HAVE THEIR OWN AMERICAN DREAM.

I THINK HE FELT
SINCERELY IN HIS HEART

THAT HE WAS RESCUING
THE UNITED STATES

FROM A PERIOD
OF POISONOUS SELF-DOUBT

LOSS OF DIRECTION...

LOSS OF BELIEF IN ITSELF.

I THINK HE FELT,
IN THE LATE 1970s

THAT HE COULD RESCUE
JIMMY CARTER'S AMERICA

AND CARRY HER BACK TO THE SHORE
AND MAKE HER ALIVE AGAIN.

Narrator:
REAGAN KICKED OFF HIS
FALL CAMPAIGN IN JERSEY CITY

WITH A GREAT AMERICAN SYMBOL
AS A BACKDROP.

HE ADDRESSED
A BLUE-COLLAR, ETHNIC AUDIENCE

APPEALING TO THEIR PATRIOTISM

AND TO THEIR GROWING SENSE
OF INSECURITY.

Reagan:
LET IT SHOW ON THE RECORD

THAT WHEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
CRIED OUT FOR ECONOMIC HELP

JIMMY CARTER TOOK REFUGE
BEHIND A DICTIONARY.

WELL... IF IT'S A DEFINITION

IF IT'S A DEFINITION
HE WANTS, I'LL GIVE HIM ONE:

A RECESSION IS WHEN YOUR
NEIGHBOR LOSES HIS JOB;

A DEPRESSION IS WHEN
YOU LOSE YOURS...

AND RECOVERY IS
WHEN JIMMY CARTER LOSES HIS.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER NOW,
BUT THAT WAS PROBABLY

THE WORST ECONOMIC SITUATION
THE UNITED STATES HAD BEEN IN

SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION
OF THE 1930s.

INFLATION WAS ROARING,
INTEREST RATES WERE GOING UP

PEOPLE COULDN'T AFFORD
TO BUY HOMES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY

IF THEY WERE OLD ENOUGH
TO DRIVE A CAR THEN...

YOU COULDN'T BUY GASOLINE, NO
MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAD.

WE HAD A HOSTAGE CRISIS IN IRAN.

PEOPLE WERE GETTING WORRIED.

Narrator:
52 AMERICAN DIPLOMATS HAD BEEN
HELD HOSTAGE IN IRAN FOR A YEAR.

THEY WERE A DAILY REMINDER
OF AMERICA'S IMPOTENCE

AND A POLITICAL LIABILITY
FOR JIMMY CARTER.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY

HELPED CREATE
THE ENTIRE SITUATION

THAT MADE THEIR KIDNAP POSSIBLE

AND I THINK THE FACT THAT
THEY'VE BEEN THERE THAT LONG

IS A HUMILIATION
AND A DISGRACE TO THIS COUNTRY.

Narrator:
EVERY DAY THE AMERICAN HOSTAGES
REMAINED IN CAPTIVITY

CARTER'S PROSPECTS
FOR REELECTION DIMMED.

EARLIER THIS EVENING I SPOKE ON
THE PHONE WITH PRESIDENT CARTER.

HE CALLED, JOHN ANDERSON CALLED

BUT THE PRESIDENT PLEDGED
THE UTMOST IN COOPERATION

IN THE TRANSITION
THAT WILL TAKE PLACE.

ALL I CAN SAY TO ALL OF YOU
IS THANK YOU...

AND THANK YOU FOR MORE THAN JUST
GEORGE BUSH AND MYSELF...

THANK YOU
BECAUSE IF THE TREND CONTINUES

WE MAY VERY WELL CONTROL
ONE HOUSE OF THE CONGRESS

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

Narrator:
THE REPUBLICANS
DID GAIN CONTROL OF THE SENATE.

REAGAN BEAT CARTER IN A
LANDSLIDE, CARRYING 44 STATES.

IT WAS A GREAT VICTORY
FOR REAGAN

AND THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT.

Reagan:
I, RONALD REAGAN,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR

THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE

OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

Narrator:
WHEN RONALD REAGAN TOOK OFFICE
IN 1981, EXPECTATIONS WERE LOW.

AT A TIME WHEN AMERICA
FACED AN ECONOMIC CRISIS

AND AN ESCALATING COLD WAR

MANY WONDERED IF ANYONE
COULD MANAGE THE COUNTRY

LEAST OF ALL,
A FORMER HOLLYWOOD "B" ACTOR.

Man:
♪ YOU WENT AWAY
AND MY HEART WENT WITH YOU... ♪

Narrator:
"THINGS COULD GO VERY BADLY
IN THE FIRST YEAR"...

REAGAN'S STAFF HAD WARNED...

"RESULTING IN AN EROSION
OF REPUBLICAN MOMENTUM

AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE."

Man:
♪ ...MY EVERY PRAYER ♪

♪ IF THERE IS SOME OTHER WAY
TO SHOW THAT WE LOVE YOU ♪

♪ I SWEAR WE DON'T KNOW HOW. ♪

Narrator:
BUT REAGAN PROJECTED
GREAT ASSURANCE.

HE BELIEVED...

LIKE FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT
50 YEARS BEFORE HIM...

THAT HIS MISSION WAS TO RESTORE
AMERICA'S TRUST IN ITSELF.

IT IS TIME FOR US TO REALIZE
THAT WE ARE TOO GREAT A NATION

TO LIMIT OURSELVES
TO SMALL DREAMS.

WE'RE NOT,
AS SOME WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE

DOOMED TO AN INEVITABLE DECLINE.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN A FATE

THAT WILL FALL ON US
NO MATTER WHAT WE DO;

I DO BELIEVE IN A FATE THAT WILL
FALL ON US IF WE DO NOTHING.

Smith:
HE AND FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON...

THEY'RE BOTH
GREAT COMMUNICATORS

THEY'RE BOTH BUOYANT OPTIMISTS

AND THEY BOTH CAME TO WASHINGTON

IN PERIODS
OF GREAT ECONOMIC DISTRESS

BUT THERE'S
A MAJOR, MAJOR DIFFERENCE

APART FROM ONE BEING A LIBERAL,
ONE BEING A CONSERVATIVE.

F.D.R. WAS A GREAT IMPROVISER...

HE MADE UP THE NEW DEAL,
ALMOST DAY BY DAY.

REAGAN CAME TO OFFICE
WITH A VERY FIXED SET OF BELIEFS

AND AN AGENDA TO TRY
AND IMPLEMENT THOSE BELIEFS.

Will:
RONALD REAGAN HAD A FEW
VERY SIMPLE PRECEPTS...

GOVERNMENT WAS TOO BIG,
TAXED TOO MUCH

AND THE SOVIET UNION

WAS GETTING AWAY WITH
MURDER INTERNATIONALLY.

"YOU GUYS WORK OUT THE DETAILS."

Narrator:
THE KEY GUYS
IN THE REAGAN WHITE HOUSE

WERE CHIEF OF STAFF JAMES BAKER,
WHO KNEW HOW WASHINGTON WORKED

AND EDWIN MEESE
AND MICHAEL DEAVER

WHO KNEW, FROM SACRAMENTO,
HOW REAGAN WORKED.

THE FIRST LADY.

TO THIS TROIKA

REAGAN DELEGATED
UNPRECEDENTED AUTHORITY.

Anderson:
IN SOME WAYS HE GOVERNED
LIKE A TURKISH PASHA.

HE ASSEMBLED PEOPLE AROUND HIM,
BROUGHT PEOPLE IN

TALKED TO THEM, MADE IT CLEAR
TO THEM WHAT HE WANTED TO DO

AND THEN THE ATTITUDE
SEEMED TO BE

"OKAY, NOW YOU KNOW
WHAT I WANT TO DO, LET'S DO IT."

AND HE JUST ASSUMED
THAT THESE THINGS WOULD BE DONE.

Narrator:
THE FUTURE WOULD
EXPOSE THE WEAKNESS

OF REAGAN'S
PROPENSITY TO DELEGATE

BUT FOR MOST OF HIS FIRST TERM,
THE TROIKA SERVED HIM WELL.

Man:
THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION
HAD MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

BY SENDING UP
SO MUCH LEGISLATION

IN THEIR FIRST HUNDRED DAYS

THAT THE FOCUS BECAME
VERY DIFFUSED.

WE DIDN'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE.

I SAID, "LOOK, OUR 100-DAY PLAN
SAYS WE ARE TO HAVE

"THREE PRIORITIES,
AND THOSE THREE PRIORITIES

"ARE ECONOMIC RECOVERY, ECONOMIC
RECOVERY AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY

"AND THAT'S WHAT
WE OUGHT TO FOCUS ON

FOR THE FIRST 100 DAYS."

Narrator:
IT WOULD COME TO BE KNOWN
AS "THE REAGAN REVOLUTION."

ON ITS SURFACE IT WAS SIMPLE:

A TAX CUT, REDUCTIONS
IN DOMESTIC SPENDING

AND A BALANCED BUDGET.

BUT REAGAN ALSO WANTED
A MILITARY BUILDUP

TO CONFRONT THE SOVIET UNION.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM NOT ONE
TO SHRINK FROM A TOUGH TASK

BUT I MUST ALSO SAY

AND I THINK EVERY CABINET MEMBER
HERE WILL AGREE WITH ME

THAT THE GOALS THAT YOU GAVE US

ARE EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT
TO RECONCILE, BUT I'M...

Narrator:
BUDGET DIRECTOR DAVID STOCKMAN
WARNED REAGAN

THAT WITHOUT DEEP CUTS

BUDGET DEFICITS COULD RISE
AS HIGH AS $100 BILLION

BUT REAGAN WAS CONVINCED
THAT HIS TAX CUT

WOULD STIMULATE PRODUCTIVITY
AND IGNITE AN ECONOMIC BOOM.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD THEN
COLLECT ENOUGH TAXES

TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

IT WAS CALLED
SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS

AND EVEN PROMINENT REPUBLICANS
WERE SKEPTICAL.

Man:
I CAME OUT OF A MEETING
WITH THE PRESIDENT

WHEN HE HAD DESCRIBED
HIS ECONOMIC PROGRAM

WHICH ENTAILED
PRETTY GOOD-SIZED TAX CUTS

AND... AND I WAS ASKED
BY THE GAGGLE OF REPORTERS

OUTSIDE THE NORTHWEST ENTRANCE
TO THE WEST WING OF THE CAPITOL

WHAT I THOUGHT OF IT

AND I UTTERED THE WORDS
THAT PROBABLY SHOULD GO

AT THE VERY TOP OF THE LIST OF
THINGS I NEVER SHOULD HAVE SAID

I SAID, "WELL, ALTOGETHER,
IT'S A RIVERBOAT GAMBLE."

AND IT WAS.

IT'S TIME TO RECOGNIZE THAT
WE'VE COME TO A TURNING POINT.

WE'RE THREATENED
WITH AN ECONOMIC CALAMITY

OF TREMENDOUS PROPORTIONS

AND THE OLD BUSINESS AS USUAL
TREATMENT CAN'T SAVE US.

TOGETHER WE MUST CHART
A DIFFERENT COURSE.

ON FEBRUARY 18

I WILL PRESENT IN DETAIL
AN ECONOMIC PROGRAM TO CONGRESS.

IT WILL PROPOSE BUDGET CUTS

IN VIRTUALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT
OF GOVERNMENT.

Narrator:
THE CUTS FELL MOST DRAMATICALLY

ON PROGRAMS DESIGNED
TO HELP THE POOR.

"I'M TRYING TO UNDO
L.B.J.'S GREAT SOCIETY"

REAGAN WROTE IN HIS DIARY.

"IT WAS HIS WAR ON POVERTY
THAT LED US TO THIS MESS."

REAGAN ALSO CALLED FOR
A 30% TAX CUT ACROSS THE BOARD.

ALL TAXPAYERS WOULD BENEFIT

BUT THE WEALTHY
WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TIP O'NEILL
VOWED TO FIGHT.

REAGAN'S PROGRAM, HE SAID

"SOAKED THE POOR
TO SUBSIDIZE THE RICH."

O'Neill:
HE AND I DON'T AGREE
ON HIS PLAN WHATSOEVER.

I BELIEVE IN
THE PLAN OF FAIRNESS.

VERY EASY TO PUT THE QUESTION,
THE QUESTION IS THIS:

DO YOU MAKE OVER $50,000
OR LESS THAN $50,000?

IF YOU MAKE OVER $50,000

THEN YOU'RE FOR
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN

BECAUSE THAT'S WHO
IT'S GEARED FOR.

JUST MEET WITH THE LEADERSHIP
AND TALK ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS.

Narrator:
REAGAN FACED A FORMIDABLE TASK.

FOR HIS ECONOMIC PACKAGE
TO BECOME LAW

HE WOULD NEED TO CONVINCE
26 OF O'NEILL'S DEMOCRATS

TO BREAK RANK.

IN THE FIRST
100 DAYS OF HIS PRESIDENCY

REAGAN MET WITH 467 LEGISLATORS
AND PHONED MANY MORE.

ONCE HE CALLED 29 MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS IN A SINGLE NIGHT.

Baker:
HE NEVER ONCE MOANED

ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE
A CONGRESSIONAL CALL

BECAUSE PRESIDENT REAGAN
UNDERSTOOD

THAT WE JUDGE OUR PRESIDENTS

ON THE BASIS PRIMARILY
OF THEIR SUCCESS

IN GETTING THEIR PROGRAMS
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

WE WOULD GIVE HIM A SCRIPT

FOR EACH OF THESE
CONGRESSIONAL CALLS

AND HE NEVER,
HE NEVER MISSED IT.

HE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY
HARD WORKER.

Man:
MOST OF AMERICA THOUGHT

THAT HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WATCHED
TELEVISION AND WENT TO BED.

HE DIDN'T.

EVERY SINGLE NIGHT
HE WOULD DO A STACK OF WORK.

AND HE WOULD ALMOST OBSESSIVELY

GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE BIT
OF PAPER HE WOULD GET.

INDEED, THE FIRST LADY
EARLY ON COMPLAINED

THAT I WAS KEEPING HIM UP
TOO LATE AT NIGHT

BUT THE "TOO LATE"
WAS 2:30 IN THE MORNING.

Narrator:
IN HIS EFFORT
TO SELL HIS PROGRAM

REAGAN'S BEST WEAPON
WAS HIS POWER OF PERSUASION.

Maureen Reagan:
HE HAD THE ABILITY

TO PROJECT OUT OF HIMSELF...
THAT'S WHAT ACTORS DO.

THEY MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPY OR SAD.

THEY MAKE YOU LAUGH AND CRY.

THEY MAKE YOU FEEL
ALL OF THE EMOTIONS.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE IN POLITICS

AND YOU WANT TO GET
A MESSAGE ACROSS TO PEOPLE

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO...
TO GO IN FRONT OF YOURSELF

AND TO PROJECT OUT
TO THOSE PEOPLE.

ALL YOU WANTED TO DO WAS

FIX THE CAMERA ON HIS HEAD
AND LET HIM TALK.

YOU DIDN'T NEED HIM

TO WALK AROUND THE DESK
AND SIT ON THE CORNER

AND DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS

THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DO
TO MAKE POLITICIANS INTERESTING.

HE WAS ABLE TO SPEAK IN WAYS

THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
BELIEVED

AND IN A LANGUAGE
THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD.

HE VOCALIZED THEIR FRUSTRATIONS
AND HOPES AND FEARS

AND GAVE THEM A VISION.

DURING RECENT MONTHS,
MANY OF YOU HAVE ASKED

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP MAKE
AMERICA STRONG AGAIN.

I URGE YOU AGAIN TO CONTACT
YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN.

TELL THEM OF YOUR SUPPORT
FOR THIS BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL.

TELL THEM YOU BELIEVE THIS
IS AN UNEQUALED OPPORTUNITY

TO HELP RETURN AMERICA
TO PROSPERITY

AND MAKE GOVERNMENT AGAIN
THE SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE.

HE WOULD MAKE A SPEECH...
TELEVISED NATIONAL ADDRESS...

AND SAY, "CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN,
CALL YOUR SENATOR, HELP ME OUT.

HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO DO"

AND, BOY, THE CALLS
WOULD FLOOD THE WH...

WOULD FLOOD
THE CONGRESSIONAL SWITCHBOARDS.

IT WAS VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE.

Narrator:
WITH EVERY APPEAL

REAGAN'S CONSERVATIVE
AGENDA GAINED MOMENTUM.

BY MARCH, TWO-THIRDS
OF AMERICANS

FAVORED THE PRESIDENT'S PROGRAM,
ESPECIALLY THE TAX CUT.

"SOMETIMES I HAVE
TO PINCH MYSELF

TO SEE IF THIS IS REAL,"
SAID DEAVER.

"SO DO I," REAGAN REPLIED
WITH A SMILE.

ON MARCH 30, 70 DAYS
INTO HIS PRESIDENCY

REAGAN DELIVERED YET ANOTHER
PITCH, TO A UNION CONVENTION

AT THE WASHINGTON HILTON HOTEL.

AT 2:25, HE LEFT THE MEETING
AND APPROACHED HIS LIMOUSINE.

Deaver:
I RAN TO THE CAR
BEHIND THE LIMOUSINE.

I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

WE STARTED GOING OVER DIVIDERS
ON CONNECTICUT AVENUE

AND REALIZED WHEN WE CAME
INTO THE PORTE COCHERE

AT GEORGE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL,
THAT WE WERE GOING THERE.

I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND
REAGAN'S GETTING OUT OF THE CAR

AND HE ALWAYS HAD THIS THING
WHERE HE WOULD PULL HIS PANTS UP

TO BE SURE THEY WERE JUST RIGHT,
BUTTON HIS COAT AGAIN

WHICH HE DID WHEN HE GOT OUT
OF THE LIMOUSINE.

AND I THOUGHT, "HE'S FINE,"
WALKED INTO THE HOSPITAL.

THE MINUTE HE HIT THE DOOR,
HE WENT DOWN.

Nancy Reagan:
WHEN I GOT THERE

EVERYBODY'S STILL TELLING ME

"HE HASN'T BEEN SHOT,
HE HASN'T BEEN HIT."

UH... AND I THINK
IT WAS MIKE DEAVER

WHO WAS STANDING WAITING FOR ME

AND I THINK HE WAS THE ONE
WHO TOLD ME THAT HE'D BEEN HIT.

Narrator:
A DERANGED LONE GUNMAN,
JOHN HINCKLEY, JR.

HAD FIRED SIX BULLETS
AT THE PRESIDENT.

ONE RICOCHETED
OFF REAGAN'S LIMOUSINE

AND TORE INTO HIS LEFT LUNG,
MISSING HIS HEART BY AN INCH.

Davis:
I WAS AFRAID THAT HE WOULD DIE

AND THAT HE WOULD DIE
WITHOUT ME REALLY KNOWING

WHO MY FATHER WAS.

I KNEW HOW CLOSE TO DEATH
HE WAS ONCE I GOT TO WASHINGTON.

THE COUNTRY DIDN'T KNOW
UNTIL YEARS LATER.

HE WAS SO WHITE.

I HAD NEVER SEEN
ANYBODY SO WHITE

AND HE HAD THAT THING
OVER HIS FACE

TO HELP HIM BREATHE,
AND THERE WAS BLOOD.

AND, UH... HE OPENED HIS EYES
AND SAW ME...

AND, UM... THAT'S WHEN HE SAID,
"HONEY, I FORGOT TO DUCK."

Narrator:
REPORTS OF REAGAN'S COURAGE
REASSURED AN ANXIOUS NATION.

Deaver:
THAT WAS THAT MOMENT

WHEN WE REALLY
SAW INSIDE THE MAN.

WE REALLY SAW
WHAT HE WAS MADE OF

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
THAT GRACE AND THAT HUMOR

AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME
IN THIS LIFE.

THE QUIPS TO THE DOCTORS

"I HOPE YOU'RE ALL REPUBLICANS"
AND THAT KIND OF STUFF

AND "HONEY, I FORGOT TO DUCK"

THAT WASN'T
SOME INVENTION OF SOMEBODY.

HE WAS ACTUALLY DOING THAT.

AND PROBABLY GOING
THROUGH HIS MIND

IS, "GEE, I HOPE I'M NOT
PUTTING THESE PEOPLE OUT."

Reporter 1:
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

Reporter 2:
HOW DO YOU FEEL?

GREAT... GREAT.

Reporter 3:
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO

WHEN YOU GET HOME,
MR. PRESIDENT?

WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO

WHEN YOU GET HOME?

SIT DOWN.

Narrator:
REAGAN RETURNED
TO THE WHITE HOUSE

12 DAYS AFTER BEING SHOT.

ONLY THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM

KNEW HOW TRANSFORMING HIS
NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE HAD BEEN.

Smith:
I THINK IT CONFIRMED

EVERYTHING HE'D EVER BEEN
TAUGHT, BEGINNING BY HIS MOTHER

ABOUT GOD'S PLAN FOR HIM
AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

MOTHER TERESA CAME TO
THE WHITE HOUSE WITH NO FANFARE

NOT LONG AFTER
THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

AND MET PRIVATELY
WITH THE PRESIDENT

AND AT THE END OF THE MEETING

SHE TOLD THE PRESIDENT
THAT GOD HAD A PLAN FOR HIM

AND THAT GOD HAD INTENDED
FOR HIM TO SUFFER.

Morris:
THAT WAS WHEN HE DECIDED THAT
THE LIFE WHICH HE'D BEEN SPARED

WAS NOW GOING TO HAVE
TO BE PUT TO THE SERVICE

OF THE GOD WHO HAD SAVED HIM.

HE BECAME MORE MUCH MORE DEVOUT
AND EVANGELICAL

FROM THAT MOMENT ON.

HIS THOUGHTS BECAME SLOWER.

HIS SPEECH BECAME SLOWER.

HE DELIBERATED MORE.

HE HESITATED MORE WHEN HE SPOKE.

HE LOST HIS QUICKNESS.

AND FOR THE REST
OF THE PRESIDENCY

IT WAS A VERY, VERY
SLOW AND STEADY

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DECLINE.

Man:
MRS. REAGAN NEVER RECOVERED.

MRS. REAGAN WAS HORRIFIED.

AND SHE GAVE IMMEDIATE
INSTRUCTIONS TO MICHAEL DEAVER

WHO WAS HER CONTACT
IN THE CHIEF OF STAFF'S OFFICE

WORDS TO THE EFFECT, "THIS WILL
NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN...

YOU SEE TO IT."

AND THEY SAW TO IT.

HE NEVER WALKED ACROSS
AN AIRPORT TARMAC.

HE NEVER WORKED A FENCE LINE.

HE NEVER GOT OUT
OF HIS LIMOUSINE

ON A PUBLIC SIDEWALK.

BUT IT BEGAN TO CLOSE
DOWN THE PRESIDENCY

EVEN MORE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF
ACCESS TO THE AVERAGE CITIZEN...

THE AVERAGE VOTER
IN THIS COUNTRY.

Cannon:
IT TOOK REAGAN OUT OF MOST OF
THE ROUTINE OF BEING PRESIDENT.

IN A SENSE, IT ABORTED THE INNER
LIFE OF THE PRESIDENCY...

PUT THE REAGAN PRESIDENCY
ON THIS TRACK

WHERE REAGAN WAS MORE DISTANCED
THAN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN

FROM DECISION MAKING.

Narrator:
ON APRIL 28, FOUR WEEKS
AFTER THE ATTEMPT ON HIS LIFE

A BARELY RECOVERED REAGAN

RECEIVED A HERO'S WELCOME
FROM CONGRESS.

Reagan:
THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO TALK ME
INTO AN ENCORE, WOULD YOU?

MR. SPEAKER, MR. PRESIDENT

DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
OF THE CONGRESS

HONORED GUESTS
AND FELLOW CITIZENS

I HAVE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION FOR THAT GREETING.

I HAVE COME
TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT

ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC
RECOVERY PROGRAM

AND WHY I BELIEVE

IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT CONGRESS
APPROVE THIS PACKAGE.

Man:
THERE HE WAS

I THINK THIS GREATE
STAND HISTORICIC CE CONGRESS.

HERE'S A

A VERY DEADLY SHOT
OF AN ASSASSIN

AND TO COME BACK WITH SUCH ELAN

AND TO ASK FOR SUPPORT
WAS BIG STUFF.

YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT HOLLYWOOD DRAMA.

HE PLAYED IT FOR ALL IT
WAS WORTH, AND HE SHOULD HAVE.

I THINK THAT THAT'S WHEN

HE PROBABLY RAN HIS VOTE
UP OVER THE TOP.

ON THIS VOTE, THE AYES ARE 238,
THE NAYS ARE 195

AND UNDER THE RULES...

Narrator:
THE SENATE VOTED
OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR

OF HIS ECONOMIC PACKAGE.

IN THE HOUSE

REAGAN HAD CONVINCED ENOUGH
DEMOCRATS TO BREAK RANK.

HE REJOICED IN WHAT HE CALLED

"THE GREATEST POLITICAL WIN
IN HALF A CENTURY."

Tip O'Neill:
MR. PRESIDENT, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU'RE A TOUGH ADVERSARY.

NO HARD FEELINGS, OLD PAL.

IT'S A GREAT TWO PARTY-SYSTEM
WE HAVE.

WE GAVE OUR BEST,
AND YOU OUTDID US.

AS A MATTER OF FACT,
YOU STUNNED US.

I NEVER FIGURED YOU
COULD BEAT US THAT BADLY.

YOU'RE A LITTLE
STUNNED YOURSELF.

WELL, LISTEN, I WANT TO WISH YOU
ALL THE SUCCESS IN THE WORLD.

THE FISCAL POLICY OF THE NATION
NOW BELONGS TO YOU.

YOU'VE GOT TWO CLEAR-CUT
VICTORIES UP HERE.

Narrator:
ON AUGUST 13, 1981

REAGAN HEADED FOR
HIS RANCH IN THE SKY

TO SIGN THE BILL

WHICH WOULD TURN HIS
CONSERVATIVE AGENDA INTO LAW.

Darman:
IT WAS PERFECT FOR THE IMAGERY

OF THE WESTERN,
ROMANTIC, AMERICAN TRADITION.

IT'S SYMBOLICALLY

AN IDEAL PLACE
TO START THE RATIFICATION

OF STEP ONE
OF THE REAGAN REVOLUTION.

AND SO, IT WAS A WELL-CHOSEN
SET, AT LEAST IN CONCEPT.

IN REALITY, THE PARTICULAR DAY
TURNED OUT TO BE ONE

WHERE YOU COULDN'T SEE
MUCH OF ANYTHING.

THERE WAS THIS TREMENDOUS FOG
THAT POURED IN.

YOU COULD HARDLY SEE
THE PRESIDENT

WHEN HE CAME OUT
TO SIGN THE BILL.

YES, THE THOUGHT
DID CROSS MY MIND

THAT MAYBE WE WERE ALL DOING
SOMETHING IN A FOG...

THAT IS,
WITHOUT AS CLEAR A VISION

AS WE SHOULD HAVE HAD
OF WHAT WE WERE UP TO.

Narrator:
THE BILL REAGAN SIGNED THAT DAY

DID NOT INCLUDE
A BALANCED BUDGET.

WITHOUT FURTHER CUTS

THE UNITED STATES WOULD FACE THE
LARGEST DEFICIT IN ITS HISTORY.

Reporter:
HOW MUCH MORE IN BUDGET CUTS
ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS

AND WILL YOU STILL BE ABLE
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IN '84?

WELL, THIS HAS ALWAYS
BEEN OUR GOAL

AND WILL CONTINUE
TO BE OUR GOAL

BUT REMEMBER THAT WE ALWAYS SAID

THAT THERE WERE FURTHER
BUDGET CUTS

FOR THE COMING YEARS,
FOR '83 AND '84.

Narrator:
THAT FALL, BUDGET DIRECTOR
DAVID STOCKMAN TOLD REAGAN

HE WOULD HAVE TO CUT DEEP
INTO DEFENSE SPENDING...

THE KEYSTONE
OF HIS ANTI-SOVIET POLICY...

AND SOCIAL SECURITY
IF HE WANTED A BALANCED BUDGET.

Darman:
WHEN HE WAS PRESENTED
WITH THE QUESTION

OF WHETHER HE WOULD REDUCE
THE RATE OF GROWTH OF DEFENSE

HE DECIDED NOT TO

AND CONCLUDED THAT THOUGH
HE DIDN'T WANT THE DEFICIT

HE... THE COUNTRY WOULD TOLERATE
IT IF THE ECONOMY WERE STRONG.

HE ALWAYS PHRASED IT THIS WAY:

IF IT WERE A QUESTION
OF BALANCING THE BUDGET

OR REGAINING STRONG MILITARY
CAPABILITIES

HE'D ALWAYS OPT FOR THE LATTER.

AND HE NEVER, NEVER
WAVERED IN THAT.

HE HAD A CHANCE
TO TACKLE ENTITLEMENTS

HE HAD A CHANCE TO BREAK
SOCIAL SECURITY COSTS

AND HE WASN'T WILLING TO DO IT

BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE FORFEITED

HIS MOST PRECIOUS ASSET...
HIS POPULARITY... TO DO IT.

AND HE WASN'T WILLING
TO DO THAT.

Narrator:
THOSE WERE FATEFUL DECISIONS.

REAGAN WOULD NEVER AGAIN HAVE
AS GOOD AN OPPORTUNITY

TO ADJUST HIS BUDGET

AND AVOID THE BALLOONING
DEFICITS OF THE DECADE AHEAD.

THAT YEAR, THE ECONOMY TOOK
A DOWNWARD TURN.

BY NOVEMBER, BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS
WHO HAD VOTED FOR RONALD REAGAN

WERE LOSING THEIR JOBS.

INFLATION HAD PROMPTED
THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

TO INCREASE INTEREST RATES.

REAGAN WAS FORCED TO ADMIT

THAT THE NATION WAS HEADED
INTO A RECESSION.

Reporter:
MR. PRESIDENT, YOUR SECRETARY
OF THE TREASURY, DONALD REGAN

YESTERDAY GAVE
A RATHER PESSIMISTIC VIEW

OF THE NATION'S ECONOMY.

HE CALLED IT A "REAL DOWNER"
THAT WE WERE FACING.

DO YOU SHARE HIS PESSIMISTIC
VIEW OF THE ECONOMY?

ARE WE IN FOR A "REAL DOWNER,"
IN YOUR OPINION?

WELL, I DON'T KNOW

WHAT HIS DEFINITION IS
OF A "REAL DOWNER."

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE SOME HARD TIMES

FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE
A PICKUP IN THE ECONOMY

AND I THINK THAT DON REGAN
BELIEVES THIS ALSO

IN SPRING OR LATEST
EARLY SUMMER.

Narrator:
THAT SPRING, WHEN
THE PRESIDENT VACATIONED

AT THE HOME OF ACTRESS
CLAUDETTE COLBERT

THERE WERE NO SIGNS
OF IMPROVEMENT.

REAGAN, WHO HAD SEEN HIMSELF
AS COMING TO AMERICA'S RESCUE

BEGAN TO BE CAST
AS CALLOUS AND INSENSITIVE;

"SPLASHING IN THE LAP OF LUXURY,
WHILE AMERICANS GO HUNGRY"

ONE REPORTER WROTE.

BUT THE PRESS RESERVED
ITS HARSHEST CRITICISM

FOR THE FIRST LADY

CALLING ATTENTION
TO HER DESIGNER DRESSES

HER LAVISH ENTERTAINMENT

HER MILLIONAIRE FRIENDS

HER NEW WHITE HOUSE CHINA

FAILING TO NOTE
THAT IT HAD BEEN DONATED.

THE EXTRAVAGANCE
OF THE REAGAN WHITE HOUSE

ADDED TO THE PERCEPTION
OF INSENSITIVITY...

A PERCEPTION
REAGAN BITTERLY RESENTED.

Morris:
HIS INVARIABLE LINE

WHEN THE SUBJECT OF POVERTY
AND HOMELESSNESS WAS RAISED WAS:

"I KNOW ABOUT,
ALL ABOUT THE DEPRESSION

"BECAUSE I WAS OUT HITCHHIKING
ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE

"LOOKING FOR WORK IN THE DEPTHS
OF THE DEPRESSION.

I KNOW ABOUT POVERTY."

ACTUALLY, IT WAS JUST A MATTER
OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HE GOT A JOB VERY QUICKLY

AND FROM JANUARY 1933 ONWARD

NEVER HAD TO LOOK ANYWHERE
FOR A SALARY CHECK.

IF YOU WANTED SOMETHING DONE
BY MY FATHER

IF YOU WANTED HIM TO MOVE A
CERTAIN WAY ON A CERTAIN POLICY

WHAT YOU HAD TO DO WAS
HUMANIZE IT... BRING HIM A PERSON

THAT'S AFFLICTED
BY SOME PROBLEM OR ANOTHER

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEN
IT BECOMES VERY REAL TO HIM.

HE WOULD HAVE THREE
OR FOUR CHECKS, PERSONAL CHECKS

IN THE TOP DRAWER OF HIS DESK
IN THE OVAL OFFICE

AND HE WAS ALWAYS RUNNING OUT
OF THOSE CHECKS

BECAUSE HE WAS WRITING CHECKS
TO PEOPLE.

I WENT IN THERE ONE TIME

AND HE HAD WRITTEN A CHECK
TO SOME WOMAN WHO WAS ON WELFARE

AND THE NEXT MONTH
HE GOT HIS BANK STATEMENT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BANK
STATEMENT HAD THESE CHECKS

AND HER CHECK WASN'T IN IT.

SO HE CALLED HER ON THE PHONE

AND SAID, "YOU KNOW,
YOU HAVEN'T CASHED THAT CHECK."

SHE SAID, "OH, NO, I FRAMED IT."

HE SAID, "WELL, MY GOD,
I SENT YOU THAT MONEY

"SO YOU'D HAVE
SOME MONEY TO EAT.

"I'LL SEND YOU ANOTHER CHECK

YOU KEEP THAT ONE FRAMED
AND CASH THIS ONE."

SIMPLY BECAUSE HE BECOMES AWARE
OF ONE PERSON'S PLIGHT

AND RESPONDS TO IT
AS A HUMAN BEING

DOESN'T REALLY SOLVE
THE PROBLEM.

I MEAN, HE'S BASICALLY
RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

AND HE HAS TO DEAL
WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY

NOT SIMPLY
AS AN INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN.

Narrator:
AS THE RECESSION DEEPENED
THROUGH 1982

ITS EFFECTS WERE FELT
ACROSS AMERICA.

FARMERS WERE DRIVEN OFF THEIR
LAND BY HIGH INTEREST RATES.

IN THE CITIES,
HOMELESSNESS BECAME A SCANDAL.

THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES FAILED.

UNEMPLOYMENT REACHED
ITS HIGHEST LEVEL

SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

"I PRAYED A LOT DURING
THIS PERIOD," REAGAN WROTE

"NOT ONLY FOR THE COUNTRY
AND PEOPLE WHO WERE OUT OF WORK

BUT FOR HELP AND GUIDANCE
IN DOING THE RIGHT THING."

PRESSURE ON REAGAN
TO CHANGE COURSE MOUNTED.

HIS PROGRAM... NOW DERIDED
AS "REAGANOMICS"...

HAD NOT ONLY FAILED
TO PRODUCE GROWTH

BUT WAS LEADING THE NATION
INTO FISCAL DISASTER.

"WE ARE REALLY IN TROUBLE,"
REAGAN CONFIDED TO HIS DIARY.

"OUR PROJECTIONS
ARE OUT THE WINDOW.

"WE LOOK AT $200-BILLION
DEFICITS

IF WE CAN'T PULL OFF
SOME MIRACLES."

EVEN TRUE BELIEVERS
WERE DISILLUSIONED.

DAVID STOCKMAN,
TIRED OF ARGUING FOR CUTS

NOW URGED THE PRESIDENT
TO RAISE TAXES.

"REAGAN," WROTE COLUMNISTS
EVANS AND NOVAK

"WAS HAVING TO FIGHT
TWO-THIRDS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION

TO SAVE HIS ECONOMIC PROGRAM."

Smith:
THERE ARE VERY FEW
CONVENTIONAL POLITICIANS

WHO WOULD HAVE STUCK IT OUT
AS HE DID.

BUT HE CAME TO OFFICE IMBUED
WITH A CONVICTION

THAT LESS GOVERNMENT
AND LOWER TAXES

WOULD RESOLVE
THE PERVASIVE SICKNESS

OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

AND WHAT HE SAW 1982 AS

WAS THE FEVER
THAT WAS ABOUT TBREAK.

Narrator:
REAGAN STAYED THE COURSE.

"I BELIEVED THE ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WOULD WORK," HE WROTE

"BECAUSE I HAD FAITH
IN THOSE TAX CUTS

AND FAITH
IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE."

BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE
LOSING FAITH IN RONALD REAGAN.

Man:
HE'D BETTER READ THE PAPERS

A LITTLE BETTER.

GO DOWN TO
THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE

AND SEE ALL THE PEOPLE
STANDING THERE

GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS...

THOSE THAT CAN GET THEM AND
THOSE THAT HAVE RAN OUT OF THEM

AND SO FORTH.

THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF
HASN'T GOT THE MESSAGE YET.

I DON'T LIKE TO TURN TO WELFARE

BUT IF THAT'S WHAT
IT TAKES TO GET BY

UNTIL THIS CURRENT ECONOMIC
SITUATION IS THROUGH

THAT'S WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO.

I THINK THE AMERICAN DREAM
IS IN THE PAST.

IT'S LONG GONE.

Crowd:
WHAT DO WE WANT? JOBS!

WHEN DO YOU WANT THEM? NOW!

WHAT DO WE WANT? JOBS!

Narrator:
ON NOVEMBER 2

IN CRITICAL MID-TERM ELECTIONS

VOTERS WOULD PASS JUDGMENT
ON RONALD REAGAN

AND HIS CONSERVATIVE PROGRAM.

REAGAN WATCHED

AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
GAVE A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE

BY THROWING 26 REPUBLICANS
OUT OF THE HOUSE.

THE POLITICAL DISASTER HIS STAFF
HAD FEARED WAS UPON HIM.

WITH 11.6 MILLION PEOPLE
OUT OF WORK

WOULD YOU BE WILLING
TO HAVE SOME CUTBACKS

IN DEFENSE SPENDING

TO HELP THESE PEOPLE
WHO ARE OUT OF WORK?

Cannon:
HAVE YOU RULED OUT
THE POSSIBILITY

THAT YOU WOULD MODIFY IN ANY WAY

YOUR CALL FOR
AN INCREASED DEFENSE BUDGET

MAYBE JUST FOR THIS ONE YEAR?

Narrator:
RONALD REAGAN HAD VOWED
TO FIGHT COMMUNISM.

NOW HIS DEFENSE BUILDUP...

THE CHIEF WEAPON
IN HIS ANTI-SOVIET CRUSADE...

WAS COMING UNDER ATTACK.

IN WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

THE LARGEST PEACETIME GATHERING
IN AMERICAN HISTORY

NEARLY ONE MILLION PEOPLE
RALLIED IN CENTRAL PARK

TO CALL FOR A FREEZE
IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS PRODUCTION.

ALL OF US WANT TO LIVE
AND WE WANT LIFE

FOR OUR CHILDREN
AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.

Narrator:
TWO YEARS INTO HIS PRESIDENCY

THE TALK IN WASHINGTON
WAS OF CHAOS AND DISARRAY.

"THE QUESTION NO LONGER IS
WHETHER REAGAN HAS FAILED"

WROTE A CONSERVATIVE ANALYST

"BUT THE MAGNITUDE AND
RAMIFICATIONS OF HIS FAILURE."

BY JANUARY 1983,
REAGAN'S APPROVAL RATING

HAD PLUMMETED TO 35%.

HER HUSBAND, NANCY CONFIDED
TO A REPORTER

MIGHT NOT SEEK A SECOND TERM.

Man:
I BROUGHT HIM THE BAD NEWS
THAT HIS JOB RATING WAS LOW

AND... HE WAS VERY SERIOUS
FOR A MOMENT

AND THEN HE SMILED
AND HE THEN REACHED OVER

AND PATTED ME ON THE ARM

AND SAID, "I KNOW JUST
WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

I'LL GO OUT AND GET SHOT AGAIN."

Narrator:
IF REAGAN'S PRESIDENCY FAILED

HIS CRUSADE TO PROTECT AMERICA
FROM BIG GOVERNMENT

BEGUN IN 1964,
WOULD FAIL WITH IT.

HIS CRUSADE TO SAVE THE WORLD
FROM COMMUNISM, BEGUN IN 1946

WOULD FAIL, TOO.

RONALD REAGAN HAD COME TO OFFICE
TO RESCUE AMERICA.

NOW HE WAS THE ONE
IN NEED OF RESCUE.