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 Inaugural Parade 1/20, from NA
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Reagan proclaimed in his Inaugural Address that "government is not the solution to our problem" and proclaimed "Our reluctance for conflict should not be misjudged as a failure of will. When action is required to preserve our national security, we will act."
but "voodoo economics" and "wedge politics" and "sleaze factor" and "nancyfication"
Hostages freed after 444 days on Reagan's $16m Inauguration Day
Nancy wore 4 dresses by Adolpho, Blass - Ron ordered 3.5 tons Jelly Bellys
White House renovations to cost $44 million; Nancy's new china to cost $209,508
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 Inaugural Family Photo (standing from left to right) Geoffrey Davis, Dennis Revell, Michael Reagan, Cameron Reagan, President Reagan, Neil Reagan, Dr. Richard David, Ron Junior. (sitting from left to right) Anne Davis, Maureen Reagan, Colleen Reagan, Mrs. Reagan, Bess Reagan, Patricia Davis, Patti Davis, Doria Reagan 01/20/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C140(12)) from NA
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 Inauguration was 1st on west front of Capitol facing the National Mall
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Reagan agenda:
- Stop inflation - the "silent thief"
- Cut spending, taxes, welfare, bureaucracy
- Strengthen defenses
- Confrontation rather than negotiation
- Social Issues: pro-school prayer, anti-abortion
 Poseidons on USS Charleston
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 Boeing E-3A AWAC
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inner circle: James Baker, Chief of Staff, "grand producer" Michael Deaver, Deputy, Ed Meese, A-G
Triad of B-1 bomber, MX missile, Trident sub restored; 600-ship Navy and neutron bomb funded.
AL Haig at confirmation hearing for Secretary of State: "There are more important things than peace - things which we Americans must be willing to fight for."
Reagan Doctrine confronted the Brezhnev Doctrine behind the CIA "veil"
- Wm Casey's CIA (1987 book by Bob Woodward Veil : The Secret Wars Of The CIA, 1981-1987 )
- Afghan mujahedeen given the new Stinger AA missiles developed in 1982 to replace the 1960s Marine Corps Redeye.
- supported "authoritarian" regimes like Marcos in the Philippines, not "totalitarian" regimes of Andropov 1982-4 or Chernenko 1984-5 in USSR.
- Stage 1 of the Iran-contra affair: covert operations began in Nicaragua, harbors mined by CIA (would be exposed 3/6/84)
Reagan reversed Carter "leprosy letter" that had required American officials to avoid selling arms to foreigners. Instead, State Dept. appointee James Buckley initiated the sale of Boeing AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems) radar jets to Saudi Arabia despite protests from Israel, and the sale of General Dynamics F-16 jet fighters to Pakistan, South Korea, Israel and Venezuela. The world's leading gun runner Sarkis Soghanalian helped Reagan sell arms to Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The U.S. became global arms merchant
"Rawhide" shot by John Hinckley March 30, told "Rainbow" "Honey, I forgot to duck"
 Reagan waving to crowds immediately before being shot in an assassination attempt, Washington Hilton Hotel 03/30/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C1426(16)) from NA
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 Chaos outside the Washington Hilton Hotel after the assassination attempt on President Reagan 03/30/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C1426(26)) from NA
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"Who's in charge?" - "Vicar" Haig (State) vs. "Cap" Weinberger (Defense) - Haig would resign June 1982, replaced by hawkish George Shultz.
1st shuttle Columbia flew April 12, 1981.
April 28 - Economic Recovery program speech proposed drastic cuts in domestic programs to stop the growing federal deficit. However, after the first year of the program, unemployment had risen to 10%, 17,000 businesses had failed, inflation remained high and the recession continued.
Sandra Day O'Connor first woman appointed to Supreme Court.
- also Elizabeth Dole as Secretary of Transportation
- but O'Connor was not a Reaganite revolutionary: she opposed school prayer and the death penalty for juveniles, favored affirmative action for women.
"Bonnie & Clyde" of the Far Right: James Watt tried to sell offshore oil leases; Anne Burford opposed the Clean Air Act (81,000 tons per day from autos; Mt. St. Helens produced 2000 tons in one day).
James Edwards appointed to Energy Department; Terrel Bell to Education
 PATCO strikers
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 Sandra Day O'Connor 07/15/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C3015(7) ) from NA
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 1st Cabinet 02/04/1981 (NLS-WHPO-C487(2) ) from NA
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Reagan fired PATCO strikers, called baseball strike "cultural terrorism"
Senate rejected 96-0 Reagan's proposed OASDI cuts (Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance), but passed Social Secuirty tax (SS & Medicare were 27% of total federal budget, part of the "safety net" protected by Congress since FDR)
Reagan signed largest U.S. tax cut and took David Stockman to the "woodshed" but in 1982 he would raise taxes with the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFR).
of 1982.
Poland martial law, Solidarity outlawed, Welesa imprisoned
Reagan responded with pipeline sanctions
Next - Reagan 1982
