Ronald Reagan
Brief Introduction
What is leadership? Leadership is an influence relationship among leaders and
followers who intend real changes and outcomes that reflect their shared purposes.
Before even becoming President, as governor of California, Reagan paid off huge debts
accrued by his liberal predecessor and led his state to unprecedented levels of prosperity
and productivity. As our 40th President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan was
greatly known for his bold new economic and political initiatives. Creating the economic
policy “Reaganomics,” he brought about deregulation and substantial tax cuts which were
implemented in 1981. After surviving an assassination attempt during his first term,
Reagan began a strong fight against organized labor, while also ordering various military
actions in Grenada. With a landslide win in his reelection of 1984, his second term was
focused mainly on foreign matters, more specifically the ending of the Cold War, the
revelation of the Iran-Contra affair, and the bombing of Libya. Describing the USSR as
an evil empire, Reagan was involved in numerous negotiations with the Soviet Union
resulting in the decrease of both countries’ nuclear weapons (INF Treaty). Today,
Reagan clearly ranks in the top class of former US Presidents in many categories. In this
paper, I will be talking more specifically about how President Reagan not only was a
success, but how his success is a reflection of his leadership skills, and how he used these
skills while in office.
Reaganomics
While in his first term, the United States inflation rate was stated at 11.83 percent
and unemployment at 7.5 percent. Before taking action, President Reagan showed a great
sense of vision for a country in need of change. He implemented policies based on
supply side economics and advocated a classical liberal and laissez faire philosophy.
Reagan sought to stimulate the economy with large tax cuts. He promoted this process
by portraying how these tax cuts will stimulate the economy enough to expand the tax
base, getting rid of the revenue loss due to reduced rates of taxation. With these income
tax rates lowered significantly during his presidency, the country soon began to recover
from the 1982 recession, with millions of new jobs being created and inflation decreasing
at a rapid pace.
I included this picture because I think it portrays the basic skills of a great leader. As
seen in the photo, Reagan did not rush into his Reaganomics without a plan or vision. He
knew what he needed to do to bring about change and created his own strategy for a
successful future. Although a very simple photo, it shows Reagan explaining his plan
and/or strategy for his Tax Reduction Legislation. By doing so, Reagan provided a great
sense of direction for the country. His tax cuts, federal monetary policy, deregulation,
and expansion of free trade created a sustained economic expansion creating arguably the
greatest wave of prosperity ever. With our economy growing over a third in size, every
income group, from the poor to the rich, grew in income.
“We who live in free market societies believe that growth, prosperity and ultimately
human fulfillment, are created from the bottom up, not the government down. Only when
the human spirit is allowed to invent and create, only when individuals are given a
personal stake in deciding economic policies and benefiting from their success -- only
then can societies remain economically alive, dynamic, progressive, and free. Trust the
people. This is the one irrefutable lesson of the entire postwar period contradicting the
notion that rigid government controls are essential to economic development.”
Cold War
With the USSR building a great military arsenal and its army surpassing that of
the United States, Reagan acted by encouraging the Soviet Leader, Gorbachev, to pursue
a substantial arms agreement. Reagan’s main goal was to hopefully persuade the Soviets
to allow for more democratic practices and free speech, with the hope of ending
Communism and its influences around the globe. Reagan and Gorbachev signed the
Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty at the White House, which eliminated an
entire class of nuclear weapons. Reagan visited Moscow in 1988, where ironically, he
was viewed as a celebrity by the Russians. While getting along with numerous Russian
citizens and journalists, Reagan gave a speech at the Moscow State University on free
markets, at the request of Gorbachev.
Again, I have chosen to include a photo of Reagan, more specifically, of him and
Gorbachev while signing the INF Treaty. In the case of the Cold War, two leadership
qualities Reagan portrayed was intention and influence. Clearly, the main goal for
Reagan was to open the gates of Democracy to the USSR and Gorbachev. This time
period showed Reagan’s great influence as a leader, not only domestically, but outside
our borders. A key characteristic Reagan displayed during his influence internationally
was his drive and desire. From the beginning, Reagan made it clear it was not going to
be easy when dealing with the USSR, but did not give up. He kept urging various parts
of Eastern Europe to open up to democracy and free market economies. Gorbachev was
stated as saying, “He was a man who was instrumental in bringing about the end of the
Cold War,” while also acknowledging nor a win or a loss, but rather a peaceful end. This
time period also expresses the importance of relationships as a leader. Reagan, although
wanting change in the USSR, kept a stable and in the end, helpful relationship with its
competitor. Furthermore, Reagan advanced freedom and achieved the “impossible”
when the Soviet Union collapsed and America won the Cold War.
Reagan as A Leader
Although these two instances are only a few of his many portrayals of leadership,
both show how Ronald Reagan was indeed, a true leader of not only our country, but
around the world. With his revitalizing economic policies, he took a suffering America
and made not only our economy better, but made the citizens once again believe in their
destiny. One of his most important characteristics as president was also his positive
attitude. His attitude was very consistent and continued to portray positive vibes
throughout both terms. This is very important as a leader because all of your followers
will coincide with your actions and words, whether being negative or positive. By
offering Americans a positive, uplifting vision of America and its future, optimism
flourished throughout country. More importantly, he matched an optimistic view with
bold, consistent action. He believed that all Americans had a great stake in the future of
our country and that ordinary citizens should get involved in passing on a freedom
philosophy, just as he did. Personally, I think Reagan’s most important characteristic as a
leader was his connection with his people. Earning the name, “The Great
Communicator,” President Reagan was very well known for his relationships with his
citizens. Relationships as we see, are a very important aspect of leadership and an
ongoing theme in dealing with any leader, as discussed in class. President Reagan
thrived when it came to building relationships with his people, one of the many reasons
for his success and popularity. Without these relationships, there would have been no
connection or stability between him and his followers. He was described by the people
who worked for him as a kind, humble, and decent person, and, as can be seen in many
places today, people will follow a leader only if they like him or her personally.
Furthermore, President Reagan had a great moral foundation, seeing right and wrong. To
him, communism was evil, and the human craving for freedom was good. Reagan’s good
heart not only benefited him during the good times, but the bad times as well. He was
called the Teflon President because criticism towards him didn’t stick. Many say it’s
because he was a decent person with high character, and most people forgive mistakes
made by leaders who have conviction and a good heart.
Again, as talked about before, Reagan had great vision as a leader. His long term
visions to end the Cold War and block intrusive government articulated the direction he
thought was best for the country. When dealing with government, he expressed that
government didn’t fix the problem, but government was the problem. He believed that
government closest to home serves the people best. His policies were based on the fact
that people knew the needs of their own communities better than distant federal
bureaucrats in Washington, DC. During his presidency, Reagan also portrayed a great
sense of security within himself. By hiring once former opponents such as George Bush
and James Baker, it enabled Reagan to always have the potential to succeed in the best
way possible. The last two characteristics that President Reagan carried out as a leader
was his ability to stay true to his people and his ability to lead a balanced life. People that
were close to Reagan would tell stories of how he would greet everyone he met with
respect and generosity, whether it was a leader of another country or a waitress at a
dinner. He disregarded rank, title, social status, etc. As he believed, a leader is not above
his people, but is their servant. That is why people followed him lovingly. Lastly, the
one trait that can be admired by any person was his devotion to his wife Nancy.
Although he was often accused of taking too much time off to be with his family and not
enough time as President, Ronald Reagan made a valiant effort to keep his life in balance.
He never allowed his demands at work to overtake his obligations to his family. This, in
my opinion, is a great and powerful trait of a leader; someone not only succeeding as a
great leader in the public’s eye, but also manages to lead a happy lifestyle. As President
Reagan once said, “It’s true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the
chance?” As a conclusion, Ronald Reagan led our country out of its “malaise” by
instilling in us his own belief in the greatness of America- our history, our system of
government, our freedom, and especially, our people.
Various Leadership Quotes of Ronald Reagan
Personal Leadership
“A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must
have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets
rough.” - 1990
Family Leadership
“All great change in America begins at the dinner table.” – 1989
Leadership in the Workplace
“Those who say that we’re in a time when there are no heroes just don’t know
where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates.
Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the
world beyond… There are entrepreneurs…who create new jobs, new wealth and
opportunity… Their patriotism is quiet but deep. Their values sustain our
national life.” – 1981
Courageous Leadership
“You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, ‘There is a price we will not
pay.’ There is a point beyond which they must not advance.” – 1964
Community Leadership
“I have a dream that some day we can provide you with the revenue sources that
have been co-opted by the federal government, so that local money no longer has
to make the round trip through Washington before you can use it back in your
local area- minus a certain carrying charge.” – 1982
State Leadership
“There are a great many things that the state government should do that the
federal government has no business doing.”
National Leadership
“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.” – 1980
Youth Leadership
“There is a flickering spark in each of us which, if struck at just the right age, will
light up the rest of our lives.” – 1982
Citizen Leadership
“As long as we remember our first principles and believe in ourselves, the future
will always be ours.” – 1989
Ronald Reagan
Christopher Kelly
Management 3331
Professor Michael Onorato
Written Assignment- Leadership Analysis