Ronald Reagan is celebrated by many as a transformative president who revitalized the American spirit. Known as the “Great Communicator,” his rhetoric painted a picture of unity, prosperity, and renewed greatness. However, beneath the polished speeches and nostalgic slogans, Reagan’s presidency was marked by policies that deepened economic inequality, attacked workers’ rights, and exacerbated racial and social divides. Far from being a president for all Americans, Reagan was an architect of a political strategy that prioritized the wealthy and corporate interests while eroding protections for the most vulnerable.
The Birth of “Make America Great Again”
The slogan “Make America Great Again,” now synonymous with Donald Trump, originated in Reagan’s 1980 campaign as “Let’s Make America Great Again.” It played on the same nostalgic appeal—invoking a mythical past of prosperity and stability. Reagan leveraged this slogan to win the hearts of millions who believed that America had lost its way. Yet the policies behind the phrase painted a different picture: one of regression, not progress.
Reagan’s vision of “greatness” centered on dismantling New Deal-era policies and cutting back on social programs, all while promoting tax breaks for the wealthy. His rhetoric promised opportunity and upward mobility, but his policies disproportionately favored those already at the top, leaving many Americans struggling in the aftermath.
Trickle-Down Economics: A Broken Promise
Reagan’s economic platform rested on “trickle-down economics,” the theory that cutting taxes for the wealthy would spur investment, create jobs, and ultimately benefit everyone. In 1981, he slashed the top marginal tax rate from 70% to 50% and later reduced it further to 28%. While these tax cuts brought windfalls for corporations and the ultra-rich, they failed to deliver the promised benefits for the broader population.
Economic inequality widened as wealth accumulated at the top. Between 1980 and 1988, income for the top 1% grew by over 50%, while wages for average workers stagnated. The reduction in federal revenue from these tax cuts forced Reagan to make difficult choices. In 1984, he approved a tax on Social Security benefits for retirees—saddling some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens with an unexpected financial burden. This decision revealed the contradictions at the heart of Reaganomics: while cutting taxes for the rich, the administration sought to offset revenue losses by taxing programs relied upon by ordinary Americans.
A War on Labor
Reagan’s presidency marked a turning point in the relationship between the federal government and organized labor. His most famous confrontation came in 1981, when over 11,000 air traffic controllers went on strike for better pay and working conditions. Rather than negotiating, Reagan fired the striking workers and banned them from federal employment. This unprecedented move sent a clear signal: unions were no longer welcome as advocates for workers’ rights.
The destruction of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) emboldened corporations to suppress union activity, leading to a sharp decline in union membership. Between 1980 and 1989, union participation dropped from 23% of the workforce to 16%. The loss of collective bargaining power weakened protections for workers and contributed to stagnant wages, rising job insecurity, and the erosion of the middle class—a legacy that continues to affect the American workforce today.
Racial Division in the Reagan Era
Reagan’s policies and rhetoric often exacerbated racial tensions, tapping into long-standing prejudices to justify cuts to social programs. His portrayal of welfare recipients as “lazy” or undeserving frequently invoked racial stereotypes, despite the reality that the majority of welfare beneficiaries were white. Reagan popularized the term “welfare queen” in a thinly veiled effort to vilify Black women receiving public assistance.
The cuts to welfare and other social safety nets disproportionately harmed communities of color. Reagan also targeted programs like affirmative action and federal aid for minority-owned businesses, arguing that they undermined meritocracy. His administration’s opposition to civil rights advancements and its lackluster response to the AIDS crisis further alienated marginalized communities.
Reaganomics and Its Long-Term Fallout
Reaganomics promised prosperity but delivered instability for most Americans. While the stock market soared and corporate profits reached new heights, the policies failed to address the needs of average citizens. Poverty rates remained stubbornly high throughout the 1980s, and the national debt tripled under Reagan’s watch, growing from $900 billion in 1980 to $2.6 trillion in 1988. Much of this debt was fueled by military spending, as Reagan pursued an aggressive defense buildup.
The dismantling of social safety nets, combined with a weakened labor movement, left millions of Americans vulnerable to economic shocks. The benefits of economic growth during the Reagan years were overwhelmingly concentrated at the top, creating a legacy of inequality that persists today.
The Divide and Conquer Strategy
Reagan’s political success relied heavily on dividing Americans along racial and class lines. His administration framed social programs as burdens rather than benefits, convincing working-class white Americans to view welfare recipients—often portrayed as people of color—as the enemy. This “divide and conquer” strategy distracted from policies that concentrated wealth and power in the hands of a few.
By vilifying unions, slashing social programs, and cutting taxes for the wealthy, Reagan pitted workers against each other and eroded the solidarity needed to demand change. The effects of this strategy are still felt today, as Americans grapple with income inequality, racial disparities, and a weakened social safety net.
Reassessing Reagan’s Legacy
Ronald Reagan’s presidency is often romanticized as a time of renewed American greatness. Yet a closer examination reveals a leader who prioritized the wealthy over the working class, dismantled protections for workers, and deepened racial and economic divides. His use of “Let’s Make America Great Again” set the stage for future political movements that weaponized nostalgia while ignoring the realities of systemic inequality.
Reagan was not the unifying figure he is often portrayed to be. His policies disproportionately benefited the rich, dismantled protections for ordinary Americans, and perpetuated harmful racial stereotypes. As we reassess his legacy, it becomes clear that Reagan’s vision of “greatness” left many Americans behind—and its consequences continue to shape our nation today.
