Reagan's presidency and 1980s teen comedy and drama narratives

REAGAN & the 80S MOVIES

The objective of this work is to take a closer look into popular movies in the 1980s and the role Ronald Reagan's presidency played in them. This work will take three different years in the 1980s, or specifically the years of 1982, 1985, and 1986, and parallel them with two different genres: Teen Comedy and Drama and show how these films follow the same narrative. This narrative will follow the theme of (1) Outsiders; (2) Redemption; and (3) Victory.

The era of the Regan administration is one that is characterized by a slipping away from morals and values traditionally held evidenced in the breakdown of the traditional family structure, racial turmoil, crime, school problems, drugs, and declining sexual morality. Reagan was one of the most popular among U.S. President in the 20th century. Writer, Robert Stacy McCain, for the Washington Times states of Regan that Reagan "transformed politics and government while ensuring that the United State could win the Cold War." (2004) McCain goes on to relate that Reagan personified (in the eyes of many) "the American dream. Rising from a poor Midwestern family to movie stardom on his talent and good looks..." (Ibid)

Overview of Reagan's Policies (Reaganomics)

While Reagan's policies did not always find popularity a national poll toward the end of his presidency showed that 68% of Americans approved of the job he was doing. (Ibid; paraphrased) Ronald Reagan was witty, quick, and good with people. In 1981 the largest tax cut in U.S. History was won by Reagan from Congress. Reagan called his economic plan, which has been called 'Reaganomics' included cutting taxes, deregulation of private enterprises and savings and investment incentives. In fact Reagaonmics were comprised of four primary elements for reversal of the: "...high-inflation, slow-growth economic record of the 1970s" (Niskanen and Moore, 1996) Those four elements were:

1) a restrictive monetary policy designed to stabilize the value of the dollar and end runaway inflation;

2) a 25% across-the-board tax cut enacted (the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981) designed to spur savings, investment, work, and economic efficiency;

3) a promise to balance the budget through domestic spending restraint; and 4) an agenda to roll back government regulation." (Niskanen and Moore, 1996)

By late in the year of 1982 the national recession was winding down and experienced a strong recovery in the following years. Another factor that must be considered is the fact that media growth in the 1980s was astronomical with cable television, CNN and satellite television all being developed during this decade. The work entitled: "Movies and the Reagan Presidency: Success and Ethics" states that: "The 1980s were unique in both American history and the history of the cinema. It was a time when a United States president - a former B-movie actor and Cold War industry activist -- served as a catalyst for the coalescence of trends Hollywood's political structure, mode of production, and film content. Ronald Reagan championed a success ethos that recognized economic and moral self-governance as the basis of a democratic society." (Jordan, 2003) Reagan's tax reform and deregulation of the industry brought about diversification through conglomerates with movie production and release achieving a: "maximum revenue potential." (Jordan, 2003)

In the work entitled: "Our Media, Not Theirs: The Democratic Struggle Against Corporate Media" the authors relate the statement of Ralph Nader as follows:

the founders [of the United States] guaranteed freedom of the press because they knew democracy required rich and diverse sources of information and ideas." (McChesney and Nichols, 2002)

Related as well is the Wilsonian view that: "...an elite of gentlemen with 'elevated ideals' should govern in order to sustain 'stability and righteousness'. The intelligent minority of 'responsible men' must control decision making." (McChesney and Nichols, 2002) it is a view that looks kindly upon suppression of the masses by the 'responsible men' for the public's own good'. It is stated that: "the modern public relations industry was strongly influenced by Wilsonian progressives who advocated 'the engineering of consent' a technique of control employed by the responsible men for the benefit of the flock, the ignorant masses whose minds must be 'regimented as much as an army regiments their bodies." (McChesney and Nichols, 2002)

McChesney and Nichols state that: "The claim that American media is the result of market competition won by a handful of multinational corporations is one of the Big Lies that media firms desperately propagate." (2002) the truth is that the media is "the direct result of government action- laws and regulatory policies- that established not just the playing field but the winners of the game." (McChesney and Nichols, 2002)

Background of Ronald W. Reagan

Ronald W. Reagan was a Democrat who greatly admired Franklin Roosevelt however, during the 1950's Reagan's policies as well as his ideals shifted toward conservatism. In 1962 Reagan changed his registration to that of a Republican. In 1966 Reagan ran for Governor of the state of California and won against incumbent Democratic Governor 'Pat' Brown and served two consecutive terms. It was at this time that Reagan gained political attention on a national scale. At the time Reagan left office as California's Governor the state had a $550 million surplus. (Curry, 2004) Reagan married Jane Wyman and then after they divorced married his wife former first lady, Nancy David Reagan. Reagan was not a spotless individual however, he was viewed as extremely moral and ethical. Another important characteristic of Reagan was his ability to understand the need and desire for those who lead to provide symbolic leadership as well if those they lead are to feel secure in their leader. Reagan was an example that others have since attempted to emulate however, what was easy for Ronald Reagan has proven more difficult for others. Reagan was also an excellent communicator and seemed genuine, warm, sincere and patriotic from the heart as far as one could perceive. Reagan sprang from the roots of America from a working-class family out of the Midwestern United States. He first began his career as a radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs over the station 'WHO'. (Curry, 2004) it is stated that Reagan "often cast as the foil to leading men like Errol Flynn, Reagan was best known for the 1940 film "Knute Rockne, All American," in which he played Notre Dame football star George Gipp." (Curry, 2004) Curry relates that story told by Reagan about the time he played the character Drake McHugh in the drama entitled "Kings Row." Drake McHugh, awoke from anesthesia to find out that a surgeon, sadistic by nature, had amputated his legs and asks: "Where's the rest of me?" Reagan states, as related by Curry (2004) that: "At night I would wake up staring at the ceiling an automatically mutter the line before I went back to sleep. No single line in my career has been so effective in explaining to me what an actor's life must be." (the Autobiography of Ronald Reagan as cited by Curry, 2004) During World War II Reagan made Army Air Force training films. During the 1950's Reagan hosted a television series, specifically "General Electric Theater." During 1964 Reagan gave a speech that was broadcast on national television supporting Barry Goldwater, Republican candidate. Curry (2004) states that: "The speech was a Reaganesque recasting of FDR rhetoric: "You and I have a rendezvous with destiny," Reagan said. "We can preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on Earth, or we can sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness." (Curry, 2004)

II. Redemption

As Ronald Regan began his second term as U.S. President, his approval rating was at 62%. In November of 1985 Reagan traveled to Geneva for a summit meeting with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. What has been scheduled as a private 15 minutes meeting between President Reagan and Soviet Gorbachev turned into a one hour conversation that while disagreeing on the space defense initiative established an agreement to seek a reduction of 50% in nuclear arms and the statement of "a nuclear war cannot be won and must not be fought." (Timeline of Ronald Reagan's Life, 1999) on November 25, 1985, Reagan reported to congress about the meeting in Geneva and received a hero's welcome. (Timeline of Ronald Reagan's Life, 1999)

The movie entitled: "The Breakfast Club" was released during the years that Reagan was President. This movie is one in which the authority figure dominates throughout the film and is one in which social class boundaries are crossed as the teenagers in the film come from many different backgrounds and social classes. Another film release during Reagan's presidency was Rocky IV. Rocky IV was harshly criticized by critics even before its' release. Rocky IV is about Rocky Balboa who is to meet his "Russian counterpart Ivan Drago (played by Dolph Lundgren) a machine-like pugilist of unearthly and perfect bodily features" (the Tech, 1985) in the ring, Drago and Balboa "are able to resolve their differences." (the Tech, 1985)

In 1985 the United States was still in the middle of the 'Cold War' and the Soviet Union was still in the process of building a massively large war machine and the United States was in the process of designing space-based weapons to defend in case of a nuclear attack. In the movie Rocky IV while Drago is training in a scientifically savvy Soviet Gym, Rocky is running through the Siberian wilderness for his training. This contrasts mirrors the contrast between the United States and the Soviet Union since the Soviet Union were known at the time for superiority in technology, Americans were known for their determination to win no matter the costs. This movie was a great predictor of the ending of the Cold War. President Reagan had stated to Mikhail Gorbachev: "Tear down the wall" and this was to the chagrin of many who criticized Reagan harshly for not conforming to approved political manners in his speech. Economically speaking, Reaganomics had begun to show positive results by the time Reagan was in his second-term of the U.S. Presidency.

For example:

Real economic growth averaged 3.2% during the Reagan years versus 2.8% during the Ford-Carter years and 2.1% during the Bush-Clinton years." (Niskanen and Moore, 1996)

Secondly there was a $4,000 growth to the real median family income during the years Reagan was president with no growth in the pre-Reagan years and a $1,500 reduction in the post-Reagan years. (Niskanen and Moore, 1996; paraphrased) Third, there was faster falling of interest rates, inflation and unemployment during Reagan's presidency than before or after his presidency. Stated fourth and final is the fact that:

The only economic variables that was worse in the Reagan period than in both the pre- and post-Reagan years was the savings rate, which fell rapidly in the 1980s." (Niskanen and Moore, 1996)

The following chart labeled Figure 1 shows the 'real economic growth rates, by President beginning with President Eisenhower through President Clinton.

Real Economic Growth Rates * by President

Average annual change in chain-weighted GDP

Source: Cato Institute Calculations - Economic Report of the President, 1996

Ronald Reagan was seen by the American public as one that had redeemed himself in that conditions in the United States were much superior to those at the time that Ronald Reagan had entered office as the U.S. President. Phillip Klein writes in the article "Rocky IV Turns 20" published at American Spectator that:

just as Reagan's contribution to ending the Cold War was widely recognized after his death, so too should we give Rocky IV the credit it deserves. In a tight 91 minutes, the film summarizes the major events and themes of the Cold War, and foreshadows the fall of communism that was to occur just a few years after the film's release." (2005)

III. Victory - 1986

The following chart labeled Figure 2 illustrates the success of Ronald Reagan in achieving his goals for the U.S. Budget.

Budget Trends before, during and after Reagan's Presidency

Percentage Change Pre-Reagan Reagan Post-Reagan FY1973 FY1981 FY1989 FY1996 1973-81 1981-89 1989-96

Billions of 1987 Dollars

Total outlays 620.3 867.7-1,057.2-1,170.5-39.9-21.8-10.7 Defense 197.2 198.2 285.9 197.0-0.5-44.2 -31.1 Domestic 380.0 581.1 615.0 790.0-52.9-5.8-28.5 Interest 43.1-88.4 156.3 183.5 105.1-76.8-17.4 Receipts 582.7 766.6 916.2-1,062.1-31.6-19.5-15.9 Individual income tax revenue 260.7 365.8 412.2 469.6-40.3-12.7-13.9 Deficit 37.6 101.0 141.0 108.4 168.6-39.6 -23.1 Debt held by the public 860.7-1,004.7-2,025.2-2,805.4-16.7 101.6-38.5 GDP (chain-weighted 1992 $)* 3,902.3-4,724.9-6,060.4-6,742.9-21.1-28.3-11.3

Percentage of GDP

Total outlays 19.3-22.9-22.1-21.4-3.6 -0.8 -0.7 Defense 6.0-5.3-5.9-3.6 -0.7-0.6 -2.3 Domestic 11.9-15.3-12.9-14.5-3.4 -2.4-1.6 Interest 1.4-2.3-3.3-3.3-0.9-1.0-0.0 Receipts 18.1-20.2-19.2-19.4-2.1 -1.0-0.2 Individual income tax revenue 8.1-9.6-8.6-8.6-1.5 -1.0-0.0 Deficit 1.2-2.7-2.9-2.0-1.5-0.2 -0.9 Debt held by the public 26.8-26.5-42.3-51.4 -0.3-15.8-9.1 Source: Niskanen and Moore, 1996

Ronald Reagan must have felt like the character in the movie entitled: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" felt when he rebelled against the rules and figures of authority in his life and achieves the goals he has for the day. Ferris Bueller was a high school senior who decided to play sick and skip school for the day. Ferris talks his friend Ruck, a very nervous type into taking his father's 1961 Ferrari GT California out for a ride although the friend's father has memorized the odomotor (mileage) on the car. Ferris promises the friend that he will set the mileage back upon their return. The friends enjoy a day out at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Art Institute and the Chicago Board of Trade. This film appealed to teenagers of the day was written and directed by John Hughes, the same writer and director of the film the Breakfast Club.

Another movie of the Reagan era was the movie "Top Gun" which was about a character names Lieutenant Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell. Mitchell was a naval aviator with aspirations to be a top fighter pilot in a military school that is so prestigious that it trains only the top 1% of naval aviators and get the chance to do just that when one pilot in the school drops out. This film begins with 'Maverick' being a cocky young aspiring pilot fighter and ends with him learning hard lessons, recovering his nerve, and finally a hero and flight instructor at Top Gun.

Raphael Atlas writes:

Nearly two decades after Top Gun opened in mid-May 1986, both Rove's elaborate multimillion-dollar knockoff and the claque's overheated reviews witness its currency, its jingoistic power, and its central topic: young male sexuality and narcissism in combat gear. In the week following its release, one month after Reagan's warplanes bombed Libya, it emerged the strongest performer at the box office and eventually became the year's top-grossing film. A "brazenly eroticized recruiting poster" (Denby 102), a "110-minute commercial for the Navy," (Lamar) -- the Navy itself used clips in its own television campaign -- it was made under the aegis of that service by director Tony Scott, who earned his reputation in television advertising. For the production, the Navy made available technical advisers, about twenty fighter pilots, two aircraft carriers, the Miramar Naval Air Station, and a small fleet of $37 million F-14s; Navy Secretary John Lehman personally interceded whenever snags came up (Lindsey) in return, the Navy reserved, and exercised, the right to alter the production as it saw fit; characters in the script were changed at its behest. Predictably, the movie helped to spark a surge in enlistment." (Atlas, 2005)

It is reported that the real effects of the film's box office success were evidenced in two markets which were: (1) orders for videocassettes "prebooked in record numbers, sales remaining in the top five for more than a year; and (2) the clothing market (bomber jackets and rayban sunglasses). In a 2002 report entitled: "Armed Forces to Try a Hollywood Pitch for Luring Recruits" it is stated that Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen has stated:

Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun' did more for recruiting than any strategy we've ever come up with," Mr. Cohen said of the movie that featured daring aerial engagements." (Becker, 2000)

Conclusion

Ronald Reagan, in his farewell address stated:

They called it a Reagan revolution. Well, I'll accept that, but for me it always seemed more like the great discovery, a rediscovery of our values and our common sense." (Timeline of Ronald Reagan's Life, 1999)

Ronald Reagan left the office of Presidency "with the highest approval rating of any President since Franklin Roosevelt." (Timeline of Ronald Reagan's Life, 1999) in November of the year that Ronald Reagan left the office of the U.S. presidency the Berlin Wall that physically separated East and West Germany was opened and on December 15 of the same year the Soviet Union was dissolved by Mikhail Gorbachev. On November 30, 1981, the U.S.-Soviet Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) negotiations began in Geneva, Switzerland and meeting took place between Soviet leader Mikhail "Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan four times in the period between 1985 and 1988. Finally in 1988 President Reagan and Soviet leader Gorbachev concluded the Intermediate-Range Nuclear-Force Missile Treat (INF), which reduced intermediate nuclear forces sharply. (Ibid; paraphrased) the work of Gil Troy entitled: "Morning in America: How Ronald Reagan invented the 1980s" states that upon Reagan's death the speechwriter of Ronald Reagan Peggy Noonan wrote:

In the 1980s Ronald Reagan offered his fellow Americans a perspective, a set of glasses that helped their "glorious sharply outlined world jump into focus." For some, it was a "miracle" that would see America revive, the Soviet Union falter, and the once seemingly unassailable Berlin Wall fall. For others, Reagan's vision represented a national myopia that was immoral, adolescent, and dangerous. But then as now, whether they "shouted in delight" or muttered in frustration, few could deny Reagan's significance -- or the importance of the decade he dominated, as his funeral confirmed." (Troy, 2005)

The 1980s were characterized by:

new technologies, ideologies, and bureaucracies, along with revolutions in economics, marketing, advertising, and conceptions of leisure, had transformed the cautious American customer, once wary of chain stores, into the 1980s' sale-searching, trend-spotting, franchise-hopping shopper. Spurred by Reagan's gospel of progress and prosperity, Americans happily indulged themselves. "God wants you to succeed," Reverend Robert Schuller preached from his "shopping center for God," the $19.5 million Crystal Cathedral seating three thousand. Shopping became the great American religion, with advertising jingles uniting Americans through a common liturgy. Loudmouths in stadiums would shout "Tastes great," echoing a popular Budweiser commercial for light, spelled lite, beer. The Pavlovian crowd would respond: "Less filling!" -- round after round. Malls sprouted like mushrooms across the landscape, creating huge, homogenized, artificial environments, killing off main streets and helping franchises gobble up individual entrepreneurs. And Americans became more obsessed than ever with having the latest, the hottest, the best -- an obsession exemplified by the craze for cherubic-faced Cabbage Patch dolls, the must-get gift of Christmas 1983 that arrived with a birth certificate and hospital papers. " (Troy, 2005)

The rhetoric of Reagan causes this prosperity to appear "patriotic -- and transcendent." (Troy, 2005) Troy states additionally that Ronald Reagan was: "...a surprisingly nimble politician, Ronald Reagan understood the alchemy of leadership, especially in the modern world. More than anything else, and transcending all the president's half-steps and hypocrisies, missteps and muddles, Reagan's all-American outlook defined his times. Reaganism was liberty-laden but moralistic, consumer-oriented but idealistic, nationalist but individualistic, and consistently optimistic. Cataloguing Reagan's attributes is not enough; they must be seen in action and understood in context. Reagan's vision, this gift, demands that the two stories be told together, chronicling Ronald Reagan and America in the 1980s, the decade he dominated and helped define. " (Troy, 2005)

There is no denying the influence that media has upon the day-to-day events in the world and even more so upon the way that the public perceives these events. Certainly it is acknowledged that political figures certainly use media to the advantage of both themselves and the promotion of their agenda however, in Reagan's case it went much deeper in that the media loved Reagan just as did Hollywood and almost all that came in contact with him. Ronald Reagan's patriotism was like a fire that caught in America and burned bright instilling hope into all Americans and resulted in very positive accomplishments during the time that Ronald Reagan spent in the office of President of the United States. Ronald Reagan had a way with people and his uninhibited enthusiasm for the United States and the people that comprise the United States was contagious and effective in bringing the American public into agreement on policy matters and even more important, it was this that managed to lure Mikhail Gorbachev into dissolution of the Soviet Union, the opening of the Berlin Wall, and finally the ending of the 'Cold War'.