The Reagan effect
Subtitle: economics and presidential leadership
By: John W. Sloan.
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Lawrence, Kan
Language: eng
Number of pages: 311
Subjects: Reagan, Ronald.; Supply-side economics -- United States.; Conservatism -- United States -- History -- 20th century.; Political leadership -- United States -- History -- 20th century.; United States -- Economic policy -- 1981-1993.; United States -- Politics and government -- 1981-1989.
Description: Now that Reagan's achievements and failures have become more obvious, it is time for a new nonpartisan appraisal of his leadership and its impact on the nation. That is precisely what John Sloan delivers.

Sloan focuses especially on the questions raised in the highly polemical debates between conservatives and liberals concerning Reagan's economic policies. He gives equal time to both sides, showing how liberals were wrong in their predictions of gloom, while conservatives continue to grant Reagan more credit and status than he deserves.

While Sloan suggests that the net effects of Reagan's presidency were positive, he is not uncritical. He contends that Reagan's ridicule of attempts to promote social justice ultimately diminish his image as a great moral leader. He also observes that effective government - such as relying on the Federal Reserve to control inflation - was an essential component in Reagan's leadership, thus contradicting the antigovernment stance of many conservatives.

Sloan concludes that Reagan's impact, as opposed to his rhetoric, was not to displace liberalism but to weld conservatism to it, and that neither the era of big government nor the need for effective national public policies is over.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 271-297) and index.