The Reasan Revolution
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The Reasan Revolution Interviewer: Nino Romani Interviewee: Steven Douglas Symms Instructor: Mr. David Brandt February 9'\ 2005 OH ROM 2005 Romani, Nino Table of Contents Release Form Pg2 Statement of Purpose Pg 3 Biography Pg4 Historical Contexualization: The Reagan Revolution: A New Way of Thinking Pg 6 hiterview Transcription Pg 18 Time Indexing Log Pg5] Interview Analysis Pg 53 Appendixes Pg 60 Works Consulted Pg 62 ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCIIOOL Oral History Project Interviewee Release Form 1, S Ig^e ^ y/M/^ S hereby give and grant to St. Andrew's (interviewee) Episcopal School the absolute and unqualified right to the use of my oral history memoir conducted by /!/, •1'^ Hp.'^a^ '• on I ^/i^ f^'i . I understand that (student intei'viewer) (date) the purpose of this project is to collect audio- and video-taped oral histories of first-hand memories of a particular period or event in histoi')' as part of a classroom project (The American Century Project). 1 understand that these interviews (tapes and transcripts) will be deposited in the Saint Andi'ew's Episcopal School library and archives for the use by future students, educators and researchers. Responsibility for reproduction, distr'ibution, display, and the creation of derivative works will be at the discretion of the librarian, archivist and/or' project coordinator. I also understand tliat the tapes and ti'anscripts may be used in public pi'esentalions including, but not limited to, books, audio or video documentaries, slide-tape presentations, exhibits, articles, public performance, or presentation on the World Wide Web at the project's web site www.americancenturyproject.org or successor technologies. In making this contract I understand that I am conveying to St, Andrew's Episcopal School library and archives all legal title and literary property rights which I have or may be deemed to have in my interview as well as my right, title and interest in any copyright related to this oral history interview which may be secured under the laws now or later in force and effect in the United States of America. This gift, however, does not preclude any use that I myself want to make of the information in these transcripts and recordings. I herein warrant that I have not assigned or in any manner encumbered or impaired any of the aforementioned rights m my oral meniou-. The only conditions which I place on this unrestricted gift are: 1. o; », Type or Print Name' Address 1 ^// 'i Jo-l Date 8804 Postoak Road • Potoi-nac, Maryland 20854 • (301) 983-5200 • Fax; (301) 983-4710 • hll]):/Avww.saes.org Romani 3 Statement of Purpose The purpose of conducting this inter\'iew was to create a clearer understanding of what has been dubbed the Reagan Revolution through the experiences of a man who was a key figure in it. The Reagan Revolution encompasses a time period in American political history that this interviewee explains. As a former Senator, tbis interviewee's intent was to provide a personal perspective on the events that formulated the Reagan Revolution, Romani 4 Biography of Steven Douglas Symms Steven Douglas Symms was born in Nampa, Canyon County, Idaho on April 23, 1938. He went to Caldwell High School and had a normal childhood. After high school, Syinms attended the University of Idaho. There, he studied agriculture and after three years earned his bachelor degree in science agriculture. After earning his degree he served three years in the nmrines. His service in The U.S Marine Corps created many relationships he would sustain. It also provided him an invaluable experience that he would take with him through the rest of his career. The Marine's taught him to be respectful and disciplined through training. After his tliree-year tenure as a marine, Symins went back to the family business in Caldwell, Idaho. This business was Symms Fruit Ranch Inc. This business specialized in apples. Symms makes reference to his family business when discussing legislation that involves businesses. In 1972, Steve Syinms decided to run for the U.S, House of Representatives from Idaho. He began campaigning and soon realized that many people shared his point of view. He won the seat and began making an impact by pushing conservative ideals in the Romani 5 House. He did this by initiating, promoting, and voting for legislation that followed his own conservative ideolog)'. After eight years in the House of Representatives, he ran for the United States Senate. He upset the popular long-tenn incumbent. In 1986 he protected his seat in the Senate against the ten-year sitting governor of Idaho. During his time as a Senator he was a metnber of multiple committees including the budget committee, finance committee and the joint economic committee. During his tiine in public service he received numerous awards. After retiring as a Senator he started his own consulting firm. He then became a lobbyist. He remains involved in politics, in particular the Idaho state politics. Along with staying active in the political world, Symms enjoys golf and is an avid player of the sport. Steve Symms is currently a lobbyist and lives in Virginia with his wife Loretla. Romani 6 The Reagan Revolution: A Ne\\> Way of Thinking The Reagan Revolution was a new way of thinking for Americans. In 1980, the American people elected Ronald Reagan as their president. He was the first truly conservative president since the 1950's when Dwight D. Eisenhower was in office. He was also the man responsible for beginning a new era in American history, Ronald Reagan was the fortieth president of the United States of America. He was the successor to Jimmy Carter. Reagan was elected president in 1980 and took office in 1981. Prior to this he was a B grade movie star and the governor of California. Before being nominated as a presidential candidate he spoke his consei^ative views as governor. His experience as an actor allowed him to have great public appeal, which is what led him to popularity. His influence on America during this time period will change the course of Aincrican history and it is important to gain a full understanding of how it managed to create such an iinpact. Reagan's predecessor, Jimmy Carter, was an intelligent, ailiculate and well- meaning president (Kennedy 586) however, due to inflation, oil prices, and a general lack of public appeal, it was a perfect opportunity for the Republican Party to control the White House (Gillon 8). Prior to Jimmy Carter, presidents were for the inost part People had been voting with the Democratic Party. The Republican Party was in a slumber, however, was poised for a surge during Jiinmy Carter's presidency. The election of 1980 was between Carter, a Deinocrat, and Reagan, a Republican. Within the Deiuocratic Party, there was strife on several issues. People felt that Carter did Romani 7 not have control of affairs. The United States was an unstable nation and things were not looking positive. The economy was struggling due to inflation and the ever-looming Cold War caused the American people to be troubled. People wanted a change. Even within the Democratic Party's notnination process, Ted Kennedy challenged Carter in order to present a different opinion and icon within the Deinocratic Part>' and also to boost his own political career. Kennedy offered ways to deal with the inflation. The people felt that Carter was not doing a sufficient job as the president of the United States, Kennedy was one of those people. This, however, did not work out in Kemiedy's favor due to an incident in which a woinan assistant was drowned in Kennedy's car after Kennedy inadvertently drove his car off a bridge. This happened July 20"', 1969 and it brought along with it a negative view of Kennedy, which he would politically never fully recover from despite his impact as a senior Senator (Kennedy 586). This nomination process, however, caused divisions within the Democratic Party and left Carter to try and retain the presidency against a strong Republican opposition. The Republicans thought to take full advantage of the Democratic Party's predicament and did so by gaining support for Reagan as a nominee. During the election, Reagan managed to utilize his public appeal and oration skills in order to present his new ideals to the American people. These ideals went against those of presidents in the several revamp the economy from what it had been in Carters presidency, less money needed to be given to the government and more of it needed to be given back to the people so they could invest in the econoiny (Niskanen 1). He initiated the conservative view that people could spend their money better than the government could. In order to apply this view. Romani 8 taxes needed to be lowered and federal spending needed to be cut back. He was also very firm when it came to dealing with the Soviet Union. His hard nose policy would continue throughout his presidency. This can be seen in his initiation of the SDI. Also, the idea of "peace tliiough strength" was an assertive policy that caused the Soviet Union to collapse due to a struggling economy. The platform that Carter ran on was based on the belief that Reagan would not handle the situation with the Soviet Union in a smart way. He said that Reagan would lead the US into nuclear war. Despite this, Reagan won by a landslide. People voted for him because of his new ideals and general public appeal. When Reagan took office, he made an enormous impact.