Fairfax, Virginia – November 12, 2008 – Ronald Reagan became one of history's heroes long before his death. But now his accomplishments are in danger of being oversimplified and distorted for partisan purposes. In a new article in Presidential Studies Quarterly, Hugh Heclo illustrates the deeper complexity of Reagan's legacy under eight headings of public concern: the Welfare State, Taxation, National Security, the Presidency, Personnel, Party Politics, Political Leadership, and the Person.
Ronald Reagan bequeathed a combination of rhetorical and deficit pressures that did restrain the growth of domestic government. But he and his administration did little to enact − or even prepare the groundwork for—a truly conservative agenda of "limited government." Neither Americans nor even Republican politicians were ultimately weaned from dependence on big government. The overall result was to consolidate rather than rollback America's middle class welfare state.
As he hoped, Reagan achieved an enduring reduction in federal income tax rates, as well as a bipartisan reform that broadened the tax base. In the long run, these achievements defused public pressure for any more fundamental reforms of the federal income tax system. Reagan's powerful appeal to anti-tax sentiments also made it very difficult for future political leaders to propose increasing taxes to pay for programs. Thus Reagan's presidency enhanced Americans' deficit tolerance as well as their tax aversion. Citizens were taught to indulge their already well-developed habit of short-term thinking.
On national security policy, Ronald Reagan came to Washington rejecting the Cold War as he found it − and as most experts and opinion leaders thought it must be. It is a central part of Reagan's legacy that the Cold War ended roughly according to the principles and strategy that Reagan had long envisioned. At the same time, Reagan's understandable focus on the threat posed by Soviet communism created major blind spots in foreign policy, not least a misreading of the growing danger of Islamic extremism.
Reagan revived an executive office that was in a weak, dispirited condition. However, in asserting unilateral executive power, Reagan and his officials also created a Presidency that was more dangerous for our constitutional system.
As a party leader, Reagan carried with him into the public arena major portions of America's next generation of leaders, conservative and otherwise. Reagan helped shift the center of the Democratic Party toward the right, but he also failed to assure a succession of strong conservative leadership in the Republican Party.
Probably the greatest thing Reagan gave to the future was the legacy of his person, a deeply American image that will continue to inspire untold numbers of people.
This study is published in the December 2008 issue of Presidential Studies Quarterly. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.
Hugh Heclo is affiliated with George Mason University and can be reached for questions at hheclo@visuallink.com.
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