ABSTRACT
Most facets of the Reagan years have been subjected to careful review and scrutiny from all sides of the political spectrum. In attempting to analyze the relationship of business and government during the period, it is instructive to examine the initiatives in the area of antitrust to gain insight into the broader policy. To this end, we will concentrate on the activity of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, headed by political appointees, rather than analyzing that of the Federal Trade Commission [FTC] which has 5 members, appointed from different political parties for staggered terms. Clearly, the former can move more quickly to reflect the orientation of an incoming administration than can the latter which, by its very
composition,isforcedtotakeamorebipartisantack.2Finally,we attempttoplacetheReaganantitrustrecordinhistoricalperspective.
