ABSTRACT
Ronald Reagan (served 1981-1989) swept into the White House more committed to changing domestic policy than any president since Lyndon Johnson. The actor-turned-politician was a high-opportunity president with a clear agenda, but debates continue about how much change he actually accomplished and what leadership style his presidency really embodied. Granted, the landmark economic legislation passed in 1981 was a tribute to Reagan’s effective “going public” and fast-start strategies. Many aspects of his media strategies still draw praise. Even the “Teflon factor”—Reagan’s ability to sustain personal support even in the face of adverse developments-has generated considerable interest. But just how much did this high-opportunity president achieve?
