Itshouldhavebeeneasy.Thesewerebattle-testedveteranswithlongtiestoReaganandevenlongeronestotheRepublicanparty,menwhounderstoodpresidentialpoliticsaswellasanyinthecountry.Thebackdropofthecampaignwas,hospitable,withlotsofgoodnewstoworkwith:Americawasatpeace,andthenation’seconomy,akeyfactorinanyelection,wasreboundingvigorouslyafterrecession.Furthermore,thecampaignitselfwaslavishlyfinanced,withplentyofmoneyforatopflightstaff,travelandtelevisioncommercials.And,mostimportant,theircandidatewasRonaldReagan,apresidentoftremendouspersonalpopularityanddazzlingcommunicationskills.ReaganhassucceededmorethananypresidentsinceJohnF.KennedyinprojectingabroadvisionofAmerica—anationofrenewedmilitarystrength,individualinitiative,andsmallerfederalgovernment.
Itshouldhavebeeneasy.Thesewerebattle-testedveteranswithlongtiestoReaganandevenlongeronestotheRepublicanparty,menwhounderstoodpresidentialpoliticsaswellasanyinthecountry.Thebackdropofthecampaignwas,hospitable,withlotsofgoodnewstoworkwith:Americawasatpeace,andthenation’seconomy,akeyfactorinanyelection,wasreboundingvigorouslyafterrecession.Furthermore,thecampaignitselfwaslavishlyfinanced,withplentyofmoneyforatopflightstaff,travelandtelevisioncommercials.And,mostimportant,theircandidatewasRonaldReagan,apresidentoftremendouspersonalpopularityanddazzlingcommunicationskills.ReaganhassucceededmorethananypresidentsinceJohnF.KennedyinprojectingabroadvisionofAmerica—anationofrenewedmilitarystrength,individualinitiative,andsmallerfederalgovernment.
1