Electionshouldhavebeeneasy.Thesewerebattle-testedveteranswithlongtiestoReaganandevenlongeronestotheRepublicanParty,menwhounderstoodpresidentialpoliticsaswellasanyinthecountry.Thebackdropofthecampaignwashospitable,withlotsofgoodnewstoworkwith:Americawasatpeace,andthenation’seconomy,akeyfactorinanyelection,wasreboundingvigorouslyafterrecession.Furthermore,thecampaignitselfwaslavishlyfinanced,withplentyofmoneyforatop-flightstaff,travel,andtelevisioncommercials.And,mostimportant,theircandidatewasRonaldReagan,apresidentoftremendouspersonalpopularityanddazzlingcommunicationskills.ReaganhassucceededmorethananypresidentsinceJohnF.KennedyinprojectingabroadvisionofAmerica—anationofrenewedmilitarystrength,individualinitiative,andsmallerfederalgovernment.

<spanstyle="display:block;text-align:center;">PASSAGE40</span>Electionshouldhavebeeneasy.Thesewerebattle-testedveteranswithlongtiestoReaganandevenlongeronestotheRepublicanParty,menwhounderstoodpresidentialpoliticsaswellasanyinthecountry.Thebackdropofthecampaignwashospitable,withlotsofgoodnewstoworkwith:Americawasatpeace,andthenation’seconomy,akeyfactorinanyelection,wasreboundingvigorouslyafterrecession.Furthermore,thecampaignitselfwaslavishlyfinanced,withplentyofmoneyforatop-flightstaff,travel,andtelevisioncommercials.And,mostimportant,theircandidatewasRonaldReagan,apresidentoftremendouspersonalpopularityanddazzlingcommunicationskills.ReaganhassucceededmorethananypresidentsinceJohnF.KennedyinprojectingabroadvisionofAmerica-anationofrenewedmilitarystrength,individualinitiative,andsmallerfederalgovernment.