The “Age of Reagan” comes from how Ronald Reagan’s presidency changed the lens through which Americans viewed politics and politicians. As a whole, Sean Wilentz framed Reagan as a new brand of president because of his previous career, his dealings with the Soviet Union, his popularity, and his legacy. Although Wilentz was vague about the successfulness of the Reagan administration, he emphasized the impact that all of these different aspects of Reaganism had on the country. To Wilentz, Reagan continued to come across as a charismatic star, and that reputation only grew after he left office. Part of this increase in popularity came from conservatives attributing the end of the Cold War to Reagan, as many conservatives were “conveniently glossing over their own records and their criticism of Reagan in 1987 and 1988…celebrating Reagan as a cunning statesman who had purposefully caused the downfall of the Soviet Union” (p 313). While …show more content…
Wilentz, on the other hand, argued that he should be remembered for understanding how the Cold War had changed, which helped to end the war. We can learn more about his supporters by understating the different perspectives about what Reagan’s key moments are. For Wilentz, it was Reagan’s comprehension of the changing world, but for his supporters, they focused on how Reagan was able to adhere to the values they believed in, revealing differences that continue to exist today.
The Age of Reagan existed because of the way Reagan was able to garner support because of the idolization that surrounded him even after his presidency. Reagan’s foundation of minimizing the government, negotiating, and being a charming leader were things that the American people had at the forefront of their minds through the next 3 presidential