The Age of Reagan by Steven F. Hayward

Author:Steven F. Hayward [Hayward, F. Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-45231-3
Publisher: The Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2009-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

Notice especially that in equating Republicans with Toryism, FDR is arguing the Republican Party out of the mainstream of American politics. He also appeals to the class of “nominal Republicans” to switch parties.

By contrast, Reagan’s approach to the other party was more ambiguous and less partisan. His appeals to Democratic voters were soft, never offering any positive reasons for voting Republican (or for Democrats and independents to become Republicans), nor did the president attempt to argue the Democratic Party out of the mainstream of American politics, as FDR had tried to do to the GOP. For example, a passage from Reagan’s standard campaign stump speech reads:

To all those Democrats, and I hope there are many here, who have been loyal to the party of FDR and Harry Truman and JFK, people who believe in protecting the interests of working people, who are not ashamed of America’s standing for freedom in the world—we say to you: Join us. Come walk with us down that new path of hope and opportunity. I was a Democrat most of my adult life. I didn’t leave my party and we’re not suggesting you leave yours. I am telling you that what I felt was that the leadership of the Democratic Party had left me and millions of patriotic Democrats in this country who believed in freedom. (Emphasis added)

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