41: The Finest Hour: How the Assassination Attempt Secured Reaganomics and the Rise of the Baker-Deaver Troika. Max Boot discusses how on March 30, 1981, just 69 days into his administration, Ronald Reagan was shot after giving a speech in Washington and came
Update: 2025-11-03
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The Finest Hour: How the Assassination Attempt Secured Reaganomics and the Rise of the Baker-Deaver Troika.Max Boot discusses how on March 30, 1981, just 69 days into his administration, Ronald Reagan was shot after giving a speech in Washington and came very close to death. Boot describes the event as Reagan's "finest hour," as Reagan behaved heroically, maintaining his composure and humor, famously joking with doctors, "I hope you're all Republicans," and telling Nancy, "Honey, I forgot to duck." The immediate political benefit was a huge boost in popularity and a massive increase in the prospects for his first budget, which included tax and spending cuts (Reaganomics). Reagan's great strength was convincing people to see the world as he wished it to be, persuading himself that dramatically cutting taxes and raising defense spending would eliminate the budget deficit, though this proved incorrect as budget deficits grew. Reagan was a "great leader but a poor manager," requiring highly capable people to manage for him, particularly Jim Baker. Boot considers appointing Jim Baker as White House Chief of Staff Reagan's most important decision, creating the Troika structure with James Baker, Ed Meese, and Mike Deaver. Another significant first-term achievement was Reagan's appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court in August 1981, fulfilling a campaign promise to appoint a woman.
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