Changes

* In 1960, Arab nations formed "OPEC" to control the production and sale of oil to the world.  OPEC stands for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.  This monopoly has caused shortages and driven up the price of oil, particularly in the early 1970s when OPEC retaliated against the United States.

* In 1960, Arab nations formed "OPEC" to control the production and sale of oil to the world.  OPEC stands for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.  This monopoly has caused shortages and driven up the price of oil, particularly in the early 1970s when OPEC retaliated against the United States.

* In 1960, liberal students formed the "Students for a Democratic Society" (SDS) in Port Huron, Michigan, saying that they are "looking uncomfortably to the world we inherit."  It became the foundation for radical groups later in the 1960s, which became increasingly aggressive and violent in their protest activities.  In the spring of 1968, it arranged for 1 million students to skip class.  But the public hardly noticed.  However, an SDS chapter at Columbia University did succeed with a "sit in" that forced the school to temporarily shut down.

* In 1960, liberal students formed the "Students for a Democratic Society" (SDS) in Port Huron, Michigan, saying that they are "looking uncomfortably to the world we inherit."  It became the foundation for radical groups later in the 1960s, who became increasingly aggressive and violent in their protest activities.  In the spring of 1968, it arranged for 1 million students to skip class.  But the public hardly noticed.  However, an SDS chapter at Columbia University did succeed with a "sit in" that forced the school to temporarily shut down.

* In 1961, President Kennedy started two programs to help alleviate poverty in foreign countries.  One was the Alliance for Progress, which consisted of foreign aid to Latin America.  The other was the Peace Corps, which sent volunteers to foreign countries to teach farming and build schools.

* In 1961, President Kennedy started two programs to help alleviate poverty in foreign countries.  One was the Alliance for Progress, which consisted of foreign aid to Latin America.  The other was the Peace Corps, which sent volunteers to foreign countries to teach farming and build schools.

Reagan immediately went to work in enacting the conservative agenda.  Within one month, on Feb. 18th, Reagan proposed the biggest tax and spending cuts in history.  Reagan adhered to “supply-side economics,” a new theory advanced by Arthur Laffer that cutting taxes would actually increase government revenue.  He drew a curve on the back of a napkin in a restaurant one night to explain his theory:  as taxes approach 100%, government revenue decreases towards zero because people lose reason to work (all their income is taken by the government).  By cutting taxes, we can actually increase revenue.  Most established economists laughed at this theory, sarcastically calling it “Reaganomics”.

Reagan immediately went to work in enacting the conservative agenda.  Within one month, on Feb. 18th, Reagan proposed the biggest tax and spending cuts in history.  Reagan adhered to “supply-side economics,” a new theory advanced by Arthur Laffer that cutting taxes would actually increase government revenue.  He drew a curve on the back of a napkin in a restaurant one night to explain his theory:  as taxes approach 100%, government revenue decreases towards zero because people lose reason to work (all their income is taken by the government).  By cutting taxes, we can actually increase revenue.  Most established economists laughed at this theory, sarcastically calling it “Reaganomics”.

In 1981 the House of Representatives in Congress was controlled by Democrats, and the media was also completely against him.  It was a very rough initial two months in office for Reagan.

It was a very rough initial two months in office for Reagan. In 1981 the House of Representatives was controlled by Democrats, and the media was also completely against him.   

Then, on March 30th, John Hinckley shot Reagan as he was walking from a speaking event to his car in D.C.  The bullet came with an inch of killing him.  But Reagan survived with charm and good spirits.  Despite losing a great deal of blood, Reagan was even cracking jokes about his misfortune as he was rushed to the hospital.  Hinckley tried to kill Reagan because Hinckley had been inspired by a filthy Hollywood movie featuring a prostitute played by Jodie Foster.  Hinckley was trying to impress the actress.  Hinckley was later found not guilty by reason of insanity, and that led to changes in many laws to limit the insanity defense.  Many people gave Reagan a break at this point, and grew sympathetic towards him.  His tax cuts passed Congress, as many Democrats voted for it in exchange for a promise by Reagan not to campaign against them when they ran for reelection.

Then, on March 30th, John Hinckley shot Reagan as he was walking from a speaking event to his car in D.C.  The bullet came with an inch of killing him.  But Reagan survived with charm and good spirits.  Despite losing a great deal of blood, Reagan was even cracking jokes about his misfortune as he was rushed to the hospital.  Hinckley tried to kill Reagan because Hinckley had been inspired by a filthy Hollywood movie featuring a prostitute played by Jodie Foster.  Hinckley was trying to impress the actress.  Hinckley was later found not guilty by reason of insanity, and that led to changes in many laws to limit the insanity defense.  Many people gave Reagan a break at this point, and grew sympathetic towards him.  His tax cuts passed Congress, because many Democrats voted for them. In exchange Reagan promised not to campaign against them when they ran for reelection.

In August 1981, the Air Traffic Controllers union (PATCO) went on strike in order to obtain much higher wages.  Reagan went on television to address the nation and told the union workers to stay on the job or be fired.  He was acting just as one of his heroes, President Calvin Coolidge, did when Coolidge was governor of Massachusetts and the police went on strike.  Reagan then fired all the PATCO workers who went on strike and barred them from ever being rehired.  The airports remained open through use of military traffic controllers who filled in for the strikers.

In August 1981, the Air Traffic Controllers union (PATCO) went on strike in order to obtain much higher wages.  Reagan went on television to address the nation and told the union workers to stay on the job or be fired.  He was acting just as one of his heroes, President Calvin Coolidge, did when Coolidge was governor of Massachusetts and the police went on strike.  Reagan then fired all the PATCO workers who went on strike and barred them from ever being rehired.  The airports remained open through use of military traffic controllers who filled in for the strikers.