Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980 (Rick Perlstein) - a podcast by Rob Mellon

New York Times bestselling author and historian Rick Perlstein explains in detail the rise of the New Right and conservative movement in American politics in the 1970s.  He covers the election of 1976 and how Gerald Ford struggled to gain footing, Ronald Reagan almost won the Republican nomination, and Jimmy Carter miraculously won the presidency.  He describes how Carter had to deal with a rising tide of conservative sentiment from the evangelicals, tax warriors and neoconservatives from his first day in office in 1977.  Perlstein talks about the myriad of problems that President Carter faced including inflation, stock market lows, foreign policy challenges around the globe, an energy crisis and high unemployment.  He juxtaposes that with the America that Ronald Reagan is promising.  The author explains the failure of the ERA amendment and the "Achilles heal of liberal Democrats".  He includes references to pop culture and how movies from the 1970s provide us a window into American culture.  He concludes with an in-depth discussion on the Election of 1980 and the political ascendancy of Ronald Reagan.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Dead Guy Ale, Rogue Brewery, Newport, Oregon

BOOK:  Reaganland: America's Right Turn 1976-1980
http://www.rickperlstein.net/

MUSIC:  Bones Fork
https://bonesfork.com/

Further episodes of History Ago Go

Further podcasts by Rob Mellon

Website of Rob Mellon