Presidents and Their Cabinets: Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan had traveled down a long road to get to the White House. He had once been a famous leading man in Hollywood, had been President of the Screen Actors Guild and had also once been a Democrat. (He famously said that he never left the party, it left him.) He had spoken eloquently for 1964 Republican Candidate Barry Goldwater, had been Governor of California for two terms, and had made unsuccessful runs for the presidency in 1968 and 1976. When he won the big prize in 1980 at the age of 69, many wondered if he was too old for the job. He would surprise his critics, returning the country to better economic health, and preside over the beginning of the end of the Cold War.
Reagan would draw further criticism for his hands-off management style, and that practice would later come to haunt him when the details of a scandal known as Iran-Contra came to light. But while being a micromanager had beet the style that likely killed President James K. Polk, Reagan came to understand the value of finding quality people and trusting them to to their jobs. And while this style did not always benefit him, it did enable him to focus on the big picture task of cultivating a relationship with Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev and, for a time, ending the threat of nuclear annihilation that kept many Americans up at night.
James Baker was a lawyer from Houston who had once been Secretary of Commerce under Gerald Ford, and who had run the unsuccessful 1980 presidential campaign of George H. W. Bush. Although Baker had been on the other team during that fight, Reagan recognized Baker's talent and ability and hired him as his first chief of staff. Baker, Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver, and Counselor Edwin Meese formed what became known as the "troika," the key White House staffers at the start Reagan's presidency.
Reagan chose Alexander Haig, a former general who had served as Chief of Staff to Richard Nixon, as his first Secretary of State. Brash and decisive, Haig is remembered for his gaffe in March of 1981 after Reagan was shot by attempted assassin John Hinckley Jr. Haig's statement that he was "in charge" showed a poor understanding of the chain of presidential succession and portrayed him as someone with a lust for power. Haig left the cabinet in 1982 after clashing with other members of the Reagan administration, and was replaced by another former Nixon administration official, George P. Shultz. The veteran Schultz proved more conducive to Reagan's ambition to bring about peace with Russia.
As Secretary of Defense, Reagan chose Caspar Weinberger, another former Nixon cabinet official. Weinberger would later be accused of presiding over an increase in defense spending, one which assisted in bringing about the collapse of the Soviet Union, but which also left the country with what was then record deficit spending (a record that has been broken by a number of subsequent administrations from both parties.)
As Secretary of the Treasury, Reagan chose the homonym-surnamed Donald Regan, a bank executive who became the proponent of "Reaganomics" and tax cuts to create jobs and stimulate economic production. Before serving in the Reagan administration, Regan served as chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch from 1971 to 1980. He had worked at Merrill Lynch since 1946, and before this he had studied at Harvard University and served in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. To compliment his economic complement, Reagan selected David Stockman, a young Congressman from Michigan, as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Baker and Treasury Secretary Regan switched positions at the beginning of Reagan's second term.
Reagan's first Attorney General was William French Smith, a Harvard educated New Englander who had practiced law in Los Angeles and had been a key advisor to then Governor Ronald Reagan. In 1985 he was replaced with Ed Meese, a controversial choice. Meese had once been a part of the leadership of Reagan's transition team.
One of Reagan's most controversial appointments was that of James G. Watt as Secretary of the Interior. Distrusted by environmentalists, Watt resisted accepting donation of private land to be used for conservation. He also suggested that 80 million acres of undeveloped land in the United States all be opened for drilling and mining by 2000. One of his more famous embarrassing statements surrounded the famous band The Beach Boys, who had performed at Independence Day concerts at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., attracting large crowds. In April 1983, Watt banned the concerts, on the grounds that "rock bands" who had performed on the Mall on Independence Day in 1981 and 1982 had encouraged drug use and alcoholism, and had attracted "the wrong element". He announced that Las Vegas singer Wayne Newton would perform at the Independence Day celebration at the mall in 1983. Vice President George H. W. Bush said of The Beach Boys, "They're my friends, and I like their music." Watt apologized to The Beach Boys after learning that President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan were fans of the band. Nancy Reagan apologized for Watt and the White House staff gave Watt a plaster foot with a hole for his "having shot himself in the foot." Watt was soon replaced in 1983 with the less controversial William P. Clark Jr.
Other appointees in Reagan's first Cabinet were Illinois agri-businessman John Rusling Block as Secretary of Agriculture, former Nebraska Congressman Howard Malcolm Baldrige Jr. as Secretary of Commerce (he died in office in 1987), construction labor specialist Raymond J. Donovan as Secretary of Labor, and moderate Pennsylvania Congressman Richard S. Schweiker as Secretart of Health and Human Services (he had been Reagan's proposed running mate in his unsuccessful 1976 bid for the presidency).
Another of Reagan's more interesting appointments was that of Terrel Bell as Secretary of Education. Bell was a respected educator who was also said to be a very humble man who drove a U-Haul truck from Utah to Washington DC when he moved to take up his new position.
As Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Reagan picked Samuel R. Pierce, Jr., a former United States Attorney from New York and the only African American cabinet member as well as the only cabinet member to serve in his post throughout both of Reagan's terms as President. On June 18, 1981 during a luncheon for the US Conference of Mayors in Washington DC, President Reagan mistook Pierce for one of the mayors on the dais, and greeted him with "Hello, Mr. Mayor".
For Secretary of Transportation, Reagan chose Drew Lewis, a Harvard MBA from Pennsylvania who had been Reagan's Pennsylvania campaign chairman. Lewis was succeeded by Elizabeth Dole, the first female member of Reagan's cabinet. Finally, as Secretary of Energy he picked James B. Edwards, the first Republican to be elected the Governor of South Carolina.
When he left office in 1989, Reagan held an approval rating of sixty-eight percent, matching that of Franklin Roosevelt, the highest ratings for departing presidents since such things have been polled.
Reagan would draw further criticism for his hands-off management style, and that practice would later come to haunt him when the details of a scandal known as Iran-Contra came to light. But while being a micromanager had beet the style that likely killed President James K. Polk, Reagan came to understand the value of finding quality people and trusting them to to their jobs. And while this style did not always benefit him, it did enable him to focus on the big picture task of cultivating a relationship with Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev and, for a time, ending the threat of nuclear annihilation that kept many Americans up at night.
James Baker was a lawyer from Houston who had once been Secretary of Commerce under Gerald Ford, and who had run the unsuccessful 1980 presidential campaign of George H. W. Bush. Although Baker had been on the other team during that fight, Reagan recognized Baker's talent and ability and hired him as his first chief of staff. Baker, Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver, and Counselor Edwin Meese formed what became known as the "troika," the key White House staffers at the start Reagan's presidency.
Reagan chose Alexander Haig, a former general who had served as Chief of Staff to Richard Nixon, as his first Secretary of State. Brash and decisive, Haig is remembered for his gaffe in March of 1981 after Reagan was shot by attempted assassin John Hinckley Jr. Haig's statement that he was "in charge" showed a poor understanding of the chain of presidential succession and portrayed him as someone with a lust for power. Haig left the cabinet in 1982 after clashing with other members of the Reagan administration, and was replaced by another former Nixon administration official, George P. Shultz. The veteran Schultz proved more conducive to Reagan's ambition to bring about peace with Russia.
As Secretary of Defense, Reagan chose Caspar Weinberger, another former Nixon cabinet official. Weinberger would later be accused of presiding over an increase in defense spending, one which assisted in bringing about the collapse of the Soviet Union, but which also left the country with what was then record deficit spending (a record that has been broken by a number of subsequent administrations from both parties.)
As Secretary of the Treasury, Reagan chose the homonym-surnamed Donald Regan, a bank executive who became the proponent of "Reaganomics" and tax cuts to create jobs and stimulate economic production. Before serving in the Reagan administration, Regan served as chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch from 1971 to 1980. He had worked at Merrill Lynch since 1946, and before this he had studied at Harvard University and served in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. To compliment his economic complement, Reagan selected David Stockman, a young Congressman from Michigan, as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Baker and Treasury Secretary Regan switched positions at the beginning of Reagan's second term.
Reagan's first Attorney General was William French Smith, a Harvard educated New Englander who had practiced law in Los Angeles and had been a key advisor to then Governor Ronald Reagan. In 1985 he was replaced with Ed Meese, a controversial choice. Meese had once been a part of the leadership of Reagan's transition team.
One of Reagan's most controversial appointments was that of James G. Watt as Secretary of the Interior. Distrusted by environmentalists, Watt resisted accepting donation of private land to be used for conservation. He also suggested that 80 million acres of undeveloped land in the United States all be opened for drilling and mining by 2000. One of his more famous embarrassing statements surrounded the famous band The Beach Boys, who had performed at Independence Day concerts at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., attracting large crowds. In April 1983, Watt banned the concerts, on the grounds that "rock bands" who had performed on the Mall on Independence Day in 1981 and 1982 had encouraged drug use and alcoholism, and had attracted "the wrong element". He announced that Las Vegas singer Wayne Newton would perform at the Independence Day celebration at the mall in 1983. Vice President George H. W. Bush said of The Beach Boys, "They're my friends, and I like their music." Watt apologized to The Beach Boys after learning that President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan were fans of the band. Nancy Reagan apologized for Watt and the White House staff gave Watt a plaster foot with a hole for his "having shot himself in the foot." Watt was soon replaced in 1983 with the less controversial William P. Clark Jr.
Other appointees in Reagan's first Cabinet were Illinois agri-businessman John Rusling Block as Secretary of Agriculture, former Nebraska Congressman Howard Malcolm Baldrige Jr. as Secretary of Commerce (he died in office in 1987), construction labor specialist Raymond J. Donovan as Secretary of Labor, and moderate Pennsylvania Congressman Richard S. Schweiker as Secretart of Health and Human Services (he had been Reagan's proposed running mate in his unsuccessful 1976 bid for the presidency).
Another of Reagan's more interesting appointments was that of Terrel Bell as Secretary of Education. Bell was a respected educator who was also said to be a very humble man who drove a U-Haul truck from Utah to Washington DC when he moved to take up his new position.
As Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Reagan picked Samuel R. Pierce, Jr., a former United States Attorney from New York and the only African American cabinet member as well as the only cabinet member to serve in his post throughout both of Reagan's terms as President. On June 18, 1981 during a luncheon for the US Conference of Mayors in Washington DC, President Reagan mistook Pierce for one of the mayors on the dais, and greeted him with "Hello, Mr. Mayor".
For Secretary of Transportation, Reagan chose Drew Lewis, a Harvard MBA from Pennsylvania who had been Reagan's Pennsylvania campaign chairman. Lewis was succeeded by Elizabeth Dole, the first female member of Reagan's cabinet. Finally, as Secretary of Energy he picked James B. Edwards, the first Republican to be elected the Governor of South Carolina.
When he left office in 1989, Reagan held an approval rating of sixty-eight percent, matching that of Franklin Roosevelt, the highest ratings for departing presidents since such things have been polled.