What would Reagan do?

What would Reagan do? (sometimes abbreviated WWRD) is a phrase that has become popular primarily among conservatives and Republicans in the United States. Its usage reflects a belief in former United States President Ronald Reagan as a model conservative leader whose philosophy and policies provide guidance and a good example for modern politicians.

History

President Ronald Reagan (1911–2004)

The phrase derives by analogy from the earlier phrase What would Jesus do? and its related initialism WWJD, coined in the 1890s and repopularized during the 1990s.

While the phrase "What would Reagan do?" has existed since at least the early 2000s, it attained greater prominence during the 2008 Republican party presidential primary,^[1] and in particular at a debate held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.^[2]

The phrase has also been promoted by the Heritage Foundation,^[3] in partnership with radio talk show hosts Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, aimed at promoting policy in line with Ronald Reagan's, as well as preserving Reagan's legacy. The organization maintains a website named for the phrase, featuring video and audio archives, transcripts of Reagan's speeches and other resources.^[4]

Usage

In recent years it has been used as a title or lead question in columns by numerous conservative writers, including Rebecca Hagelin,^[5] Edwin Meese,^[6] Kate O'Beirne^[7] and James Pethokoukis.^[8]

The phrase on occasion has been used by iconoclastic conservatives to claim the mantle of Reagan as they criticize mainline conservatives,^[9] by some liberal commentators as a way of chastising Republicans whom also they believe fall short of Reagan's ideals^[10] and also by non-partisan public policy organizations that seek to emulate aspects of Reagan's leadership.^[11]

References

Ronald Reagan February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975) Life and politics Birthplace Pitney Store Boyhood home Rancho del Cielo Filmography Presidential Library Death and state funeral Political positions Governship of California Namesakes and memorials Presidency First inauguration Second inauguration Domestic policy Economic policy Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 Tax Reform Act of 1986 Assassination attempt Strategic Defense Initiative Foreign policy Reagan Doctrine Cold War: first term second term 1985 Geneva Summit 1986 Reykjavík Summit INF Treaty 1987 Washington Summit 1988 Moscow Summit Invasion of Grenada Iran–Contra Resolute desk The Grace Commission Cabinet Federal judicial appointments Supreme Court controversies Speeches Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine "A Time for Choosing" Reagan's Neshoba County Fair "states' rights" speech First inaugural address "Ash heap of history" "Evil empire" "Tear down this wall!" State of the Union Address: 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 Books An American Life (1990 autobiography) The Reagan Diaries (2007) Biographical works Elections California gubernatorial election, 1966 1970 Republican Party presidential primaries, 1968 1976 1980 1984 Republican National Convention 1968 1976 1980 1984 Ronald Reagan presidential campaign, 1980 "There you go again" United States presidential election, 1976 1980 1984 Popular culture In fiction In music Postage stamps The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001 film) The Reagans (2003 film) Reagan (2011 documentary) The Butler (2013 film) "What would Reagan do?" Family Jack Reagan (father) Nelle Wilson Reagan (mother) Neil Reagan (brother) Jane Wyman (first wife) Nancy Reagan (second wife) Maureen Reagan (daughter) Michael Reagan (adopted son) Patti Davis (daughter) Ron Reagan (son) Rex (dog) ← Jimmy Carter George H. W. Bush → Book California portal Category Conservatism portal Commons Wikibooks Wikiquote Wikisource texts