Introduction

This introductory chapter contextualises Ronald Reagan’s 1984. It does so by outlining the key claims of the entire work, namely that 1984 is key to understanding the lasting impact of Reagan on American politics and policy-making, Reaganism on American culture, and how the Reagan years influenced the institution of the U.S. presidency. The historiography of Reagan and his era is also explored. Similarly, the broader scholarship related to the 1980s popular culture is introduced. The chapter uses polling data to consider how Reagan was viewed in the 1980s and by Americans in more recent years.