History Commons^™

Ronald Reagan In 2016: The Symbolic And Political Uses Of Collective Memory, Alex Plant

Politics & Government Undergraduate Theses

While not all references are as blatant as Donald Trump’s slogan, “Let’s Make America Great Again,” it is hard to deny that Ronald Reagan is everywhere in the 2016 Presidential campaign. Whether it is the Republican primary debate in front of his Air Force One, Jeb Bush’s “Reagan-Bush 80” t-shirt, or the frequent rhetorical evocations by the candidates, it is hard to miss Reagan’s shadow hanging over the Republican candidates, their policies, and their visions for America. But how exactly are these candidates using Ronald Reagan? What kind of role do these references play in overall campaign strategy? What can …