ADMINISTRATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000300370007-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: December 17, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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5818x
December 17, 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMEN
TOM GIBSON*
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SUBJECT: Administration Accomplishments
Attached is a summary of President Reagan's major accomplishments
during the first six years. Also included is a fact sheet
providing a sample of notable economic and domestic news released
last month.
For additional information on the attached, please call my office
at 456-7170.
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'WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
December 16, 1986
THE REAGAN ACCOMPLISHMENTS: THE FIRST SIX YEARS
Well over 600 initiatives have been developed and promoted with
White House resources. Attached is a brief listing of major
accomplishments that are squarely in the President's "win column"
and resulted from his direct action. Well-documented economic
and social successes (inflation, interest rates, poverty
reduction, etc.) are not listed here because of shared credit
with the American people. Also, many partial victories are not
listed. Examples: Enterprise zones and tort reform. Though
there has not been final action on these initiatives at the
federal level, President Reagan's leadership has led to these
initiatives being adopted in a majority of the states.
I. THE DOMESTIC ECONOMY
Tax Cuts -- (1981) Since 1981, the Reagan tax cuts saved the
average American about $4,400 in taxes from what could have
been expected under the 1980 tax laws, given the actual
rates of inflation.
Tax Reform -- (State of Union 1984 through Fall
1986)
Number one
domestic priority of the past three years.
The
U.S. now has
one of the most economically favorable tax systems and the
lowest individual and corporate income tax rates of any
industrialized nation in the world.
Deregulation -- (1981) The President's Task Force on Regulatory
Relief, chaired by the Vice President, spearheaded
substantial changes in Federal regulations affecting
businesses and individuals and put all Federal agencies on a
"paperwork budget," that has reduced the burdens on the public
by 650 million hours.
Immediate Decontrol of Oil Prices -- (Early 1981) Currently, a
gallon of gasoline, adjusted for inflation, is cheaper now
than at any time in U.S. history.
Thrift and Banking Deregulation -- (October 1982) Removed interest
rate ceilings on time and savings deposits at banks and
thrifts and introduced a new form of a market-based interest
rate system for EE Savings Bonds.
Elimination of the Council on Wage and Price Stability (1981) --
Ended a bureaucracy that had been completely ineffective and
burdensome.
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
Tax'Indexing -- (1981) Effective in 1985, brought an end to
wE-racket creep" from inflation.
Virtual Elimination of the Estate Tax -- (1981) Removed a
long-standing threat to the family farm and small businesses.
Real Jobs, Not Make-Work -- (1982) When the Reagan Administration
came into office in 1981, $3.1 billion was scheduled to be spent
that year to subsidize some 300,000 costly make-work jobs. The
Carter Administration's budget projected that over $25 billion
would be spent on this job creation program from 1981 through
1986. The program was stopped, saving the taxpayers $23 billion.
II. THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE
Selling the American Economic Model -- The U.S. market-based
economic approach is now being emulated by the countries of
the West and the Third World. Even many Communist nations
are seeing a need for economic liberalization.
Protectionism Resisted -- (Since 1982) Local content, textile
quotas, oil import fees, denial of a number of requests to
restrict imports.
Unprecedented Ste Rs Initiated Against Unfair Trade -- More than
two dozen major trade actions have been t en to open
foreign markets, not close ours. Examples: Major 301
actions (1985) U.S. tobacco sales in Japan; U.S. computer
and software sales in Brazil; U.S. insurance operations in
Korea.
Exchange Rate Stabilization -- Pursued in 1985 and reinforced
at the Tokyo Summit, is addressing the basic causes of our
trade deficit.
Carter Grain Embargo Ended -- (1981) Replaced with a new
long-term agreement with the Soviets.
Elimination of Export Credit Subsidies -- (1986) International
agreement to eliminate below-market financing for exports;
puts U.S. exporters on an equal footing with their foreign
competitors and reduces costs to Export-Import Bank.
Caribbean Basin Initiative -- (1983) Successful catalyst for the
development of non-traditional Caribbean exports and
diversification of Caribbean economies.
Opposed Law of the Sea Treaty -- (1981) Declined signing, which
proposed massive regulation of seabed mining activities.
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
Voluntary Restraint Agreements -- (Since 1983) Successful
bilateral negotiations to provide breathing room for U.S.
steel and automobile manufacturers.
III. A GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS
Domestic Spending Growth Curbed -- In real terms, domestic
spending grew 6.6 percent per year from 1960 to 1980. From
1981 to 1986, the average annual rate of growth was held to
slightly more than 2 percent.
Block Grants -- Since 1981, nearly 60 Federal categorical grants
consolidated into nine block grants for health and social
services, education, and community development. Less red
tape: The 1981 block grants are covered by only 31 pages of
Federal regulations, in place of the previous 885 pages.
Restoring the States' Role -- July 1982 Executive Order and April
1986 statement of federalism principles have improved
Federal responsiveness to state and local concerns.
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings -- (1985) With the President's strong
support, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control
Act of 1985 passed both Houses of Congress by overwhelming
majorities.
Federal Retirement Reform -- (June 1986) Congress enacted a new
retirement plan for federal civilian employees hired after
December 1983. Total estimated savings from the conversion to
the new system: $3 billion annually after complete phase out
of old system.
General Revenue Sharing Eliminated -- (1986) Saving Federal
taxpayers $4 billion per year.
Social Security -- In 1982, Social Security faced bankruptcy --
despite a huge tax increase after 1977 legislation. The
President's bipartisan commission produced a workable
solution. System now solvent; monthly benefit for an'average
retired couple has risen by $260 since 1981 -- over $3,100 a
year.
Grace Commission Reforms -- (Summer 1982 - Fall 1985) Total of
2,478 recommendations reviewed; implementation on track.
Billibns of dollars in estimated potential savings.
Subsidized Housing Curbed -- (1983) Eliminated the costly Section
8 New Construction program and introduced more efficient
housing vouchers and a renewed emphasis on rehabilitation.
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%
Joint Training Partnership Act (JTPA) replaces Comprehensive
Education and Training Act CETA) -- (1982) Training for
real jobs provided under public-private partnership.
Cash Management -- (1983) The Reagan Administration installed the
first comprehensive system to*manage the Federal Government's
$1 trillion cash flow. Estimated $3.2 billion saved through
1988.
Crackdown on Waste, Fraud and Abuse -- Coordinated efforts by the
Inspectors General have resulted in more than $84 billion
saved or put to improved use since 1981, and hundreds of
successful prosecutions.
Privatization Begun -- (1986) The sale of Conrail via a public
stock offering was enacted in the 1986 Reconciliation Act
and will take place in 1987.
Restoring Our National Parks -- (1981) Past neglect had taken a
heavy toll on our national parks. This Administration
established a multi-year, $1 billion program to restore and
improve facilities throughout the entire national park
system.
Water Resources Development Reform (1986) -- The President signed
into law comprehensive reforms financing and planning Army
Corps of Engineers water projects; paved the way for the
first major water authorization bill in 16 years.
Environmental Protection (1985, 1986) -- New Superfund program
which will authorize $8.5 billion over 5 years for the
cleanup of abandoned hazardous waste sites; a Safe Drinking
Water Act and the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act
which has greatly expanded Federal and state authorities to
protect the Nation's drinking water supplies.
Federal Judiciary -- Appointments of three Supreme Court Justices,
including Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman to serve on the
Supreme Court. To date, the President has appointed 299 men
and women to the federal bench -- nearly one-half the entire
federal judiciary.
National Crusade Against Drug Abuse -- (1982) The President and
the First Lady launched a national crusade with six major
goals to eliminate drug abuse. Federal spending to combat
illegal drugs has tripled. More than 10,000 "Just Say No"
clubs have been established nationwide since 1984.
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
Crime -- In 1984, after three years of delay, Congress passed
President Reagan's Omnibus Comprehensive Crime Control Act.
During the past four years, spending has increased 61 percent
and more than 2,100 new Federal investigators and prosecutors
have been hired. One result: Unprecedented prosecution and
conviction by federal prosecutors of mafia bosses.
Drug Enforcement -- Drug eradication efforts are now ongoing in
over 14 countries, up from just two in 1980. Major
initiatives and prosecutions like Operation Alliance and the
South Florida Task Force and Force Hartford. Convictions
have doubled and drug seizures have risen sharply since
1981.
Grassroots Educational Reform -- National Commission on
Excellence in Education produced "A Nation at Risk" in April
1983 and sparked a national grassroots education revival.
"What Works" builds upon the President's first-term
accomplishments. Discipline, basics emphasized.
Immigration Reform -- (1986) The most sweeping changes in
immigration reform in 34 years, provides means to control
illegal immigration and legalize the status of millions of
persons here contributing to the economy and the society.
Abortion -- (Spring 1985) U.S. foreign aid funds no longer
underwrite abortions performed overseas. The Reagan
Administration has continued the ban on taxpayer funding of
abortions and has urged the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v.
Wade.
Child support -- The Reagan Administration's toughened enforcement
helped achieve a record $2.7 billion in child support
collections in 1985.
Employment Discrimination -- The.Reagan Administration has moved
against real discrimination while opposing quotas. More new
lawsuits and higher awards against employers for violations
of Equal Employment Opportunity Laws were achieved between
1981 and 1985 than during 1977-1981.
Legal/Economic Equity for Women -- (1982-1985) Record number
of senior women appointees. Task forces to purge Federal
laws and agency regulations of discriminatory language;
'States encouraged to do same.
AIDS -- A half-billion dollar Federal research and education effort
has led to breakthroughs in isolating AIDS viruses and
establishing blood testing procedures.
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
The Strategic Defense Initiative -- the moral alternative to the
threat of mutual annihilation -- is on track. Between
fiscal years 1984 and 1987, a total of $8.3 billion will
have been committed to this research effort; dramatic
technological advances are being made.
Arms Reductions -- (1986) Brought the Soviets back to the
bargaining table. For the first time, the United States and
the Soviet Union are discussing the possibility of major
reductions and eventual elimination of all ballistic
missiles.
Strategic Modernization -- In 1981, the President recognized the
need for strategic modernization and, as a result, proposed
a five-part, coordinated program to restore the strategic
balance with the Soviet Union. In 1985, Congress voted $1.5
billion for 25 additional MX Missiles; total is now 50.
Sea-based forces, currently the most survivable leg of our
strategic Triad, are being modernized and a new class of
Trident submarines is being deployed.
The B-1B Bomber -- (1986) The first of
100
B-lB
bombers
rolled
off the assembly lines in fiscal
year
1985,
ahead
of
schedule and under budget.
Conventional Readiness and Modernization -- In the professional
judgment of each U.S. Unified and Specified Commander-in-
Chief, his command is far more ready "by every measure of
common sense" than it was four years ago.
Pershing, Cruise Missiles in Europe -- The U.S. and her NATO
allies prevailed in fulfilling the 1979 NATO decision
despite massive propaganda effort to prevent deployment.
(Fall 1983) First missiles in, deployment proceeding on
schedule.
Fighting Defense Department Waste -- In 1981, costs in major
weapon system development programs were growing at an average
annual rate of 14 percent. The Reagan Administration
reduced cost growth to less than 1 percent annually by
FY 1985. Since 1981, DOD has conducted 60,000 audits which
have produced more than $10 billion in savings. Packard
Commission recommendations for additional management
efficiencies are being implemented.
Technology Transfer -- The Reagan Administration is the first to
realize fully the major security risk posed by technology
transfer, and has taken many steps toward stemming the flow ?
of military sensitive know-how and hardware to the Soviet
Union.
For additional intomnation. call the White House Office of Public Affairs: 45&7170.
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
Environment -- (Since 1981) Aggressive cleanup of hazardous waste
sites -- the Reagan Administration has produced over 100 civil
suits, 257 convictions and court-ordered cleanups worth $400
million.
V. PROMOTING FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY
Grenada Set Free -- (October 1983) At the request of the
Organization of Eastern and Caribbean States, combined
forces led by the U.S., liberated Grenada.
Aid to the Nicaraguan democratic resistance -- (1986) Congress
with a bipartisan majority, adopted the President's $100
million aid proposal.
El Salvador -- (1984) With the assistance of a bipartisan
majority in Congress, a deteriorating situation in El
Salvador was reversed.
Democracy in the Philippines and Haiti -- (February 1986) The
U.S. government lent its support to successful popular
movements in the Philippines and Haiti.
Angola -- (1985) Clark Amendment repealed -- unties U.S. hands to
assist UNITA Freedom Fighters.
Afghanistan -- (1985/86) Soviet troop withdrawal urged in
Gorbachev meetings; support pledged to Afghan freedom
fighters.
A National Endowment for Democracy -- A Reagan initiative, has
undertaken projects in support of democratic institutions in
the Philippines, Northern Ireland, Chile, Haiti and South
Africa. Other projects have assisted elementary school
education for anti-communist Afghans.
VI. NATIONAL SECURITY
Men and Women in Uniform -- Since 1980, total active duty
strength in our Armed Forces has increased over 5 percent.
Recruitment goals are being met -- and with record
high-quality recruits. Applications to the service
academies are at record or near-record levels.
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
Swift Action Against State-Sponsored Terrorism -- (April 1986)
U.S. attacks and destroys several terrorist support
facilities in Libya, in response to clear evidence of Libyan
involvement in terrorist activity.
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WHITE HOUSE TALKING POINTS
NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Economic Recovery Enters Fourth Year. The Reagan economic boom
is now 48 months old -- making it the second-longest peace-
time expansion since World War II. Since November 1982, we
have created more than 12 million payroll jobs; inflation
(measured by the Consumer Price Index) for 1986 is running
at less than one percent.
The Shrinking Trade Deficit. The U.S. trade picture improved in
October, as a $1.8 billion rise in total exports reduced the
trade deficit for the fourth consecutive month. The $12.1
billion October deficit is the smallest this year and a full
$2.1 billion less than the average monthly deficit recorded
in the first nine months of 1986.
Mob Justice. All eight defenders in a dramatic 10-week racketeer-
ing trial were convicted in November of operating a
"commission" that ruled the Mafia throughout the United
States. U.S. Attorney Rudolph W. Giulani said the
convictions effectively dismantles the "ruling council" of
the major organized crime network.
A Warning to White-Collar Criminals. In 1983, according to a
recent Bureau of Justice Statistics study, 88 percent of
those arrested for white-collar crimes were prosecuted; 74
percent were arrested; 60 percent sentenced to prison. The
lesson: White-collar crime doesn't pay.
Record Drug Confiscation. The Drug Enforcement Administration
seized in October 4,620 pounds of cocaine, the largest
confiscation of that drug in the United States.
The American Miracle. A joint Census Bureau-Conference Board
study released in November shows that Americans have tripled
their standard of living over the past 70 years while
retiring sooner, owning more homes, increasing their productivity
and improving infant health. "Even the most ardent Utopian
at the turn of the century could not dream of the affluence
and quality of live in today's America," says Fabian Linden,
who co-authored the report.
December 9, 1986
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