Washington Lawyer - July 2017 - 27

Reagan brought to the White House an optimistic
vision of the future and an emphasis on what the
political right described as "traditional American
values." Reagan concentrated on tax relief, deregulation, and ensuring law and order in his domestic
agenda, and on defeating communism in his
foreign policy strategy. At the end of the decade,
George H. W. Bush was able to capitalize on
Reagan's popularity to become the 41st U.S.
president.

The Reagan administration certainly had its share
of vocal critics. The prospect of nuclear war hung
over the country. Critics blamed Reagan's military
policies and foreign affairs agenda for inching the
country toward nuclear confrontation. In addition,
protest groups like the AIDS Coalition to Unleash
Power spoke out against the government's
handling of the AIDS epidemic. Reagan also infuriated labor unions when he dismissed thousands
of striking air traffic controllers.

Reagan's presidency was not without its share of
controversies and drama. In 1987 the U.S. Senate,
in one of the most controversial votes on a U.S.
Supreme Court nominee, rejected Reagan's choice
of Robert H. Bork for the Court. In addition, the
Reagan administration's second term became
mired in the Iran-Contra scandal, in which government officials were taken to task for secretly facilitating the sale of arms to Iran.

Reagan also engaged in a polarizing effort to shut
down the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the
nonprofit corporation established by Congress to
ensure equal access to justice. LSC survived, but has
been once again targeted for defunding. In its
proposed budget released on March 16, 2017, the
Trump administration proposed defunding LSC in
fiscal year 2018.

D.C. Bar Presidents
1980-81

Stephen J. Pollak
1981-82

James J. Bierbower
1982-83

Jacob A. Stein
1983-84

David B. Isbell
1984-85

Marna S. Tucker
1985-86

Frederick B. Abramson
1986-87

The '80s also saw heated debates over gun control
and the insanity defense. On December 8, 1980,
Mark David Chapman shocked the world by
shooting and killing Beatles legend John Lennon.
A little more than a year later, on March 30, 1981,
John Hinckley Jr. attempted to kill Reagan. Firing six
times, Hinckley wounded Reagan and three others,
including White House Press Secretary James Brady.
After an eight-week trial, Hinckley was found not
guilty by reason of insanity.

Paul L. Friedman
1987-88

Robert E. Jordan III
1988-89

Philip Allen Lacovara
1989-90

Charles F. C. Ruff

Sandra Day O'Connor
is sworn in before the
Senate Judiciary
Committee during
confirmation hearings
in 1981 in Washington,
D.C.

1985
1981 (continued)
President Reagan nominates Sandra
Day O'Connor as the first woman to
the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Reagan attempts to eliminate the Legal Services Corporation
by zero-funding it. Ultimately, financial support is reduced.

Iran-Contra Affair begins with the
U.S. supplying weapons to a sworn
enemy.
D.C. Bar establishes the Lawyer
Counseling Program, now the
Lawyer Assistance Program.
*

John Nields Jr., chief counsel for the
House committee investigating the
Iran-Contra scandal, during a
congressional hearing in 1987.
WASHINGTON LAWYER

JULY 2017 27

http://www.dcbar.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - July 2017