麻豆社

Phil Tinline journeys back to 1984 to find out what the re-election of Ronald Reagan, an entertainer turned president, can tell us about a second Trump term in the White House.

Reagan cruised to victory 40 years ago with his now famous 'Morning in America' campaign, defined by its sunny optimism. Author and broadcaster Phil Tinline tells the story of that campaign and considers why it was successful. He compares the hopeful tone of 1984 to the 2024 US presidential election and the success of Donald Trump, asking whether brightness has been replaced by a darker tone.

The two presidents are both former screen stars in their 70s, who gained the nomination by criticising the establishment and offering to be a fresh voice for change. Phil looks at the similarities, and also the differences, between the two administrations, the leadership styles of the two, and their policy approaches.

Phil was in his early teens in the 1980s, watching the bizarre world of American politics from the TV screen. He speaks to his daughter who is now growing up with Washington dramas on social media, comparing their two experiences.

Featuring archive from the campaign trail and the defining moments around 1984, Phil considers the legacy of that victory today, comparing the two presidents. He speaks to Washington insiders from the Trump and Reagan campaigns and also of Walter Mondale, Reagan's opponent. Phil also considers the culture of the mid 80s, and finds out how politics and movies interacted in those years.

Presenter: Phil Tinline
Producer: Sam Peach