Ronald Reagan and the Firing of the Air Traffic Controllers - (Landmark Presidential Decisions) by Andrew E Busch

About the Book

"In the latest volume for the Landmark Presidential Decisions series, Andrew Busch focuses on the decision by Ronald Reagan in August 1981 to fire striking members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association (PATCO) at the nation's airports in response to the decision by the 12,000 members to go on strike to demand a large pay raise, 32-hour work week, and other benefits. PATCO was one of three national unions to endorse Reagan in the 1980 campaign, and Reagan had signaled a desire to work with it. On the other hand, Reagan was committed to limiting federal spending and cutting inflation. Reagan's decision came in the first year of his presidency, and in many ways it set the tone for his two terms in the White House. It was also a contested decision both within the administration and in the public, though it ultimately proved popular. The decision had substantial long-term consequences and accelerated the decline of unions in the private sector"--

Book Synopsis

On August 3, 1981, over 12,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association (PATCO) walked off their jobs, striking for higher pay, shorter hours, and increased benefits. Unexpectedly, President Ronald Reagan decided to fire the strikers, prosecute their leaders, and decertify their union. This swift and unwavering decision was a shocking reversal of the sympathy and support Reagan showed PATCO during his campaign ten months earlier, which had earned him the union's endorsement.

Andrew Busch, an expert on the Reagan presidency, explores this overlooked decision, showing the many ways that it set the tone for Reagan's two terms in the White House. It was a contested decision both within the administration and in the public sphere, though it ultimately proved popular. Reagan's action demonstrated his commitment to upholding federal labor law, limiting federal spending, and cutting inflation. He also modeled his management style of delegating to subordinates and supporting his guidance with decisive judgment when necessary.

More broadly, this decision had long-term significance that far exceeded its immediate importance. The response to the PATCO strike formed a pattern for future decisions and made a strong impression on foreign adversaries. It also contributed to the declining power of unions, marking a shift in labor politics that has continued to this day.

Andrew Busch brings a wealth of insight to this concise and accessible book, making it an ideal entry into understanding Ronald Reagan's domestic policy and leadership, and a fine addition to the Landmark Presidential Decisions series.

Review Quotes

"In this compact and thoroughly absorbing work, Busch discusses the strike’ls antecedents, unfolding, and ramifications, including the disintegration of PATCO and public approbation for the president. Well researched and cogently argued, this work is a model case study of one president's effective response to a major challenge. Highly recommended."--Choice

"Ronald Reagan's 1981 confrontation with the nation's air traffic controllers looms as one of the most significant events in both labor and presidential history. In this compact and highly readable treatment, eminent political scientist Andrew Busch brings fresh analysis to this turning-point episode and illuminates why its influence still resonates more than four decades later."--Joseph A. McCartin, author of Collision Course: Ronald Reagan, the Air Traffic Controllers, and the Strike that Changed America

"Busch has written an engaging and accessible case study that has great cross-discipline appeal. It's a must-read for students of the US presidency!"--Marcus Witcher, author of Getting Right with Reagan: The Struggle for True Conservatism, 1980-2016

"This book is a balanced and perceptive analysis of a pivotal moment in the Reagan presidency. With keen insight and thorough research, Andrew Busch tells why Reagan broke the PATCO strike, and how he made his decision stick. The book also offers a deep and nuanced look at the decision's long-term consequences, both at home and abroad. Ronald Reagan and the Firing of the Air Traffic Controllers is essential reading for anybody who wants to understand the politics of the 1980s."--John J. Pitney Jr., author of After Reagan: Bush, Dukakis, and the 1988 Election

"Andrew Busch's study of Ronald Reagan's firing of the Air Traffic Controllers combines attention to personal leadership and institutional consequence--often examined separately to the detriment of understanding either one adequately. Thoroughly researched and carefully analyzed, Busch's case study illuminates how the clash between Reagan and PATCO was not only an inflexion point for labor policy, but also a critical episode that influenced the Cold War and contributed to the revitalization of the executive office, diminished by the travails of Vietnam and Watergate. This well-written and accessible text should be of interest to both undergraduate and graduate students as well as scholars engaged in the important task of shedding light on the Reagan presidency's legacy for American political development."--Sidney M. Milkis, author of Theodore Roosevelt, the Progressive Party, and the Transformation of American Democracy

"With this book, Andrew Busch continues his masterful run of research on the Reagan administration, digging into an episode that is well-, but often incompletely, remembered. For those looking to understand both Reagan's behind-the-scenes management style and his ability to frame the public debate, this book is invaluable one-stop shopping."--Andrew Rudalevige, coeditor of The Obama Legacy