Did Ronald Reagan Create Trump? (Part 5)

The Rest Is Politics: US

Goalhanger

News, Government, Politics

4.4 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 2 October 2025

⏱️ 11 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

**Founding Members can listen to the entire Reagan series now: sign up at therestispoliticsus.com.** In the final episode of the Reagan series, Katty and Anthony dive into the explosive Iran-Contra scandal — the secret arms deals, shredded documents, and the moment Reagan’s presidency nearly unraveled. Yet while scandal swirled, Reagan was also signing landmark nuclear treaties with Gorbachev. How did he survive politically? Was it his charm, myth-making, or distance from the details? And what about his legacy? We explore how Reagan reshaped the Republican Party, left behind a model of tax cuts and billionaire politics, and whether he ultimately set the stage for Donald Trump. Sunny optimism gave way to grievance; but did Reagan light the path? Become a Founding Member: Go deeper into US politics every week with ad-free listening, members-only miniseries, early access to live show tickets and a bonus members-only Q&A podcast every week. Sign up at ⁠⁠therestispoliticsus.com⁠⁠ Revolut Business To save your company time and money, open a Revolut Business account today via www.revolut.com/rb/therestispoliticsus, and add money to your account by 31st of December 2025 to get a £200 welcome bonus or equivalent in your local currency. Feature availability varies by plan. This offer’s available for New Business customers in the UK, US, Australia and Ireland. Fees and Terms & Conditions apply. For US customers, Revolut is not a bank. Banking services and card issuance are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Visa® and Mastercard® cards issued under license. Funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, in the event Lead Bank fails. Fees may apply. See full terms in description. For Irish customers, Revolut Bank UAB is authorised and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania in the Republic of Lithuania and by the European Central Bank and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. For AU customers, consider PDS & TMD at revolut.com/en-AU. Revolut Payments Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 517589). Instagram: ⁠@RestPoliticsUS⁠ Twitter: ⁠@RestPoliticsUS⁠ Email: ⁠therestispoliticsus@goalhanger.com⁠ Assistant Producer: India Dunkley Producer: Fiona Douglas Video Editor: Kieron Leslie Social Producer: Charlie Johnson Senior Producer: Callum Hill Head of Content: Tom Whiter Head of Digital: Sam Oakley Exec Producers: Tony Pastor, Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ronald Reagan knew how to go big and go bold.
0:04.0	He truly was the great communicator.
0:06.0	He was still feeling the afterglow of the landslide election win,
0:11.0	the Cold War shifting in America's favor.
0:14.0	Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall.
0:18.0	President Reagan today publicly ridiculed last week's report from Congress that he was
0:24.2	responsible for the arms for Iranians wheeling and dealing.
0:27.2	We did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages.
0:30.9	They actually saw the first signs of Alzheimer's in 1989.
0:35.4	And he dies at home at the age of 93,
0:38.5	not remembering that he had been president of the United States.
0:43.1	It's not Reagan's party anymore.
0:45.2	Donald Trump destroyed Ronald Reagan.
0:48.8	I thought he was great, distile, his attitude, but not great, entree.
0:52.7	Will we be the party of conservatism? Or will we follow the
0:56.3	siren song of populism? Only one man has the proven experience we need. Together, we'll make America
1:04.1	great again. Thank you very much.
1:19.8	Did Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan. Did Reagan create Trump? That's the question at the heart of our final episode of our members' mini-series on Ronald Reagan. Yeah, and it's a question worth asking because while Reagan left the White House in 1989 as the Cold War peacemaker, his legacy is also reshaped American politics in ways that I
1:31.2	think we're still living with today. Well, Katie, we're going to look at the Iran-Contra scandal.
1:36.5	We're going to look at the moment that the presidency nearly collapsed. They secret arms
1:41.1	with Iran. Money funded into the Contras in Nicaragua, Oliver Stone, at the head of that. Shredded documents in the White House basement. And how did Reagan survive that? How was it not his watergate? Yeah, somehow he did manage to do that. And was it charm, myth-making, or simply the fact that he seemed
2:01.0	perhaps a little detached from the details of actually running the government? And, Cathy,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Goalhanger, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Goalhanger and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.