My History Can Beat Up Your Politics RONALD REAGAN PART SIX: Hands Across America
Mar 23, 2026
Discussion of rising homelessness and media attention in the 1980s. Examination of federal spending cuts, HUD reductions, and the shift to block grants. Coverage of college funding changes and the impact of deinstitutionalization on mental health and street homelessness. Exploration of Hands Across America, the McKinney Act, and the politics and delayed response surrounding the early AIDS crisis.
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Reagan's Personal Acts Of Kindness
- Ronald Reagan habitually responded to personal letters with acts of kindness, often delivering roses or suits in person.
- Michael Deaver recounts Reagan answering a soldier's plea with roses and donating an expensive suit to a voter who wanted to look good for a wedding.
Popular President But Divided Public Confidence
- Reagan's high personal popularity often diverged from public confidence in national direction, creating a 'personal Reagan' versus 'policy Reagan' split.
- Gallup data in 1986–87 show strong personal ratings while only 45% said the country was on the right track.
Hands Across America Nationwide Mobilization
- Hands Across America mobilized millions on May 25, 1986 to raise funds for soup kitchens and the homeless with celebrity and civic participation.
- The event spanned coast to coast, used a $20 million Super Bowl ad, and included celebrities from Liza Minnelli to Michael Jackson.
