1988–89—The End of the Yellow Brick Road

The finality of the Reagan presidency at noon on January 20, 1989, marked the end of the wonderful trip the Republican Party had taken with their conservative icon Ronald Reagan. The end of the yellow brick road landed the Republican Party at the end of an enchanted time in a land ruled by the great wizard himself President Reagan. Reagan’s presidency did not destroy liberalism as did Dorothy and the wicked witch with a bucket of water. However, liberalism was in hibernation and the election of 1988 was their chance to strike back at the political party that had dealt them a losing hand for almost eight years. The stage was set for a new chapter in the Republican Party. A leadership void now needed to be filled. But let’s first take a walk back through the Reagan presidency and consider not only its highs and lows but also its political ramifications, which spilled forth.