Ronald Reagan on Jobs President of the U.S., 1981-1989; Republican Governor (CA)

Worker & managers join forces to rebuild economy

Fired PATCO workers who broke oath not to strike

I said I was sure the controllers signed that oath because we all had. I still do not know how he knew about it, because although the President takes the oath, I am sure he does not sign a form not to strike.

Reagan announced that any air traffic controller who did not return to work would be fired. He said, “Let me read the oath taken by these employees: ‘I am not participating in any strike against the Government of the US or any agency thereof, and I will not so participate while an employee of the Government of the US or any agency thereof.’”

Here was the Great Communicator reading from an oath that every one of those controllers had signed. Suddenly it was as if the controllers had been caught betraying their country.

Minimum wage does away with jobs, especially for black youth

REAGAN: The President says that I was against the minimum wage. I wish he could have been with me when I sat with a group of teenagers who were black and who were telling me about their unemployment problems, and that it was the minimum wage that had done away with the jobs that they once could get. And indeed, every time it has increased you will find there is an increase in minority unemployment among young people. And therefore, I have been in favor of a separate minimum for them.