A panel discussion was held on 1980s and it’s definition as a historical period. The decade defined by the presidency of Ronald Reagan became a critical moment for both the political right and left. Daniel Rodgers talked about the transformation of social ideas in the last quarter of the 20th century and why the '80s was a critical moment for both the left and the right. Doug Rossinow talked about how Ronald Reagan’s role as president has been presented in recent history. Kim Phillips-Fein questioned the intense focus on President Reagan in the overall historiography of the 1980s. Jeremi Suri moderated and commentary was provided by Michael Kazin. After the panelists presented their papers, the group responded to questions from members of the audience.
“The American 1980s as a Historical Period: Problematizing the Standard Narrative” was a session of the 125th annual meeting of the American Historical Association, held at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston.