Final answer:
President Reagan initially supported the ERA and a reproductive rights law, but retreated on these issues to appeal to conservative voters and ensure his reelection in 1984. His ability to shift positions for political gain played a significant role in his success in securing a second presidential term.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Ronald Reagan originally supported the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and reproductive rights law but shifted his stance on both to secure reelection in 1984. He first withdrew support for the ERA during his bid for the Republican nomination in 1976 to gain backing from conservative party members, a move that also aligned with the Republican Party’s changing stance on the amendment. In California, Reagan had supported a reproductive rights law that made abortions more accessible; however, once in office, he avoided direct action on the issue, catering to the pro-life electorate.
While Reagan is known for championing conservative economic policies such as tax cuts for the wealthy, known as "Reaganomics", and advocating for decreased federal spending on social programs, he strategically compromised on some of his earlier policy positions. These compromises were intended to maintain broad electoral support across various voter demographics, including conservatives, union members, and lower-income Americans. His political savvy helped him win a second term alongside George H.W. Bush, with an unprecedented number of electoral votes in the 1984 election.