The
Strength of the Bear: Reagan’s Successful Manipulation of Naturalistic
Symbolism
The
election of 1984 was one of particular significance. An economic crisis had
recently presented itself and the country was on the brink of nuclear war with Russia. Ronald
Reagan and Walter Mondale had very different national agendas: Reagan promoted
preparation for a possible nuclear war while Mondale insisted on a nuclear
freeze, disabling all nuclear weapons as a sign of peace to Russia. The
Cold War debate caused Ronald Reagan to release one of the most effective
political advertisements of the era: Bear in the Woods. The article used fear
and doubt to successfully manipulate the population of the United States
to vote for him. Rhetorically, “Bear in the Woods” was an incredibly articulate
advertisement that was ambiguous enough to relate on a personal level to most
American citizens while avoiding self-contradictions.
