1980s America Shaped by Greed, Excess, and Trump's Rise

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jonathan Kaufman's new book, "When America Roared," delves into the 1980s, a decade characterized by rampant greed and excess, to illuminate its lasting impact on contemporary America. Kaufman argues that the era's defining characteristics continue to influence the nation's trajectory, with specific attention paid to the evolution of Donald Trump's public persona and business dealings.

Kaufman highlights the irony that Donald Trump, now a prominent figure, was widely ridiculed and not taken seriously by influential figures of the 1980s, including General Electric CEO Jack Welch, who was then considered the most significant business leader globally. This early dismissal contrasts sharply with Trump's current stature, yet Kaufman observes that Trump's aesthetic and worldview still strongly reflect the 1980s. He describes Trump's style as embodying "glitz, the cheapness, the gold brocade everywhere," a visual language Kaufman associates directly with the decade. The author suggests that Trump's current presentation, with its emphasis on opulence and a particular brand of showmanship, is a direct continuation of his 1980s sensibilities, needing only minor stylistic additions like "big hair and leg warmers" to complete the retro image.

The book posits that the 1980s were a pivotal period that fundamentally altered American society, business, and culture. This era of economic expansion, deregulation, and a burgeoning celebrity culture laid the groundwork for many of the social and political trends observed today. Kaufman's analysis connects the decade's emphasis on personal wealth accumulation and conspicuous consumption to the broader cultural shifts that have persisted. The narrative explores how the values and behaviors that defined the 1980s, often associated with a "greed is good" mentality, have become deeply embedded in the American psyche and continue to shape public discourse and economic policy.

"When America Roared" aims to provide a comprehensive retrospective of this transformative decade, examining its key players, economic forces, and cultural phenomena. By drawing parallels between the 1980s and the present day, Kaufman seeks to offer readers a deeper understanding of how past events and attitudes have shaped the current American landscape. The book's focus on figures like Trump and Welch serves as a lens through which to view the broader societal changes, illustrating how the foundations of modern American capitalism and celebrity culture were solidified during this period of significant upheaval and transformation. Kaufman's work underscores the enduring legacy of the 1980s, suggesting that its influence is far more pervasive and consequential than often acknowledged.