"Reagan's Legacy and the GOP Candidates Today: A Clash of Ideals"

Several GOP candidates in the 2024 presidential campaign, including Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Mike Pence, are invoking Ronald Reagan's famous phrase "the ash heap of history" in their speeches and policies. This reflects the changing nature of the Republican Party, as candidates seek to align themselves with Reagan's optimistic conservative vision while also embracing a style of attack and grievance associated with former President Donald Trump. The phrase originated from Reagan's 1982 speech calling for the demise of the Soviet Union and has become a symbol of conservative opposition to communism and other perceived threats.