The Eleventh Commandment (Ronald Reagan) The Eleventh Commandment (Ronald Reagan) The Eleventh Commandment was a phrase used by President Ronald Reagan during his 1966 campaign for Governor of California. The Commandment reads: While popularized by Reagan, "The Eleventh Commandment" was created by California Republican Party Chairman Gaylord Parkinson. In his 1990 autobiography "An American Life", Reagan attributed the rule to Parkinson, explained its origin, and claimed to have followed it: The goal was to prevent a repetition of the liberal Republican assault on Barry Goldwater, attacks which contributed to Goldwater's defeat in the 1964 presidential election. East Coast Republicans like Nelson Rockefeller labeled Goldwater an
Political positions of Ronald Reagan of the Jewish faith and the subjugation of blacks, while the same amendment forbids our children from saying a prayer in school?". However, President Reagan did not pursue a constitutional amendment requiring school prayer in public schools. Reagan mischaracterized the Supreme Court decisions on school prayer as no decision of the Court has ever held that a child is prohibited from praying on his own. The effect of the school prayer decisions is to prohibit public school authorities from requiring children to participate in prayer. Reagan was particularly opposed to the establishment of the Department of Education, which had occurred