Republican candidates often praise former President Ronald Reagan for his ability to win the support of union workers. However, few of these candidates ever attempt to emulate Reagan’s approach to such workers. Once a Democrat himself and president of a union, the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan knew what to say and, more importantly, what not to say.

Months before the 1980 campaign, Reagan authorized the publication of a labor pamphlet that listed issues of importance to unions. On the issue of “right to work,” Reagan promised he would oppose a national right-to-work law, but that he opposed the repeal of section 14B of the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.