When Ronald Reagan ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980, the top issue was the sour economy. Reagan’s solution was a 30 percent, across-the-board cut in individual income tax rates. As nominee, he stuck with the big tax-cut as his main message. And he followed through as president, signing a 25 percent reduction into law in 1981.

Reagan is a model of what today’s Republican candidates should be doing—but aren’t coming close to. Queasy aides wanted Reagan to soft-pedal his tax cuts. He refused. His opponents attacked his tax plan, saying it would cause inflation to soar. He continued to talk about taxes and the economy, which was what voters wanted to hear about.