The attempt had a significant influence on his popularity as his approval ratings rapidly rose.[182] Later, Reagan came to believe that God had spared his life so that he might go on to defeat "communism in the Soviet bloc".[183][184]

Supreme Court appointments
Main article: Ronald Reagan Supreme Court candidates
Reagan appointed three associate justices to the Supreme Court of the United States: Sandra Day O'Connor in July 1981, Antonin Scalia in 1986, and Anthony Kennedy in 1988. He also appointed William Rehnquist as the chief justice in 1986.[185] The direction of the Supreme Court's reshaping has been described as conservative.[186][187]

Public sector labor union fights
Early in August 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) went on strike, violating a federal law prohibiting government unions from striking.[188] On August 3, Reagan said that he would fire air traffic controllers if they did not return to work within 48 hours; according to him, 38 percent did not return. On August 13, Reagan fired roughly 12,000 striking air traffic controllers who ignored his order.[189] He used military controllers[190] and supervisors to handle the nation's commercial air traffic until new controllers could be hired and trained.