1980–1988: ACORN in the Reagan era

By 1980, ACORN’s staff was stretched thin by the demands of meeting its expansion goals. Much of its resources and energy had been dedicated to the presidential primaries and national party conventions. ACORN launched squatting campaigns in an attempt to obtain affordable housing, and encouraged squatters to refit the premises for comfortable living.[citation needed ]

In June 1982 ACORN sponsored "Reagan Ranches" in over 35 cities believing the president's focus to be on military as opposed to social spending. These tent cities were erected for two days and were met with resistance from the National Park Service , which tried repeatedly to evict the tenters. The protesters remained and then marched on the White House and testified before a Congressional committee about what they described as the housing crisis in America. The last Reagan Ranch was held at the Republican Convention in Dallas in 1984.[citation needed ]

In addition to protesting, ACORN also developed and strengthened its political action committees and encouraged its members to run for office. For the 1984 election ACORN wanted to endorse a candidate, setting a 75% support in polls among members as its requirement. No candidate reached that level, though there was strong support for Jesse Jackson . ACORN also established a legislative office that year in Washington, DC . During this period ACORN also focused on local election reform in a number of cities, including Pittsburgh , Columbia, South Carolina , and Sioux Falls, South Dakota , encouraging the change of at-large legislative bodies to district representation.[citation needed ]

ACORN grew to 27 states, adding chapters in New York City , Washington, DC , and Chicago, Illinois by the end of Reagan's first term.[ 36]

During the 1988 Election ACORN held its National Convention in the same city as the Democratic Convention — Atlanta, Georgia . During the preceding four years ACORN had strengthened its ties with Jesse Jackson and accounted for 30 Jackson delegates. It also sponsored a march at the convention.[citation needed ]

ACORN's membership grew to 70,000 plus in 28 states during this time. It increased its legislative lobbying efforts in Washington, DC, and strengthened its Political Action Committees (PACs). It also developed what it called the Affiliated Media Foundation Movement (AM/FM). Starting with station KNON in Dallas, AM/FM moved on to establish radio stations, UHF television and cable television programming. It also sought and received appointments to the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) which was formed to dissolve the assets of failed Savings and Loans resulting from the Savings and Loan crisis .[citation needed ]