As the subtitle of this play suggests, Angels in America portrays several themes that were prevalent in the American society during the 80s and 90s. One of the conspicuous themes is politics, which is well represented in the dialogue between Louis and Belize:
Louis: But I mean in spite of all this the thing about America, I think, is that ultimately we’re different from every other nation on earth, in that, with people here of every race, we cant–Ultimately what defines us isn’t race, but politics. (Act 3 Scene 2)
The politics in this play mostly revolves around Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the US (1981-1989), famous for his distinctive economic policy. The play shows characters that are either for or against Reagan: wealthy Republicans and those like Louis who shows clear antipathy against Reagan. Understanding his economic policy, a.k.a. Reaganomics, will help elucidate this political dichotomy.