Article content Recommended Videos We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or A look at previous government shutdowns and how they ended Back to video We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content History shows the tactic almost never works, and federal employees are caught in the middle. Article content 1970s and 1980s Under Presidents Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, and Ronald Reagan, a Republican, there were short shutdowns almost every year.