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| Ronald Reagan |
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1980 to restore "the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism."
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born to Nelle and John Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. He attended
high school in nearby Dixon and then worked his way through Eureka College. There, he
studied economics and sociology, played on the football team, and acted in school plays.
Upon graduation, he became a radio sports announcer. A screen test in 1937 won him a
contract in Hollywood. During the next two decades he appeared in 53 films.
From his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman, he had two children, Maureen and Michael.
Maureen passed away in 2001. In 1952 he married Nancy Davis, who was also an actress, and
they had two children, Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott.
As president of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan became embroiled in disputes over the issue
of Communism in the film industry; his political views shifted from liberal to conservative. He
toured the country as a television host, becoming a spokesman for conservatism. In 1966 he
was elected Governor of California by a margin of a million votes; he was re-elected in 1970.
Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running
mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters
troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the
Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.
On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be
assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous
incident caused his popularity to soar.
Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth,
curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a
course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the
strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.
A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term
with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic
challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.
In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many
deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his
administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity
without recession or depression.
In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he
increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet
Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty
that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against
international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that
Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.
By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the
Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist
insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.
Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through
strength seemed to be within grasp.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born to Nelle and John Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. He attended
high school in nearby Dixon and then worked his way through Eureka College. There, he
studied economics and sociology, played on the football team, and acted in school plays.
Upon graduation, he became a radio sports announcer. A screen test in 1937 won him a
contract in Hollywood. During the next two decades he appeared in 53 films.
From his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman, he had two children, Maureen and Michael.
Maureen passed away in 2001. In 1952 he married Nancy Davis, who was also an actress, and
they had two children, Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott.
As president of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan became embroiled in disputes over the issue
of Communism in the film industry; his political views shifted from liberal to conservative. He
toured the country as a television host, becoming a spokesman for conservatism. In 1966 he
was elected Governor of California by a margin of a million votes; he was re-elected in 1970.
Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running
mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters
troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the
Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.
On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be
assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous
incident caused his popularity to soar.
Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth,
curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a
course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the
strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.
A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term
with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic
challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.
In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many
deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his
administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity
without recession or depression.
In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he
increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet
Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty
that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against
international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that
Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.
By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the
Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist
insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.
Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through
strength seemed to be within grasp.
Born on February 6th, 1911, Ronald
Reagan was the 40th President of
the United States of America.
Reagan served from January 20th,
1981 to January 20th, 1989.
Reagan died at the age of 93 on
June 5th, 2004.
At the end of his two terms in
office, Ronald Reagan viewed with
satisfaction the achievements of
his innovative program known as
the Reagan Revolution, which
aimed to reinvigorate the American
people and reduce their reliance
upon Government. He felt he had
fulfilled his campaign pledge of
Reagan was the 40th President of
the United States of America.
Reagan served from January 20th,
1981 to January 20th, 1989.
Reagan died at the age of 93 on
June 5th, 2004.
At the end of his two terms in
office, Ronald Reagan viewed with
satisfaction the achievements of
his innovative program known as
the Reagan Revolution, which
aimed to reinvigorate the American
people and reduce their reliance
upon Government. He felt he had
fulfilled his campaign pledge of