Ronald Reagan (1911-2004)
40th President of the United States (1981-1989)
He was preceded in the Presidency by Jimmy Carter and after serving two terms in office he was succeeded by his Vice-President, George H.W. Bush. His extraordinary career took him from Hollywood to the White House, making him one of 20th Century America's most recognizable figures. Born into a Christian family in Tampico, Illinois, he graduated from Eureka College (economics and sociology, 1932) and began his career as a radio broadcaster in Iowa before moving to Hollywood in 1937. He appeared in over 50-films over the course of his acting career, though he was never considered a major star. His most notable roles included Knute Rockne, All American (1940), where he played George "The Gipper" Gipp, earning him a lifelong nickname.
His leadership qualities were reflected when he was named President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1959 to 1960, during which time he navigated the union through the Communist blacklist era and helped actors secure residual payments for television re-runs. His political transformation from New Deal (Roosevelt) Democrat to conservative Republican occurred gradually during the 1950s. As a spokesperson for General Electric he toured the country giving pro-business speeches that honed his skills as an orator. But, it was his 1964 televised speech supporting Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign, known as "A Time for Choosing," that launched his political career by articulating conservative principles with exceptional rhetorical skill.
His leadership qualities were reflected when he was named President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1959 to 1960, during which time he navigated the union through the Communist blacklist era and helped actors secure residual payments for television re-runs. His political transformation from New Deal (Roosevelt) Democrat to conservative Republican occurred gradually during the 1950s. As a spokesperson for General Electric he toured the country giving pro-business speeches that honed his skills as an orator. But, it was his 1964 televised speech supporting Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign, known as "A Time for Choosing," that launched his political career by articulating conservative principles with exceptional rhetorical skill.
In 1966, he was elected the 33rd Governor of California. While serving two terms he implemented welfare reforms while expanding the state budget. He unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 and 1976 before winning in 1980.
In the modern sense, Reagan is seen as the first truly conservative Republican president. He championed the conservative movement's core principles: significant tax cuts, deregulation, reduced domestic spending, massive military build-up, and traditional social values. His presidency marked the triumph of conservative ideology within the Republican Party. He implemented supply-side economics ("Reaganomics"), dramatically increased military spending, and took a hardline stance against the Soviet Union, calling it an "evil empire." His presidency saw significant economic recovery after early recession, the Strategic Defense Initiative, and improved relations with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Among the major challenges he faced was the Iran-Contra Affair, the AIDS epidemic to which he was notably slow to respond, bombing Libya, and the 1987 Stock Market Crash.
He left office in 1989 with high approval ratings and is credited by his supporters with revitalizing American confidence and contributing to the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Berlin Wall (1989). His optimistic communication style and conservative policy agenda had a significant influence on American politics and led him to be remembered as the "Great Communicator." He retired to California, where he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994 and died ten years later. He married twice (from 1952 he was the beloved husband of First Lady Nancy Reagan) and had five children.
He left office in 1989 with high approval ratings and is credited by his supporters with revitalizing American confidence and contributing to the end of the Cold War with the collapse of the Berlin Wall (1989). His optimistic communication style and conservative policy agenda had a significant influence on American politics and led him to be remembered as the "Great Communicator." He retired to California, where he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994 and died ten years later. He married twice (from 1952 he was the beloved husband of First Lady Nancy Reagan) and had five children.
