Ronald Reagan Biography Essay

Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois on February 6,1911. His parents were John Edward Reagan and Nellie Wilson Reagan. His father nicknamed him Dutch (Ronald Reagan biography). As he grew older Reagan moved from town to town. But eventually settled in Dixon, Illinois in 1920. There his father opened up a shoe shop (Ronald Reagan Biography). Ronald Reagan attended Dixon high school. There he was a athlete, student body president, and performed in many school plays. During his summer vacations Reagan was a lifeguard in Dixon (Ronald Reagan biography). After he graduated high school he attended college at Eureka college on a athletic scholarship. He majored in economics and sociology. He also played football, ran track, was the

captain of the swim team, and he served as a student council president. He graduated in 1932 and found a job as a sports announcer in Iowa (Ronald Reagan biography). As life went on Reagan signed a huge seven year-contract with Warner brothers. He appeared in more than 50 films. He eventually married actress Jane wyman. They had a daughter Maureen and adopted a son named Michael. They eventually got divorced in 1948 (Ronald Reagan biography). Ronald Reagan was an American hero because he fought for his country, he never wanted to try to fit in with the crowd, he was willing to take risks for him and the country, and was a leader towards the the American people both during war and conflict or in the country.
Ronald Reagan, after his divorce, joined the army Air Force. Unfortunately, he was disqualified from combat due to poor eyesight. He then made training videos for the fellow soldiers. He left the military ranked as a captain (Ronald Reagan biography). From 1947-1952 Reagan served as a president of the screen actors guild. Here he met actress Nancy Davis who eventually would become his wife. They married in 1952 and had two children, Patricia and Ronald (Ronald Reagan biography). As Reagan's film career began to fall, he landed a job as a TV host for a series called The General Electric theater. During this time his political views started to shift from liberal to conservative (Ronald Reagan Biography). As Reagan's political views shifted he began to lead pro-business discussions. He spoke against excessive government regulation and wasteful spending. These are some of his future political career themes (Ronald Reagan biography).
Reagan stepped into the political spotlight in 1964. He gave a televised speech for republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater (Ronald Reagan biography). Reagan two years later in his first race for his public office defeated democratic incumbent Edmund brown Sr. He defeated him by almost 1 million votes. He won the California governorship and was re-elected in 1920 (Ronald Reagan biography). After unsuccessful bids for the republican nomination in 1968 and 1976, he finally received his party's nod in 1980 (Ronald Reagan biography). In that year Reagan defeated democrat, jimmy carter winning electoral college 489 to 49 and capturing 51%. Of the popular vote (Ronald Reagan Biography). At the age of 69 Ronald Reagan became the oldest person elected to the U.S. Presidency (Ronald Reagan biography).
Reagan's inaugural speech was on January 20, 1981.

He announced that the government is not the solution to our problems, but was the problem. He said that America would be again a beacon for those who don't have freedom (Ronald Reagan biography). On March 30, 1981 Reagan exited the Washington Hilton hotel. He left with several of his advisors when suddenly shots went off. 3 others were shot. Reagan was shot, but survived. Within weeks he was back at work. Reagan advanced policies that reduced social programs and restrictions on businesses. He put tax cuts to stimulate the U.S. Economy. By 1983 the economy of the nation began to prosper. It entered a seven year period of prosperity (Ronald Reagan biography). One of Reagan's troubles was the sockets and the Cold War. He announced the Strategic Defense Initiative to protect America from soviet missiles. He sent 800 marines to Lebanon as part of a peacekeeping force. He then sent U.S. Forces to the Caribbean island of Granada after rebels overthrew the government (Ronald Reagan biography). During Reagan's second term he signed a agreement with Mikhail Gorbachev, chairman of the soviets. It said to eliminate nuclear range missiles. He then spoke against the Berlin Wall because it was a symbol of communism. 29 months later it was torn down (Ronald Reagan

biography).
on January 1989, Reagan and navy returned to their homes in L.A. On November 1994 Reagan revealed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Nearly 10 years later on June 5, 2004, he died at the age of 93. A state funeral was held in DC and was buried on the grounds of his presidential library in California (Ronald Reagan biography).