Ronald Reagan
Who was Ronald Reagan?
President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911–2004)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Ronald Reagan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and trade unionist who was the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Born in Tampico, Illinois, he came from humble Midwestern beginnings and became one of the major political figures of the twentieth century. A strong anti-communist and key voice in the American conservative movement, Reagan changed domestic policy and Cold War strategy during his two terms, often called the Reagan era.
Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932 and started his career as a sports broadcaster in Iowa before moving to California in 1937, where he became a film actor. His time in Hollywood led him into organized labor, and he was president of the Screen Actors Guild twice, from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1959 to 1960. In the 1950s, he also hosted General Electric Theater on television and traveled as a motivational speaker for the company. His nationally televised speech supporting Barry Goldwater during the 1964 presidential election, known as 'A Time for Choosing,' made him a notable figure in conservative politics. He was later elected governor of California in 1966, serving two terms, during which he tackled a state budget deficit and dealt with significant social unrest on university campuses.
Elected president in 1980 after a decisive win over incumbent Jimmy Carter, Reagan introduced a broad set of economic policies known as Reaganomics, focusing on tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending. His presidency saw a sharp rise in Cold War tensions, with increased military spending and a shift away from the détente of previous administrations. He authorized the 1983 invasion of Grenada and took a strong stance against the Soviet Union, famously urging the dismantling of the Berlin Wall in his 'Tear down this wall!' speech in 1987 in West Berlin. Reagan survived an assassination attempt in March 1981, early in his first term.
Reagan was reelected in 1984 in a landslide victory over former Vice President Walter Mondale, winning 49 of 50 states. His second term included the Iran-Contra affair, a major political scandal involving secret arms sales to Iran and the funding of Nicaraguan rebels with the proceeds. He received numerous honors during and after his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath from the United Kingdom. He was also made an honorary citizen of Berlin. Reagan died on June 5, 2004, in Bel Air, California, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.
Before Fame
Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, into a working-class family. He grew up in various small towns in Illinois, attended Dixon High School, and then went on to Eureka College, a small liberal arts school connected with the Disciples of Christ. He graduated in 1932 during the Great Depression, a time that shaped his early political views, which initially leaned toward Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal Democratic politics.
After college, Reagan found work as a radio sports broadcaster in Iowa, honing the communication skills that would be key in his later careers. Moving to Hollywood in 1937, he began a film acting career that lasted several decades, taking on roles that made him well-known to the public. His growing involvement in the Screen Actors Guild led him into union politics and, later, wider political debates in postwar America, especially concerning communist influence in the entertainment industry. This mix of public life and political involvement set the stage for his eventual move into electoral politics.
Key Achievements
- Served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989, implementing supply-side economic reforms known as Reaganomics
- Delivered the 'Tear down this wall!' speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987, a defining moment of Cold War-era diplomacy
- Led the Screen Actors Guild as president on two separate occasions, representing the interests of film industry workers during the early Cold War period
- Won reelection in 1984 carrying 49 states, one of the largest electoral margins in United States presidential history
- Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993 and the Congressional Gold Medal, among numerous national and international honors
Did You Know?
- 01.Reagan served as president of the Screen Actors Guild twice, with a gap of seven years between his two terms, making him one of the union's longest-serving leaders.
- 02.His 1987 speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, in which he called on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall, was initially opposed by some State Department and National Security Council officials who considered the line too provocative.
- 03.Reagan received the Doublespeak Award in 1980 from the National Council of Teachers of English, an organization that presents the award to public figures for misleading or deceptive use of language.
- 04.He was awarded the Order of the White Eagle by Poland and the Collar of the Order of the White Lion by Czechoslovakia, recognizing his role in supporting anti-communist movements in Eastern Europe.
- 05.Reagan was inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2006, two years after his death, in the inaugural class of inductees.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| honorary citizen of Berlin | — | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath | — | — |
| Order of the White Eagle | — | — |
| Collar of the Order of the White Lion | — | — |
| Francis Boyer Award | 1988 | — |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom | 1993 | — |
| Congressional Gold Medal | — | — |
| California Hall of Fame | 2006 | — |
| Doublespeak Award | 1980 | — |
| Theodore Roosevelt Award | 1990 | — |
| Horatio Alger Award | 1969 | — |
| Labor Hall of Honor | 2018 | — |
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | 1960 | — |
| Grand Cross 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany | 1990 | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland | — | — |
| honorary doctorate of the Weizmann Institute of Science | — | — |
| Doublespeak Award | 1983 | — |
| Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum | — | — |
| Armed Forces Reserve Medal | — | — |
| American Defense Service Medal | — | — |
| American Campaign Medal | — | — |
| World War II Victory Medal | — | — |
| Order of the White Lion | — | — |
| Order of the Chrysanthemum | — | — |
| Order pro Merito Melitensi | — | — |
| Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland | — | — |
| honorary citizen of Vilnius | 1995 | — |
| honorary citizen of Gdańsk | — | — |