The Great American: Ronald Reagan

†-Rest-In-Peace-†

Ronald Reagan
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 1980 to restore "the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism."

On February 6, 1911, 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.

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[5111pt]

Ronald Reagan was probably the greatest president in my lifetime thus far. I only pray that God will raise up a man of his caliber to take our country back. We have seen such a decline in leadership since Ronald Reagan. He set a high standard for character and leadership!

[MrOncethere]

President Reagan, how we miss you! You were a true American and not an anti-American apologist like the idiot we currently have in office today.

[danno131305]

A REAL President.  My PRESIDENT. R I P Mr President, we miss you.

>Hand Salute<

[KennethRodhil]

Even though I'm not a citizen of America, and was not yet born when he is in office and just a 17 year old Filipino kid from Dubai. Well, I hope that America will never forget him and I will tell my kids his legacy

[StupidCommentsMademe]

I wish we could have more presidents who didn't care about politics but they did care about the country and most of all the people.

I can't believe people place such rude comments on a tribute to his death....Seriously whether you like him or not this is not the place to make hateful comments.

[sserpent21]

Ronald Reagan was my President when I grew up. 

[painin2teeth]

This is such a great video. makes me cry. With all the liberal bias out there, I forgot about a lot of this

[ChihuahuaboyDH]

Here's to the Greatest President our country has ever seen! His Legacy will endure forevermore! God Bless You, Mr. Reagan.

R.I./P., Ronald Wilson Reagan...1911-2004.

[GloriousWarrior]

Ronald Reagan gave the entire world hope. Hope for peace, cooperation and empathy. My grandfathers fought in WWII on the Soviet and German sides, and both of them admit that in their lifetimes, Ronald Reagan was the only man they truly believed in. It is our duty to carry the bright memory of Ronald Reagan to the future generations so they may learn how to be a unifying leader to a world divided. Thank You President Reagan.

[baronsnearls]

WE DID MORE THAN JUST PASS THROUGH, WE GOT AMERICA MOVING AGAIN, WE BREATHED NEW LIFE INTO OUR ECONOMY AND PUT MORE PEOPLE TO WORK THAN EVER BEFORE IN HISTORY.

WE REBUILT OUR MILITARY STRENGTH AND BROUGHT THE WORLD A LITTLE CLOSER TOGETHER IN PEACE.

BUT ABOVE ALL, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WE GOT AMERICA TO STAND TALL AGAIN.

AND YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT MAYBE THAT'S THE THING I'M PROUDEST OF.

RONALD REAGAN

[pupRu33]

if I were american, i'd change from a democrat to a republican simply to replace him (if that's possible). im so prividged that our greatest prime minister- margaret thatcher- was so close to the greatest president in the JFK-clinton rea...

[masterchiefer123]

FUCK CHENEY he doesnt deserve to speak