Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on the 6th of February 1911, in an apartment located in Tampico, Illinois. His mother Nelle Clyde Wilson led prayer meetings at the First Christian Church and instilled a strong religious foundation in her son. Jack Reagan worked to support the family but struggled with alcoholism throughout his life. The family moved frequently before settling in Dixon, Illinois, during 1920. Reagan attended Dixon High School where he developed interests in drama and football. He took a job as a lifeguard at the Rock River in Lowell Park that saved eight people from drowning over seven years. In 1928, Reagan began attending Eureka College which approved of its affiliation with the Disciples of Christ. He became student body president and joined a student strike that resulted in the college president's resignation. After graduating in 1932, Reagan took a job in Davenport, Iowa, as a sports broadcaster for four Big Ten Conference games. He then worked for WHO radio in Des Moines as a broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs.
Reagan arrived in Hollywood in 1937 after taking a screen test while traveling with the Cubs to spring training. He signed a seven-year contract with Warner Bros. and made thirty films mostly classified as B movies before military service began in April 1942. His breakout role came in Knute Rockne All American (1940) portraying George Gipp which later earned him the nickname the Gipper. Critics considered his performance in Kings Row (1942) as his best work despite playing a leg amputee. During World War II he produced over 400 training films while serving as an Army Air Forces public relations officer. Robert Montgomery resigned as president of the Screen Actors Guild on the 10th of March 1947, leading to Reagan's election in a special election. Reagan aligned the union with studios against the Conference of Studio Unions following the Hollywood Black Friday strike. On April 10, the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed Reagan who provided names of actors believed to be communist sympathizers. He testified during House Un-American Activities Committee hearings that some guild members were associated with the Communist Party. Reagan resigned as SAG president the 10th of November 1952 but remained on the board until the 7th of June 1960 when he secured residual payments for actors.
Reagan announced his candidacy for California governorship in January 1966 repeating stances on individual freedom and big government. He defeated incumbent governor Pat Brown winning 58% of the vote compared to Brown's 42%. As governor he raised state taxes including sales banks corporate profits inheritances liquor and cigarettes to balance the budget. Kevin Starr states Reagan gave Californians the biggest tax hike in their history yet got away with it. By 1973 the budget had a surplus which Reagan preferred to give back to the people. In 1967 Reagan signed the Mulford Act prohibiting public carrying of firearms after reacting to Black Panther Party copwatching strategies. The act became California's most restrictive piece of gun control legislation according to critics calling it an overreaction. On the 5th of February 1969, Reagan declared a state of emergency responding to ongoing protests at University of California Berkeley. He sent California Highway Patrol officers who clashed with protestors over People's Park resulting in one student death. Reagan commanded National Guard troops to occupy Berkeley for seventeen days to subdue protesters allowing other students to attend class safely. During his reelection campaign in 1970 he promised welfare reform while criticizing growing welfare rolls.
Reagan worked with boll weevil Democrats to pass tax and budget legislation in Congress led by Tip O'Neill. He lifted federal oil and gasoline price controls on the 28th of January 1981 then signed Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 lowering income tax rates. The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 doubled federal cigarette tax rescinding portion of corporate tax cuts from 1981 bill. By 1983 federal tax had fallen for all or most taxpayers with higher-income people decreasing the most. The economy briefly experienced growth before plunging into recession in July 1981 when Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker pursued tight money policy. Bureau of Labor Statistics measured unemployment rate at 10.8 percent in December 1982 before economic activity began rising until end in 1990. Inflation dropped from 12 percent during 1980 election to under 5 percent in 1989 while interest rate fell from 15 percent to under 10 percent. Defense spending doubled between 1981 and 1985 while national debt tripled between fiscal years 1980 and 1989. Reagan described tripled debt as greatest disappointment of his presidency since he never fulfilled campaign promise of submitting balanced budget.
Reagan ordered massive defense buildup reviving B-1
Lancer program rejected by Carter administration deploying MX missile. He oversaw NATO deployment of Pershing missile in Western Europe responding to Soviet SS-20 deployment. In March 1983 Reagan introduced Strategic Defense Initiative protecting United States from space intercontinental ballistic missiles despite scientific disbelief. During 1982 address to British Parliament Reagan declared march of freedom would leave Marxism-Leninism on ash heap of history. Margaret Thatcher called address triumph while American press dismissed it as wishful thinking. After Soviet fighters downed Korean Air Lines Flight 007 killing Congressman Larry McDonald and 61 other Americans Reagan expressed outrage toward Soviet Union. His administration supported anti-communist movements fighting against groups backed by Soviet Union through Reagan Doctrine ignoring human rights violations in countries they backed. On the 19th of October 1983 Maurice Bishop overthrown murdered leading Reagan to order American forces invade Grenada citing regional threat posed by Soviet-Cuban military build-up. Two days fighting commenced resulting in American victory though criticized internationally with UN General Assembly voting to censure government.
On the 30th of March 1981 Reagan shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside Washington Hilton undergoing surgery recovering quickly from broken rib punctured
lung internal bleeding. Early August 1981 Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization went strike violating federal law prohibiting government unions striking. Reagan said he would fire air traffic controllers if not return work within 48 hours then fired roughly 12,000 controllers who ignored order. Breaking PATCO strike demoralized organized labor causing number strikes fall greatly during 1980s. Between the 18th of September 1985 and the 4th of February 1986 Reagan did not mention AIDS in public despite Rock Hudson death affecting his view. In 1986 Reagan asked C. Everett Koop develop report on AIDS stressing importance sex education including condom usage schools. A year later Reagan gave first speech epidemic when 36,058 Americans diagnosed 20,849 died of it. By fiscal years 1984-1989 federal spending on AIDS totaled $5.6 billion though administration proposed only $2.8 billion. On April 14 United States launched airstrikes Libya after West Berlin discotheque bombing killed American soldier injured dozens others the 5th of April 1986.
Reagan left presidency the 20th of January 1989 at age 77 becoming oldest president end
tenure until Joe Biden surpassed him. Ronald Nancy lived at 668 St Cloud Road Bel Air plus Rancho del Cielo Santa Barbara receiving multiple awards honors generous payments speaking engagements. In 1989 he supported repealing Twenty-second Amendment presidential term limits while 1991 saw Ronald Reagan Presidential Library open. Reagan addressed 1992 Republican National Convention inspiring allegiance party regulars favoring constitutional amendment requiring balanced budget. Publicly favored Brady Bill drawing criticism gun control opponents stating AK-47 machine gun not sporting weapon needed home defense. Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1994 physical mental capacities gradually deteriorated leading death the 5th of June 2004. Tenure constituted realignment toward conservative policies United States often considered icon American conservatism. Historical rankings U.S. presidents typically placed Reagan middle upper tier post-presidential approval ratings general public usually high. He planned active post-presidency hindered diagnosis ending his ability to engage fully in political discourse or public life.
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Common questions
When and where was Ronald Reagan born?
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on the 6th of February 1911, in an apartment located in Tampico, Illinois. His mother Nelle Clyde Wilson led prayer meetings at the First Christian Church and instilled a strong religious foundation in her son.
What role did Ronald Reagan play that earned him the nickname the Gipper?
Reagan achieved his breakout role as George Gipp in Knute Rockne All American released in 1940 which later earned him the nickname the Gipper. Critics considered his performance in Kings Row from 1942 as his best work despite playing a leg amputee.
How many people did Ronald Reagan save while working as a lifeguard?
Ronald Reagan took a job as a lifeguard at the Rock River in Lowell Park that saved eight people from drowning over seven years. He worked there before attending Eureka College starting in 1928.
Why did Ronald Reagan sign the Mulford Act in 1967?
In 1967 Reagan signed the Mulford Act prohibiting public carrying of firearms after reacting to Black Panther Party copwatching strategies. The act became California's most restrictive piece of gun control legislation according to critics calling it an overreaction.
When was Ronald Reagan shot and who attempted to kill him?
On the 30th of March 1981 Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside Washington Hilton undergoing surgery recovering quickly from broken rib punctured lung internal bleeding. He survived the assassination attempt and continued his presidency until January 1989.