Ronald Reagan Biography

Ronald Reagan Biography

Full Name: Mr. Ronald Wilson Reagan
Date of Birth: February 6, 1911
Place of Birth: Tampico, Illinois, USA
Died: June 5, 2004
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California
Classification: Leaders & Revolutionaries


Working his way from an actor to becoming the 40 th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan adopted a conservative-republican policy after he saw the rise of national debt, unemployment, and a weakened and under-funded military. His policies and staunch anti-communism practices would gain popularity. He was regarded as the president who finally brought down the Soviet Union.

Young Ronald’s parents were regular middle-class US citizens attempting to live the American Dream. His father was a shoe salesman and his mother attended to the duties of the house. His father was also an alcoholic and resulted in the family having to move a lot, finally settling in Illinois. As a senior in high school, he was elected the class president, was involved in drama, and played football. He went on to receive a BA in sociology, but pursued a career in radio broadcasting and earned a spot as a sportscaster broadcasting of Chicago Cub’s games.

On a trip to California, he began acting with Warner Bros. in small roles. His movies included The Hasty Heart and Brother Rat. He married Jayne Wyman and the two had two children together. They were later divorced and Reagan married Nancy Reagan, who would see her husband through thick and thin, both in the White House and after in illness.

Ronald Reagan went on to serve as president of the Screen Actor’s Guild and worked alongside the Committee of Un-American Activities and helped in the blacklisting of several actors and directors. He also supported Nixon in his campaign to become governor of California. In 1966, Reagan served two terms as governor of California before deciding to run for President of the United States in the latter 1970s. With experience behind him now and a public personal as another regular guy, he was elected twice, with George Bush as his Vice-President.

In one of the most dramatic occurrences in office, Reagan was shot in the chest while leaving his hotel in Washington D.C. He recovered, but lost several months of policy reformation he had wanted to attempt at the start of his presidency. Through his second term, Reagan was inundated with problems with a rising inflation and a widening gap between rich and poor. He attempted to gain support for his Star Wars Program that worked to develop laser-technology to shoot incoming Russian nuclear weapons.