Ronald Reagan Biography

Ronald Wilson Reagan was an American actor and politician. He was the 40th President of the United States, and served as the 33rd Governor of California prior to his presidency.

Born and raised in small towns in Illinois, Reagan graduated from Eureka College and then worked as a radio broadcaster. He moved to Hollywood in 1937, where he began a career as an actor, first in films and later in television. Reagan served as President of the Screen Actors Guild and later as a spokesman for General Electric; his start in politics occurred during his work for G.E. Originally, he was a member of the Democratic Party, but due to the parties' shifting platforms during the 1950s, he switched to the Republican Party in 1962.

After delivering a rousing speech in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential candidacy in 1964, he was persuaded to seek the California governorship, winning two years later and again in 1970. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 and in 1976, but won both the nomination and general election in 1980, defeating incumbent Jimmy Carter.

As president, Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives. Source: Wikipedia

Marriages

• 1952-03-08
  Future US President Ronald Reagan (41) marries Nancy Davis (30)

Ronald Reagan Timeline

• 1966-11-08
  Movie actor Ronald Reagan elected Governor of California
• 1967-06-15
  Governor Reagan signs liberalized California abortion bill
• 1975-11-20
  Ronald Reagan announces candidacy for Republican nomination for US President
• 1978-12-16
  Ronald Reagan denounces President Jimmy Carter's recognition of China PR
• 1979-11-13
  Ronald Reagan in NY announces his candidacy for US President
• 1980-06-12
  Ronald Reagan said he would submit to periodic medical tests
• 1980-07-16
  Ronald Reagan nominated for US President by Republicans in Detroit
• 1980-07-17
  Ronald Reagan formally accepts Republican nomination for US president
• 1980-10-14
  Presidential nominee Ronald Reagan promises to name a woman to Supreme Court
• 1980-11-04
  Ronald Reagan (R) defeats incumbant US President Jimmy Carter (D) by a landslide
• 1980-12-16
  President-elect Reagan announces Alexander Haig as secretary of state
• 1980-12-22
  US President-elect Ronald Reagan appoints J Kirkpatrick (UN) & James Watt (Interior)
• 1981-01-20
  Ronald Reagan inaugurated as 40th US President
• 1981-03-30
  Pres Reagan shot & wounded by John W Hinckley III
• 1981-04-01
  CNN airs a videotape that shows that Tamara Rand predicted that Reagan is in danger from someone named Jack Humley (a hoax)
• 1981-04-11
  Ronald Reagan arrives home from hospital after Hinkley shot him
• 1981-08-28
  John Hinckley Jr pleads innocent in attempt to kill President Reagan
• 1981-12-04
  Reagan Executive Order on Intelligence (No 12333) that allows CIA to engage in domestic counter-intelligence
• 1982-03-10
  President Reagan proclaims economic sanctions against Libya
• 1982-04-27
  Trial of John W Hinckley Jr attempted assassin of Reagan, begins
• 1982-05-03
  President Reagan begins 5 minute weekly radio broadcasts
• 1982-06-08
  US President Reagan addresses joint session of British Parliament
• 1982-06-17
  US President Reagan 1st UN Gen Assembly address ("evil empire" speech)
• 1982-06-21
  John Hinckley found not guilty of 1981 attempted assassination of President Reagan by reason of insanity
• 1982-10-14
  President Reagan proclaims war against drugs
• 1983-01-07
  President Reagan ends US arms embargo against Guatemala
• 1983-01-21
  President Reagan certifies El Salvador human-rights abuses have decreased making country eligible for US military aid
• 1983-03-08
  President Reagan calls the USSR an "Evil Empire"
• 1983-03-23
  US President Ronald Reagan introduces "Star Wars"-plan (SDI)
• 1983-04-14
  President Reagan signs $165 billion Social Security rescue
• 1983-04-20
  President Reagan signs a $165B bail out for Social Security
• 1983-09-29
  Congress authorized President Reagan to keep 1,600 US Marines in Lebanon
• 1983-11-11
  President Reagan became 1st US president to address Japanese legislature
• 1984-01-29
  President Reagan formally announces he will seek a 2nd term
• 1984-04-26
  President Reagan visits China
• 1984-08-11
  During radio voice test US President Reagan jokes he "signed legislation that would outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes"
• 1984-08-19
  Republican convention in Houston nominates Ronald Reagan for President
• 1984-08-22
  Republican convention in Dallas renominates President Reagan & VP Bush
• 1984-08-27
  US President Ronald Reagan announces Teacher in Space project
• 1984-09-26
  President Reagan vetoes sanctions against South Africa
• 1984-11-06
  President Reagan (R) landslide (won 49 states) re-election over Mondale (D)
• 1985-05-01
  US President Reagan ends embargo against Nicaragua
• 1985-05-27
  Inaugural bands parade for President Reagan
• 1985-07-12
  Doctors discover a cancerous growth in President Reagan's colon
• 1985-09-09
  President Reagan orders sanctions against South Africa
• 1985-10-11
  President Reagan bans importation of South African Krugerrands
• 1985-12-04
  President Reagan appoints Vice Adm John Poindexter as security adviser
• 1985-12-27
  Terrorists kill 20 & wound 110 attacking El Al at Rome & Vienna airports, President Reagan blames Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi
• 1986-01-07
  US President Reagan announces economic sanctions against Libya
• 1986-02-03
  US President Reagan announces formation of Comm on Challenger Accident
• 1986-05-12
  President Reagan appoints Dr James C Fletcher NASA Administrator
• 1986-05-27
  President Reagan orderes 2 Poseidon-class submarines be dismantled
• 1986-06-13
  Pres Reagan criticizes South African state of emergency
• 1986-06-20
  Drs at Bethesda Naval remove 2 small benign polyps from Reagan's colon
• 1986-06-21
  President Reagan gives speech defending his judicial appointments
• 1986-06-23
  Tip O'Neill refuses to let President Reagan address House
• 1986-07-03
  President Reagan presided over relighting of renovated Statue of Liberty
• 1986-08-15
  President Reagan decides to support a replacement for Challenger
• 1986-10-11
  Reagan & Gorbachev open talks at a summit in Reykjavik, Iceland
• 1986-11-06
  President Reagan signs landmark immigration reform bill
• 1986-11-13
  US President Reagan confesses weapon sales to Iran
• 1986-11-25
  Iran-Contra affair erupts, President Reagan reveals secret arm deal
• 1986-11-28
  US Reagan administration exceeds SALT II arms limitations for 1st time
• 1987-01-17
  US President Reagan signs secret order permitting covert sale of arms to Iran
• 1987-02-04
  Pres Reagan's veto of Clean Water Act is overridden by Congress
• 1987-02-19
  US President Reagan lifts trade boycott against Poland
• 1987-06-12
  US President Ronald Reagan challenges Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down" the Berlin wall
• 1987-12-08
  US President Reagan & Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev sign a treaty eliminating medium range nuclear missiles
• 1988-01-02
  Mulroney & Reagan sign Canada-US free trade agreement
• 1988-02-29
  NYC Mayor Koch calls Reagan a "WIMP" in the war on drugs
• 1988-03-09
  President Reagan presides at unveiling of Knute Rockne stamp
• 1988-03-22
  Congress overrides Reagan's veto of sweeping civil rights bill
• 1988-11-03
  President Reagan signs credit-card disclosure-bill
• 1988-12-30
  North subpoenas Reagan & Bush as defense witnesses for upcoming trial
• 1989-01-20
  Reagan becomes 1st pres elected in a "0" year, since 1840, to leave office alive
• 1989-06-14
  Ronald Reagan is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (honorary knighthood)
• 1998-02-06
  Washington National Airport is renamed Ronald Reagan National Airport.
• 2004-06-11
  Ronald Reagan's funeral is held at Washington National Cathedral.

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