Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the USA (1981–1989), republican, the 33th Governor of California (1967–1975).
He was born on February 6, 1911 in a family of modest means in Tampico, Illinois. His parents and grandparents were of Irish, Scottish and English ancestry. After graduating college in 1932 Reagan worked as a sportscaster at a small radio station in Davenport, Iowa, and after a year moved to WHO radio in Des Moines, Iowa.
In 1937 he moved to Hollywood where his career as an actor began.
In 1947, after being the SAG member for a long time, he became its president, what was important for the development of his political views.
During first years of membership he had no influence on the SAG activities.
He just visited the meetings of the Board of Directors and listened to the most experienced and powerful members who were famous actors of that time. Later he was elected President for 5 year-terms subsequently (1947–1952), and for the 6th term in 1959.
By the end of 1939 he had acted in 19 movies. Before making the film “Santa Fe Trail” in 1940 he had played the role of George “Gipper” Gipp in “Knute Rockne, All American”, the film about famous American footballer Knute Rockne. From it he acquired the lifelong nickname “the Gipper”. He played his best role in 1942 in “Kings Row” (nomination for Oscar), but his play didn’t win general approval. During his career Reagan acted in 54 movies, for the most part in “B-films” of low budget intended for small audience. His last role was host and performer in the series “Death Valley Days” (1964–1965).
In 1952 he married an actress Nancy Davis.
In 1965–1966 he held the post of Governor of California.
In 1980 Reagan ran for presidency and received more votes than the incumbment President of the USA Jimmy Carter. He was inaugurated in January 1981. His first term was marked with unparalleled pressure on the USSR and deployment of nuclear ballistic missiles in West Europe. In early 80s both USSR and USA didn’t reject the possibility of nuclear war.
Reagan preferred government not to interfere in management of the economy.
His economic policy — stimulation of the economy with large tax cuts — later was called “reaganomics”. He survived being shot in an assassination attempt in 1981. Under Reagan several military operations abroad were conducted, the most notable — in Grenada and in Lebanon.
In 1984 he was reelected having received the majority of votes and won the democrat candidate Walter Mondale. Yet his administration got involved in several scandals, the largest one was Iran-Contra affair.
In November 1986 Americans were shocked to know that government used the proceeds from covert arms sales to Iran to fund the Contras in Nicaragua.
At that time the relations between the USA and the USSR were damaged by espionage scandals (1985–1986). The President adhered to position ‘peace through fortifying’ that manifested itself in arms race. He rejected the strategy of dtente and came into conflict with the USSR. He called it an “evil empire” and supported anti-Communist movement worldwide, especially in Poland and in Chile. This policy is known as the Reagan Doctrine.
Later he held talks with General Secretary of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev and signed several arms agreements. From November 1985 to the end of his presidency Reagan met Gorbachev 5 times. Reagan’s main service was to put an end to the Cold War. Despite many difficulties he acted as a farsighted politic and decided to put an end to arms race and to eliminate nuclear weapons.
Reagan left office in 1989. In 1994 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and on June 5, 2004 at the age of 93 he died.
Ronald Reagan was the 2d president after World War II (after Dwight D. Eisenhower) who was reelected for the 2d term. He left office enjoying incontestable authority and assisted his vice-president George Bush to become his successor in 1988.
Some journalists, political scientists and historians believe that no president after Franklin D. Roosevelt changed American politics as greatly as Reagan. Sometimes they call it “conservative revolution” or even “Reagan’s revolution”.
He was bestowed the title of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Bath (GB, 1989), was awarded with Grand cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemus (Japan, 1989), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA), the Order of the White Lion (Czech Republic, 1999). In 1995 he was presented the Keeper of the Flame Award by the Centre for Security Policy.
Dozens of books were written about Reagan, he was voted the person of the year by the Times (1983). The national airport in Washington was named after him.
