Ronald Reagan Biography

He studied economics and sociology at Eureka University and was an active member of the university, even causing his fellow students to strike, after the teachers were reduced during the great depression.

It was during his final years at Eureka college that Reagan finally decided he wanted to be an actor. After school, he got a job as a sports radio announcer and then, after a screen test in 1937, he won a Hollywood film contract.

He made his first appearance in 'The Radio Murder Mystery' in 1937, followed by 'Sergeant Murphy' and 'Accidents will Happen' in 1938. Reagan went on to become the poor man's James Stewart in the 1950s, mainly starring in westerns such as 'The Last Outpost' in 1951 and 'Cattle Queen of Montana' in 1954.

20 years and 53 films later, he was president of the screen actors guild and arguing about communism in the film industry. This led him further into the political field, moving around the country and speaking publicly about conservatism.

In 1938, Reagan co-starred in the film Brother Rat with actress Jane Wyman. They were married two years later and had two children, Maureen and Christine, and adopted a third, Michael. Reagan and Wyman divorced in 1948 following arguments about Reagan's political ambitions, making him the only U.S. president to have been divorced.

The future president met actress Nancy Davis in 1949 after Davis contacted then-president of the Screen Actors Guild Reagan to help her with issues regarding her name appearing on a communist blacklist in Hollywood. After hitting it off almost immediately, the couple eventually married in March, 1952. The couple had two children: Patti and Ron.

Reagan was elected as the Governer of California, winning by a staggering one million votes in 1966, and was re-elected in 1970. In 1980, he won a Republican Presidential nomination, running with George Bush in his team. He beat Presidential nominee Jimmy Carter by 489 votes to 49.

On the 20th January 1981, Reagan took office. He hit the ground running and targeted all the areas of American life that needed his attention urgently. He obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, increase employment, increase the national defence budget and curb inflation.

Barely three months into office and Reagan's life was in jeopardy – a would-be assassin shot at him, but the grace and good humour that Reagan took this in, only strengthened his public position. The American peoples' confidence in Reagan grew and, in 1984, he won a second term in office.

In 1986, Reagan focused on the tax system and gave this another overhaul, by taking away unnecessary deductions from the pay packet, and exempting those with low wages from paying out large sums through their pay.

The American people had seen a dramatic and positive change in their lives while Reagan was in office and his foreign policy sought to achieve “peace through strength”, improving relations with the Soviet Union and, most significantly, he declared war against terrorism, targeting those who he believed to be against the USA.

During the Iran-Iraq war, he positioned his Navy in the Persian Gulf to ensure the free flow of oil to the States and, as promised, he supported countries fighting communism.

In 1989, Reagan stepped down from office and George Bush Senior was the man he chose to take the party forward, beating Jimmy Carter, and gaining another Presidential win for the Republican Party.

After leaving office, the Reagans bought a mansion in Bel-Air and continued to make public appearances on behalf of the Republican Party.

On 4 November 1991, Reagan opened the Ronald Reagan Public Library to the public. This establishment became the former president's resting place.

He also established the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award in 1992, which is given to those who have made monumental and long-lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide. Later that year, Reagan delivered a well-received speech at the Republican National Convention.

Reagan's last public speech was made on 3 February 1994 during a tribute to him held in Washington and he made his final public appearance at the funeral of Richard Nixon on 27 April 1994.

He stayed active after retirement taking walks in his local park and attending his office in Century City until 1999. By this point, Alzheimer's had degenerated Reagan's mental capacity so much that he could only recognise a few people including Nancy.

After suffering a fall at home and breaking his hip on 13 January 2001, he lived in quiet semi-isolation with Nancy telling Larry King that very few visitors were allowed to see Reagan as "Ronnie would want people to remember him as he was".

On 5 June 2004 he passed away in Los Angeles, aged 93, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

President George W Bush announced 11 June 2004 as a national day of mourning and led a state funeral, after Reagan's body had lain in state, held at the Washington National Cathedral, which included readings from former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.

His body was then interred at the Ronald Reagan Public Library with his burial site inscribed with "I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always triumph and that there is purpose to each and every life."