Ronald Reagan
Bapti40th President of the United States
(January 20, 1981 to January 20, 1989)
Full Name: Ronald Wilson Reagan
Nicknames: "The Gipper"; "The Great Communicator"; "Dutch"
Born: February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois
Died: June 5, 2004, in Los Angeles, California
Father: John Edward Reagan (1883-1941)
Mother: Nelle Wilson Reagan (1883-1962)
Married: Jane Wyman (1917-2007), on June 25, 1940 (divorced in 1948); Nancy Davis (1921-2016), on March 4, 1952
Children: Maureen Elizabeth Reagan (1941-2001); Michael Edward Reagan (adopted) (1945- ); Christine Reagan (1947); Patricia Ann Reagan (1952- ); Ronald Prescott Reagan (1958- )
Religion: Baptized Disciples of Christ; converted to Presbyterian
Education: Graduated from Eureka College (1932)
Occupation: Actor, public official
Political Party: Republican
Other Government Positions:
- Governor of California, 1967-75
Presidential Salary: $200,000/year + $50,000 expense account
Presidential Election Results:
Year Candidate Popular Votes Electoral Votes
1976 Jimmy Carter 40,827,394 297
(map) Gerald R. Ford 39,145,977 240
Ronald Reagan 1
Year Candidate Popular Votes Electoral Votes
1980 Ronald Reagan 43,267,489 489
(map) Jimmy Carter 34,964,583 49
John B. Anderson 5,588,014
Year Candidate Popular Votes Electoral Votes
1984 Ronald Reagan 53,428,357 525
(map) Walter Mondale 36,930,923 13
Vice President: George H. W. Bush (1981-89)
Cabinet:
- Secretary of State
- Alexander M. Haig, Jr. (1981-82)
George P. Schultz (1982-89) - Secretary of the Treasury
- Donald T. Regan (1981-85)
James A. Baker, III (1985-88)
Nicholas F. Brady (1988-89) - Secretary of Defense
- Caspar W. Weinberger (1981-87)
Frank C. Carlucci (1987-89) - Attorney General
- William F. Smith (1981-85)
Edwin Meese (1985-88)
Dick Thornburgh (1988-89) - Secretary of the Interior
- James G. Watt (1981-83)
William P. Clark, Jr. (1983-85)
Donald P. Hodel (1985-89) - Secretary of Agriculture
- John R. Block (1981-86)
Richard E. Lyng (1986-89) - Secretary of Commerce
- Malcolm Baldrige, Jr. (1981-87)
C. William Verity (1987-89) - Secretary of Labor
- Raymond J. Donovan (1981-85)
William Brock (1985-87)
Ann Dore McLaughlin (1987-89) - Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Richard S. Schweiker (1981-83)
Margaret M. Heckler (1983-85)
Otis R. Bowen (1985-89) - Secretary of Education
- Terrel H. Bell (1981-85)
William J. Bennett (1985-88)
Lauro F. Cavazos, Jr. (1988-89) - Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Samuel R. Pierce, Jr. (1981-89)
- Secretary of Transportation
- Andrew L. Lewis, Jr. (1981-83)
Elizabeth H. Dole (1983-87)
James H. Burnley (1987-89) - Secretary of Energy
- James B. Edwards (1981-82)
Donald P. Hodel (1982-85)
John Herrington (1985-89)
Supreme Court Justices:
Sandra Day O'Connor (1981-2006)
William Rehnquist, Chief (1986-2005)
Antonin Scalia (1986-2016)
Anthony Kennedy (1988-2018)
Notable Events:
- 1981
- On January 20, 52 American hostages held for 444 days in Iran released minutes after Reagan sworn in.
- On March 30, shot in an assassination attempt by John W. Hinkley, Jr. outside of the Washington, D.C. Hilton Hotel.
- On August 5, Reagan fired 11,345 air traffic controllers out on strike.
- 1982
- Reagan addressed the combined Houses of Parliament, the first president to do so.
- 1983
- On March 23, Reagan proposed the Strategic Defense Initiative, also known as Star Wars.
- On October 23, 241 U.S. servicemen died in the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.
- On October 25, U.S. invaded Grenada.
- 1985
- On July 13, Reagan had a malignant polyp removed from his colon. Vice President Bush served as acting-President for eight hours.
- 1986
- On January 28, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its flight.
- On April 15, U.S. bombed Libya.
- Reagan and Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik, Iceland.
- In November, the sale of arms to Iran to fund the Contras in Nicaragua exposed.
- 1987
- On June 12, Reagan called on Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
- On December 7, Reagan and Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
Internet Biographies:
- Ronald Reagan -- from The Presidents of the United States of America
- Compiled by the White House.
- Ronald Reagan -- from The American President
- From the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in addition to information on the Presidents themselves, they have first lady and cabinet member biographies, listings of presidential staff and advisers, and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration.
- Ronald Reagan -- from Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Facts about Reagan and his presidency.
- Ronald Reagan -- from Character Above All
- From a PBS broadcast of the same name, this essay excerpt by Peggy Noonan discusses some of the issues and events that molded Reagan.
Videos:
1 / 4
Ronald Reagan - U.S. President | Mini Bio | BIOPres. Reagan Made VP Bush Acting President - a Presidential Story Ep. 29Why Did Pres. Reagan Love Jelly Beans? - a Presidential Story Ep. 60America's Presidents - Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan | 60-Second Presidents | PBS1 / 4
Historical Documents:
- First Inaugural Address (1981)
- Second Inaugural Address (1985)
- A Time for Choosing ("The Speech") (1964)
- President Reagan's Speech to the House of Commons (Evil Empire Speech) (1982)
- President Reagan's Speech at Pointe de Hoc, Normandy, France (The 40th Anniversary of D-Day) (1984)
- President Reagan's Address at the U.S.-French Ceremony at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France (The 40th Anniversary of D-Day) (1984)
- President Reagan's Speech on the Challenger Disaster (1986)
- Former President Reagan's Speech at the National Republican Convention (1992)
- President Reagan's Speech on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Announcement of the Strategic Defense Initiative (1993)
- Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters (1993)
- Ronald Reagan Digital Collections - from the Library of Congress
Other Internet Resources:
- Health and Medical History of Ronald Reagan
- Medical background of each president with references. Compiled by John Sotos, MD.
- Reviewed Biographies of Ronald Reagan
- In 2012, Stephen Floyd started his search for the best biography of each president. He usually has reviews of multiple biographies for each president.
- Ronald Reagan Birthplace
- Learn about Reagan's life in Tampico, Illinois. He was born in an apartment above the local bank.
- Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home
- Reagan lived in Dixon, Illinois from ages ten to twenty-two. This is the first house they moved to in the city.
- Ronald Reagan Filmology
- From the Internet Movie Database, this list of Reagan screen credits includes, Code of the Secret Service (1939), Knute Rockne, All American (1940), and Bedtime for Bonzo (1951).
- Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute
- This site includes the presidential library and museum. Tourist information for the Library, calendar of events, and an online catalog of your favorite Reagan attire from the Museum. Located in Simi Valley, California.
- The Reagan Ranch
- Dedicated to preserving Rancho del Cielo as it existed during Reagan's presidency. Programs exist to develop leadership skills for young men and women. Part of the Reagan Ranch Center.
- The Day Reagan Was Shot
- Transcripts from the White House Situation Room after Reagan was shot.
Points of Interest:
40 Presidential Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93065
217 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101
6370 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Washington Hilton
2000 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009
816 S Hennepin Ave, Dixon, IL 61021
111 S Main St, Tampico, IL 61283
40 Presidential Dr, Simi Valley, CA 93065
217 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101
6370 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Washington Hilton
2000 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009
816 S Hennepin Ave, Dixon, IL 61021
111 S Main St, Tampico, IL 61283
Additional Facts:
- At 69 years old, Reagan was the oldest elected president until the election of Donald Trump.
- Reagan enjoyed jelly beans. His favorite flavor was licorice.
- Reagan was a Democrat before officially switching parties in 1962.
- Reagan was the first divorcee elected president.
- In 1981, Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor to be the first woman on the Supreme Court.
- Reagan saved an estimated 77 lives while a lifeguard at a local Illinois park.
- Reagan was the first president to be the head of a union (the Screen Actors Guild).
- Reagan was the first president to visit the New York Stock Exchange while in office.
- Reagan was the first president to invoke Section 3 of the 25th Amendment.
- Reagan was the first president to attend and open an Olympic Games while in office.
- Reagan was the first president to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Reagan was the first president to nominate a Hispanic-American to a Cabinet position. Lauro Cavazos served as Secretary of Education.
Quotes:“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just braver five minutes longer.”
“The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.”
“America is too great for small dreams.”
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.”
“When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
“Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.”
“Trust, but verify.”
“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just braver five minutes longer.”
“The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.”
“America is too great for small dreams.”
“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”
“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.”
“When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
“Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.”
“Trust, but verify.”