1. Ronald Reagan 40th president (1981–89)
Colby Goodwin
Mrs.Preville 1A

2. Biography Interesting facts
Born in Tampico, Illinois, on February 6, 1911, Ronald Reagan initially chose a career in entertainment, appearing in more than 50 films. While in Hollywood, he served as president of the Screen Actor's Guild and met his future wife, Nancy Davis Reagan. In 1940, Reagan married actress Jane Wyman, with whom he had daughter Maureen and adopted a son, Michael. The couple divorced in 1948.He served two terms as governor of California. Originally a liberal Democrat, Reagan ran for the U.S. presidency as a conservative Republican and won two terms, beginning in 1980.
Interesting facts
During World War II, Reagan was disqualified from combat duty due to poor eyesight and spent his time in the Army making training films. He left the military ranked as a captain.
Reagan went to Germany in September 1990—just weeks before Germany was officially reunified—and, with a hammer, took several symbolic swings at a remaining chunk of the wall.
In November 1994, Reagan revealed in a handwritten letter to the American people that he had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Nearly a decade later, on June 5, 2004, he died at his Los Angeles home at age 93.

3. Political/Military Affiliation and Business
Reagan begins work as a lifeguard at Lowell Park, near Dixon. He was credited with saving 77 lives during the seven summers he worked there.
Reagan receives a temporary sports broadcasting job with WOC, a small radio station in Davenport, Iowa.
Reagan enlists in the Army Reserve as a private but is soon promoted to 2nd lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry.
Reagan is called to active duty by the Army Air Force. He is assigned to the 1st Motion Picture Unit in Culver City, Calif., where he makes over 400 training films.
After the war, Reagan resumes his acting career, which continues for 20 years. Reagan makes 53 motion pictures and one television movie during his career.
Reagan supports Harry Truman for president.
Reagan campaigns for California Democrat Helen Gahagan Douglas in her bid for the U.S. Senate against Richard Nixon.
Reagan campaigns as a Democrat for Eisenhower.
Reagan is hired to host the General Electric Theater on television, a job he holds for eight years. Reagan tours the country giving speeches as a GE spokesman.

4. Political/Military Affiliation and Business (cont.)
Reagan officially changes his party registration to Republican.
Reagan gives a television address supporting Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. The speech, called "A Time for Choosing," launches Reagan's political career.
Reagan defeats incumbent California Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown in a landslide.
Reagan sends in the National Guard to break up protests at the University of California at Berkeley after university officials block activists' efforts to create a "Peoples Park".
Reagan is re-elected California governor.
Reagan announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president.
He loses the Republican Party's nomination to Gerald Ford
Reagan announces his candidacy for president
Reagan is elected president in a landslide victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter.
Reagan is sworn in as the 40th president of the United States
Reagan is shot in the chest upon leaving a Washington hotel but makes a full recovery after surgery
Air traffic controllers go on strike. Reagan gives them 48 hours to get back to work, and fires those who refuse.
Reagan defeats Mondale in landslide. Reagan carries 49 states electoral votes to Mondale's 10, and 59% of the popular vote.
Reagan, 73, begins a second term, making him the oldest president ever to be sworn in.

5. Presidency
Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office.
Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.
Reagan served as president for 2 terms, or 8 years.
Ending the Cold War
Nuclear weapons cuts
Tax reform

6. Life After Presidency
In 1989, Reagan moved to his brand new home in Bel Air, Los Angles. He lived there and wrote his autobiography, An American Life, and he also worked on construction of the Ronald Reagan Library. Ragan gave speeches around the nation, charging $30,000-$50,000 for. When Reagan was called upon to testify in the Iran Contra case, many thought he was lying because he couldn’t remember what happened. Reagan even himself said he felt embarrassed he could not remember the events. Later, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1992 Jun 13, Gives the annual Winston Churchill Lecture to the English-Speaking Union, London Feb 5, Ordered to give videotaped testimony for the ongoing trial of Iran-Contra figure John Poindexter
Feb 16-17 1990- In Los Angeles, gives a total of seven hours of videotaped testimony for the trial of John Poindexter
Feb 22 1990- Reagan’s videotaped Iran-Contra testimony is screened for media representatives
Mar   Reagan’s videotaped Iran-Contra testimony is shown to the jury trying John Poindexter in Washington, DC
Sep In Moscow, visits Soviet President Gorbachev, and addresses the International Affairs Committee of the Supreme Soviet

7. Summary
In his presidency, Reagan completed a lot. One of his great accomplishments was ending the cold war. A weakness he had was that he started a depression and refused to raise taxes. His greatest strengths were he was a great communicator and gave great speeches that awed the country. Reagan also was a key player in the destruction of the Berlin Wall. His weaknesses were that he increased national debt by trillions and he declared a war on drugs, which wasted millions of dollars.

8. Bibliography
"Ronald Reagan." Bio. A&E Television Networks, Web. 14 Jan "The Life of Ronald Reagan: A Timeline." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 19 Jan "Ronald Reagan." The White House. The White House, n.d. Web. 19 Jan "Top 10 Reagan Achievements | Human Events." Human Events. HumanEvents, Sunday Feb Web. 20 Jan "Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, National Archives and Records Administration." Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, National Archives and Records Administration. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan