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Revision as of 02:58, 13 December 2001 by The Epopt (talk | contribs) ("blowing the budget" is not NPOV)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Ronald Wilson Reagan (R) was the 40th president of the United States, from 1981-1989. Longest-lived president at age 90 (as of 2001).
Child of alcoholic father, Reagan developed an early gift for storytelling and acting. He was a first-rate radio announcer of Chicago Cubs games, ordinarily relying on a ticker for the details, but in 1934, Reagan improvised the play-by-play during the ninth inning of a scoreless Cubs versus Cardinals game when the wire went dead. He had a successful career in Hollywood as a second-rank leading man, as his face and body were as handsome as his voice. There he acquired the nickname "the Gipper," which he retained the rest of his life.
Ronald Reagan began his political life as a staunch New Deal / Franklin D. Roosevelt supporter. He gradually became a staunch anti-Communist. He was elected governor of California and elected president in 1980 and 1984. During his presidency, Reagan survived an assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. Like most successful politicians, he had great stage presence, great instincts for how to come across to people and make them like him.
He was:
- anti-Communist
- in favor of tax cuts
- in favor of smaller non-military government
- in favor of removing regulations on corporations
- supportive of business interests, both small and large
- supportive of some individual liberties
- tough on crime
- a big fan of jellybeans
He is credited with:
- building up the military
- lowering taxes
- increasing the budget deficit
- creating the Earned Income Tax Credit
- greatly escalating the "war on drugs"
- beginning antimissile defense research (Star Wars)
- coining the term "volunteerism"
He was the first divorced person to be elected president.
During his administration, there was a major scandal and investigation of what came to be known as the Iran-Contra Affair.
Reagan currently suffers from Alzheimers disease.
Major Legislation Signed
Major Legislation Vetoed
Supreme court Appointments
- Sandra Day O'Connor - 1981
- William Rehnquist - Chief Justice, 1986 (an associate justice since 1972)
- Antonin Scalia - 1986
- Anthony M. Kennedy - 1988
Inaugural Addresses:
/Talk
See also:
- Previous President: Jimmy Carter
- Next President: George Bush