Reagan was raised in a low-income family in northern Illinois. He graduated from Eureka College in 1932 and worked as a radio sports commentator. After moving to California in 1937, he found work as an actor and starred in a few major productions. In the 1950s, he moved into television and was a motivational speaker at General Electric factories. Reagan was elected governor of California in 1966. As governor, he raised taxes, turned state debt into a surplus, and challenged protesters.
Soon after taking office as president, Reagan began implementing new political and economic initiatives. His supply-side economic policies, named "Reaganomics", advocated a reduction in government spending, among other things. In his first term, he survived an assassination attempt, spurred the War on Drugs, and invaded Grenada. Foreign affairs dominated his second term, including the Cold War. Reagan began his presidency during the decline of the Soviet Union, which ultimately collapsed nearly three years after he left office.
When Reagan left office in 1989, he held an approval rating of 68%, matching Franklin D. Roosevelt, and later Bill Clinton. Afterward, his informal public appearances became more infrequent as the disease progressed. He died at home on June 5, 2004. Evaluations of his presidency among historians place him among the upper tier of American presidents.
Fun Facts:
- Ronald Reagan was a jelly bean enthusiast. He began eating them while trying to kick a smoking habit.
- Reagan didn't like Brussels sprouts or tomatoes.
- Reagan had partial hearing loss after a gun was fired next to his ear during the production of a movie.
Ronald Reagan:
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