interesting facts  
Ronald Reagan envisioned a smaller government - and a greater United States. 

quote  
"This is the backbone of our country: Americans helping themselves, and each other. Reaching out and finding solutions--solutions that governments and huge institutions can't find" 
"Will and heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still." 

Ronald Reagan's first inaugural address, 1981. (3:38) (AU) (WAV)
President Reagan discloses the freeing of American hostages. (0:23) (AU) (WAV)
Reagan Declares War on USSR - "We begin bombing in 5 minutes." (AU)
Ronald Reagan's 1981 Inaugural Address -- An Excerpt. (2.6 MB) (MOV)

inaugural address
First Inaugural Address / Second Inaugural Address

biography  
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on Feb. 6, 1911, in Tampico, Ill., a small town in the northwestern part of the state. He was the second of two sons born to John (called Jack) Edward Reagan and Nelle Wilson Reagan. His brother was named John Neil (nicknamed Moon). Their father was a Democrat, known for his outspoken opposition to racial bigotry. Their mother, who was more conservative, gave dramatic readings at women's clubs, hospitals, and jails.  

When Dutch (as Ronald was called) entered high school, he showed his ability in the three interests that came to dominate his life--sports, drama, and politics. He played football and basketball and participated in swimming and track. He had parts in school plays, and he was elected president of the student council. At Eureka College, a Christian church school in Illinois, Ronald supported himself with a small football scholarship and part-time jobs.  

At Eureka College Ronald continued his success in sports, drama, and campus politics. He was a varsity guard on the football team and was captain of the swimming team; he also participated in track. A member of the drama club, he had roles in college dramatic productions. As president of the freshman class he helped organize a student strike against cutbacks in the curriculum, which led to the resignation of the president of the college. Ronald later was president of the student body. Although not considered a serious student, he graduated in 1932 with an A.B. degree in economics and sociology. He has two children, Maureen and Michael, from his first marriage, to actress Jane Wyman. In 1952 he married Nancy Davis, also an actress; their children are Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott.  

As president of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan became embroiled in disputes over the issue of Communism in the film industry; his political views shifted from liberal to conservative. He toured the country as a television host, becoming a spokesman for conservatism. In 1966 he was elected Governor of California by a margin of a million votes; he was re-elected in 1970.  

Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.  

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.  

Domestically, the first Reagan term set a new tone, indicated in such themes as getting the government off the backs of the people and not letting it spend more than it takes in. He pushed through Congress a program of increased defense spending and budget and tax cuts. A severe recession in 1982-83 lessened the appeal of so-called Reaganomics, but a strong economic recovery aided his landslide reelection in 1984.  

For eight hours on July 13, 1985, while Reagan was undergoing intestinal surgery, he formally transferred the power of his office to Vice-President Bush. It was the first time anyone had been designated acting president of the United States. A cancerous growth was removed during the operation. In 1987 Reagan underwent minor surgeries for urinary tract blockage, intestinal polyps, and a cancerous growth on his nose.  

Just before leaving office, Reagan created a 14th Cabinet department, for veterans' affairs. As part of major antidrug legislation he also created the Cabinet-level post of "drug czar" (director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy).  

In foreign policy, Reagan took an early stand against the Soviet Union. In March 1983 he announced his Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly called Star Wars. It was perceived by the Soviets as a threat, but early in Reagan's second term they agreed to resume disarmament talks. Summits with Soviet Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, 1986, and 1987 resulted in a treaty reducing intermediate-range nuclear forces. In 1988 the two leaders met in Moscow for initial discussions on the control of long-range arsenals.  

In 1983 there were crises in Lebanon, where 241 United States Marines were killed in a terrorist bombing, and Grenada, where American forces were sent to depose a Marxist regime. Central America was another trouble spot. The clandestine sale of arms to Iran by some government officials, a vain attempt to bribe the Iranians into freeing American hostages held in Lebanon, was uncovered in late 1986. Profits from the sale had been illegally diverted to guerrillas trying to topple the Nicaraguan government.  

Senate hearings on what was called the Iran-contra affair began in 1987. Among those indicted were the National Security Council's John M. Poindexter and Lieut. Col. Oliver North. During North's trial in 1989 a document released by the defense suggested that both Reagan and Bush had been involved in an undercover scheme to secure outside aid for the contras in exchange for military-economic support for Honduras. By 1990 six former Reagan officials had been convicted in the affair. (In eight hours of videotaped testimony about the arms plot, the former president repeatedly swore, "I don't recall.")  

Neither the many political scandals revealed about his subordinates nor the weight of enormous budget deficits clung to Reagan, who was called the Teflon president. He retired on a crest of popularity to a rental home--a 2.5-million-dollar Bel Air (California) estate, purchased by a group of friends. Gifted with movie-actor charm and a reputation as "the great communicator," he was in demand as a speaker.  

Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through strength seemed to be within grasp.