Born: 1911, Tampico, IL
Died: 2004
A champion of individual freedom, Ronald Reagan presented a sharp contrast to his predecessor, Jimmy Carter. While the thrifty and analytical Carter pored over details, Regan was a generalist who preferred to delegate problem-solving. Having worked in broadcasting and feature films, Reagan excelled at communicating his views directly to the people. Hollywood also grounded him in politics. As president of the Screen Actors Guild, he opposed communist influence in the entertainment industry and later switched from a liberal to a conservative philosophy, fiercely opposed to big government.
Governor of California from 1966 to 1974, Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980. He trounced Jimmy Carter at the polls, becoming the nation's oldest President. After surviving an early assassination attempt, Reagan deregulated industry and cut taxes and non-military spending, fueling the "go-go" economy of the 1980s. He took a hard line against the Soviets, increasing America's military capability and backing the costly "Star Wars" missile program. But he also nurtured a growing relationship with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. His support for anti-communist rebels in Central America led staff members to become embroiled in the Iran-Contra scandal. But the President, with his great personal charm, remained popular throughout his two terms.
Fortieth President
Republican
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment