2. First Years
Ronald Wilson Reagan was
born on February 6, 1911 in
Tampico, Illinois.
His father John Edward
“Jack” was a failed
business man and
alcoholic
His mother Nelle was a
religious and charitable
woman.
The family moved around
frequently and finally
settled in a middle western
town named Dixon.
3. Teenage Years
Worked as a lifeguard at
a local beach on the
Rock River where he
saved 77 lives in 7 years
He attended Eureka
College and was very
successful as a football
player and as an actor.
After college, he was
hired as a sportscaster
on an Iowa radio station.
4. Acting Years
In 1937 Reagan moved
to Hollywood where he
was repeatedly cast as
himself.
His acting career
reached a new level
when he gained
notoriety for his role as
a football hero George
Gipp in Knute Rockne,
All American and
Drake McHugh in Kings
Row.
5. Adulthood
In 1940 Reagan married Jane
Wyman and had a baby
daughter named Maureen
shortly after.
After America entered the
war, he left LA to serve in the
Army Air Force Motion Picture
Unit in Culver City.
When he returned to LA, he
became active in the Screen
Actors Guild where he
developed his anti-communist
beliefs.
6. Adulthood cont.
Reagan and Wyman
divorced in 1949 and in
1952 he got remarried to
Nancy Davis and had
two children, Patti and
Ron.
In that same year he
became a host of
General Electirc’s G.E.
Theater.
7. Political Career
As the company spokesman,
Reagan, the former Democrat
became a recognized
conservative spokesman.
He officially changed his party
in 1962.
In 1966, he entered the
California gubernatorial race.
He became governor and was
reelected.
8. Notable Bills and Stances
As governor, he signed a permissive
abortion bill.
In 1978, he spoke out against California’s
Briggs proposition, which would prohibit
homosexuals from classroom teaching,
even though he viewed homosexuality as
an abomination on religious grounds.
9. The Presidency
In 1980 he was
elected the 40th
President of the
United States.
He promised to fight
Communism, reduce
the role of govt., and
restore freedom.
10. Assassination Attempt
On March 31, 1981 John Hinckley Jr.
attempted to assassinate Reagan.
The bullet missed his heart by an inch.
11. Iran-Contra Scandal
In 1985, the Reagan Administration sold
weapons to Iran in exchange for
hostages.
Although Reagan claimed that he did not
engage in such trade, it was found that
funds were diverted to Contra in
Nicaragua in violation of the Boland
Amendment.
12. His reputation was repaired when he met
with Mikihail Gorbachev.
13. Later Years
After Reagan left
the White House
in 1989, Reagan
and Nancy
returned to
California.
On June 5, 2004,
Reagan died of
Alzheimer’s at
the age of 93.
