|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
||||
|
|||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico, Ill. to Nelle Wilson and Jack Reagan. The Reagans had one previous son, Neil
"Moon" Reagan, born in 1908. Reagan earned the nickname "Dutch" from his father, who remarked that "he looked like a fat little
Dutchman."
The Reagans moved to a succession of rural northern Illinois towns until they settled in Dixon, Illinois in December. Though
the Reagans moved frequently, Dixon remains the place that Reagan considers his hometown.
Reagan baptized at the Christian Church of Dixon, Illinois.
Beginning in 1926, Reagan was employed as a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon. Lowell Park is located alongside the Rock
River, a sometimes dangerous body of water. He was credited with saving 77 lives during the six years he worked there, making
him a local legend long before his careers in media and politics.
Reagan attended Dixon High School. He played on the football team and participated in school plays, foreshadowing his own
movie career. Reagan was elected student body president in 1927.
Reagan attended Eureka College, a small liberal arts institution, and majored in economics and sociology. While at Eureka,
Reagan pursued his interest in drama and became determined to become an actor. Reagan also served as student body president
and helped organize a student strike.
Reagan casts his first presidential vote, for FDR.
Reagan received a temporary sports broadcasting job with WOC, a small radio station in Davenport, Iowa. He impressed the
station manager with his ability to replay entire football games from memory. He obtained a part-time job announcing University
of Iowa games before landing a full time job the next year.
WHO, in Des Moines and WOC merge. Reagan moved to Des Moines as chief sports announcer. Reagan broadcast Cubs games from
the studio, including a memorable incident where he described repeated "foul balls" to the audience when his game feed was
interrupted for over six minutes.
Reagan enlists in the Army Reserve.
Reagan traveled west to cover the Cubs spring training. While in LA he took a screen test and was soon offered a contract
by Warner Brothers for $200 per week. When told of the offer via telegram Reagan replied "sign before they change their minds".
Reagan appeared in his first film, Love is on the Air.
Among other films and roles, Reagan realized his boyhood dream by playing George Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American.
Over the next few years he starred in such films as King's Row, Sante Fe Trail and Brother Rat.
Reagan promoted to Second Lieutenant in the Reserve Corps of Cavalry.
Reagan joins board of the Screen Actor's Guild.
The film Sergeant Murphy is released on February 1st.
Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman married. They met while making the movie Brother Rat.
Maureen was born.
Reagan testifies before before the Federal Bureau of Investigation about Communism in Hollywood
Reagan is called up from the Army reserves and assigned to the Army Air Corps. He spent WWII in the Army Air Corps Intelligence
1st Motion Picture Unit, dedicated to training pilots. Reagan would make many training films, briefing films for pilots and
wartime films like Rear Gunner to boost morale.
Reagan stars in King's Row, wherein he plays Drake McHugh. One of the film's most memorable lines "Where's the
rest of me?" would later become the title of Reagan's first autobiography.
Reagan is promoted to First Lieutenant
The Army promoted Reagan to the rank of Captain
Reagan is recommended for promotion to Major
Adopted son, Michael, was born.
Promotion to Major denied
Reagan signs multi-million dollar contract with Warner Brothers studio.
Reagan is one of the first persons to be able to view film of liberated concentration camps when it is delivered to the
1st Motion Picture Unit. It is a major influence on his world view.
The Army honorably discharged Captain Reagan. Reagan spent 10 years in the Army Reserve and on active duty in the Army
Air Corps.
Reagan resumed his acting career after the war. Reagan made fifty-three motion pictures and one television movie.
Michael adopted by Ronald and Jane.
1946-1948 Reagan becomes President of the Screen Actor's Guild. He guides the Guild through a difficult strike period which
was intermixed by a hunt for Communists in Hollywood. As later information would reveal, the Communist Party, USA was behind
the strikes, and was acting on orders from their counterparts in the Soviet Union.
Reagan is elected President of the Screen Actor's Guild for the first time. He is subsequently re-elected five times.
Testifies before the House Un-American Activities Committee about Communism in Hollywood.
Reagan supports Harry Truman for President.
Reagan's divorce from Jane Wyman is finalized. Reagan's increasing involvement in politics and the couple's diverging movie
careers were the main reasons behind the split.
Reagan writes guest columns for Victor Riesel's labor column.
Reagan campaigned for Helen Gahagan Douglas for the Senate.
Reagan switches his support to Richard Nixon. Inheriting from his father a New Deal orientation in politics, Reagan slowly
shifted his views over the years as a concern with Communism overshadowed his ties to the party of the New Deal. In the 1950s
he began to campaign on behalf of the strongest candidate against Communism, which was frequently a Republican.
Reagan makes his network television debut in Nash Airflyte Theatre. He would eventually star in over sixty television
shows.
Reagan stars in the comedy Bedtime for Bonzo.
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis wed.
Reagan delivers the commencement address America the Beautiful at William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri.
Patricia was born.
Reagan campaigned as a Democrat for Eisenhower.
Reagan stars as Grover C. Alexander in The Winning Team, his last film for Warner Brothers.
Named Honorary Mayor of Malibu Lake, California. Reagan accepted a job as spokesman for the General Electric Company. This allowed him to tour the country as he gave motivational
speeches to GE employees. He also starred in GE Theater, hosting the show an occasionally appearing in feature roles.
Named Honorary Mayor of Thousand Oaks, California.
Reagan again campaigns as a Democrat for Eisenhower.
Ronald Prescott was born.
Reagan is again elected President of the Screen Actors Guild.
Reagan resigns as President of the Screen Actors Guild following a strike. He and Nancy also resign from the Board.
Reagan campaigns for Richard Nixon for President.
Reagan makes a Grand Jury appearance in the MCA-SAG anti-trust hearing.
GE discontinues GE Theatre. Reagan's last appearance is broadcast on August 26th, 1962.
Reagan officially changes his party registration to Republican. He supports Richard Nixon's campaign for California governor.
Reagan becomes host of Death Valley Days on TV. He appeared in or hosted twenty-one episodes broadcast from 1965-6.
Starred in The Killers, uncharacteristically portraying the villain.
Reagan's television address for Goldwater, A Time for Choosing, launches his political career. A group of California businessmen soon afterward approached Reagan and convinced him to run
for Governor of California. Reagan would continue to use A Time for Choosing in the months and years ahead as a staple
of his fundraising appearances and motivational talks.
Reagan's first autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me? is published.
Reagan resigns as host of Death Valley Days
Reagan defeated incumbent governor Edmund G. ("Pat") Brown in a landslide, winning by more than a million votes. He obtains
the second nickname "Governor". His success in the election and as governor made him a leading contender for the Republican
presidential nomination in 1968. Governor Reagan won the loyalty of conservatives by initially opposing state spending and
tax increases, but he proved to be a pragmatist when California's growth required an expansion of government services. He
left Sacramento in 1974 with the California budget showing a $550-million surplus.
Reagan is sworn in as California Governor.
Reagan made a tentative run for the presidency, waiting until the Republican National Convention in August to announce
his candidacy. He later joined in unanimously supporting Richard Nixon.
An attempt is made on Reagan's life. At least two people tried to firebomb Reagan's residence, but were driven off by Secret
Service gunfire. Governor Reagan calls out the National Guard to quell violence at Berkeley. Reagan's most controversial decision while
Governor was his hard-line stance against student uprisings at Berkeley and other California colleges. Reagan believed the
disturbances were caused by outside agitators. Subsequent research would reveal that Communist organizations were behind many
of the violent activities in and around the campuses.
Reagan is re-elected Governor of California.
Reagan signs the California Welfare Reform Act.
For several months after his gubernatorial term ended, Reagan wrote a syndicated newspaper column and provided commentaries
on radio stations across the country.
Reagan declines offers from the Ford Administration to become either the Ambassador to the Court of Saint James, Secretary
of Transportation or Secretary of Commerce.
Reagan announced candidacy for the Republican nomination for president. He lost the party's nomination, but his strong
showing and moving speech at the convention laid the groundwork for his election in 1980.
Reagan addresses the Republican National Convention in Kansas City.
Reagan announced his candidacy for President.
Famous debate in Nashua, New Hampshire where Reagan states "I paid for this microphone" when debate moderators try to exclude
anyone except candidates Reagan and Bush. Reagan's inclusion of all candidates garners voter good will and helps him win the
New Hampshire primary.
Reagan debates Bush, John Anderson and Phil Crane (the only remaining candidates).
Debates George Bush in Houston.
Reagan nominated by the Republican Party to run for President. He choses fellow candidate George Bush as his running mate
after talks with former President Gerald Ford fail to achieve and agreement for him to join the ticket as the VP candidate.
Reagan's platform calls for "a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these
words: family, work, neighborhood, peace, and freedom." Reagan also championed an across-the-board cut in tax rates, increased
defense spending and decreasing overall Federal spending to lower deficits.
Reagan debates John Anderson, who is running as an independent candidate for President after failing to win the Republican
nomination. Jimmy Carter declines to participate.
Debates Jimmy Carter.
Reagan is elected the 40th President of the United States in a landslide victory over the incumbent, Jimmy Carter.
The Reagan Presidency timeline highlights significant events during the White House years of 1981-9.
Named TIME magazine's "Man of the Year". Reagan sworn in as the 40th President of the United States. Delivered first inaugural speech. Hostages in Iran are released. Presidential Task Force on Regulatory Relief is established. White House ceremony for released hostages. Addressed the nation about the economy. Addressed Congress about the economy. Signed Executive Order 12301, which established the Presidential Council on Integrity and Efficiency. Assassination attempt by John W. Hinckley, Jr. President Reagan released from George Washington Hospital. Addressed joint session of Congress on the Economic Recovery Program. Received honorary degree from Notre Dame. Nominated Sandra Day O'Conner for Supreme Court Justice. G7 Summit took place in Ottawa, Canada. House approved tax cut legislation. Issued ultimatum to striking air traffic controllers. Reagan signs the Economic Recovery Tax Act. Sandra Day O'Connor confirmed as Justice of the Supreme Court. O'Connor is the first woman ever to serve on the nation's
highest court. Addressed the nation on economic recovery and Social Security. Delivered World Bank and IMF address on free enterprise versus aid. Announced the United States Strategic Weapons Initiative. Announced volunteerism initiative. Delivered free enterprise speech at World Affairs Council. 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown celebrated with French President Mitterrand. Attended summit on International Cooperation & Development in Cancun. Delivered speech on arms reduction to the National Press Club. Reagan vetoed the 1982 Continuing Budget Resolution. Held White House Council on Aging. Met with defected Polish Ambassador Spasowski. Delivered an address to the nation on the situation in Poland. First State of the Union speech. Delivered "New Federalism" speech in Indianapolis. Celebrated 250th Anniversary of the birth of George Washington. Caribbean Basin Initiative announced at the Organization of American States. This was the first major step in creating
free trade zones throughout the Americas. Grace Commission formed to find ways to make government more efficient. Enterprise Zone Initiative announced. Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving established. Tuition Tax Credit plan announced. Addressed the nation on the national budget and the Balanced Budget Amendment. Delivered START speech at Eureka College. Launched Centennial Commission for Liberty and Ellis Islands. Announced Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) with Soviet Union. G7 Summit in Versailles, France. Became first President to address both Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom. Delivered Crusade for Freedom speech. Visited West Berlin. Delivered "Agenda for Peace" speech at U.N. Special Session on Disarmament. Alexander Haig resigns as Secretary of State, George Schultz nominated to succeed him. Signed Executive Order 12369, which established the President's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (aka the Grace Commission
or PPCCSS). The Reagan economic expansion begins. It would set a record for duration, lasting until the summer of 1990. George Schultz sworn in as Secretary of State. Capital rally for the Balanced Budget Amendment. Addressed nation on taxes and budget reconciliation. "Fresh Start" Middle East initiative. Marines arrived in Beirut, Lebanon to secure the airport and help prevent war between Israel and Syria. Addressed the nation on the situation in the Middle East. Signed Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA). Addressed the nation on the formation of a multinational peacekeeping force for Lebanon. Balance Budget Amendment defeated in the House. Signed Missing Children Act and the Victim and Witness Act. Addressed the nation on the improving economy Launches Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking initiatives. Leonid Brezhnev died. First commercial operations mission of the Space Shuttle. Yuri Andropov succeeds Brezhnev as leader of the Soviet Union. Lifted sanctions on Soviet Pipeline. Addressed the nation on arms control and MX missile basing. Highway and Bridge Repair Program proposed, including five cent hike in gasoline taxes. Battleship U.S.S. New Jersey recommissioned. Commission on Strategic Forces created. Signed Surface Transportation Assistance Act. Signed Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Native American policy announced. Delivered State of the Union address including the freeze on Federal spending. Delivered speech at the 10th annual CPAC Conference—"We Will Not Be Turned Back". Presented Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Reverend Billy Graham. Addressed the National Association of Evangelicals, giving what became known as the Evil Empire speech. Addressed the National Association of Manufacturers. Addressed the nation on national security and the SDI program. U.S. Embassy in Beirut bombed. Signed amendments to the Social Security Act designed to secure the program for several decades. Addressed Congress on El Salvador. Addressed nation on education. Attended G7 Summit in Williamsburg, Virginia. Excellence in Education Campaign launched. Created Commission on Central America. Created Commission on Organized Crime. United States-Mexico Agreement on the environment in the border area. The Soviet Union shot down the civilian airliner KAL 007. Addressed the nation on the KAL 007 incident. Addressed the nation on a long-term framework for negotiations with the Soviet Union. Addressed the United Nations on the Soviet Union. Launched Caribbean Basin Initiative Re-election campaign committee formed on exploratory basis. Marine barracks in Beirut are attacked. Grenada liberated by U.S. led invasion. Signed bill making Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a national holiday. Addressed the Japanese Diet on trade policy. U.S. forces bombed Syrian targets in Lebanon Addressed nation on U.S.-Soviet relations. Grace Commission findings on pay announced. Delivered State of the Union speech—"America is back". Reagan announced that he will run for re-election. Kissinger's report on Central America received. Yuri Andropov died. Konstantin Chernenko becomes leader of the Soviet Union. Delivered speech at the 11th annual CPAC Conference—"Our Noble Vision: An Opportunity For All". Traveled to China, signed nuclear arms agreement. Addressed the nation on Central America. Delivered remarks in honor of unknown soldier. Delivered remarks to Irish Parliament. Delivered speech commemorating the 40th Anniversary of D-Day and a speech honoring those who died at Omaha Beach. Attended G7 Summit in London. Signed bill increasing minimum drinking age to 21. Signed deficit reduction bill. Accepted nomination for Republican Party presidential candidate in Dallas, Texas. First debate with Democrat candidate Walter Mondale. Held whistle stop tour of Ohio. Second debate with Walter Mondale. Wins landslide re-election victory with the largest electoral margin in history (525 to 13). Ed Meese III nominated for Attorney General. Second Inauguration, delivers inaugural speech. Delivered State of the Union speech. Ed Meese III sworn in as Attorney General. Konstantin Chernenko died. Mikhail Gorbachev become leader of the Soviet Union. Senate approved MX missile plan. Launched Youth Employment Opportunity Wage Initiative. Attended G7 Summit in Bonn, West Germany. Delivered speeches at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and Bitburg cemetery honoring victims of World War II. Addressed European Parliament on Soviet arms. Launched Summer Jobs for Youth program. Addressed the nation on tax reform. Addressed the American Bar Association on terrorism. Underwent surgery for colon cancer. Enacted economic sanctions against South Africa's Apartheid government. The cruise ship Achille Lauro is hijacked. Addressed the United Nations on its 40th Anniversary about a "Fresh Start" with the Soviet Union. Announced new proposal on arms reduction. Addressed the nation and the Soviet Union on the U.S.-Soviet Geneva Summit. Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Geneva. Agreement reached to reduce nuclear weapons for the first time ever. Addressed Congress on Geneva Summit's "Fresh Start". All-Star tribute conducted in honor of Dutch Reagan. 248 American soldiers killed in plane crash in Newfoundland, Canada. Domestic and Economic Policy Councils briefed on AIDS programs. Addressed the Soviet Union (Gorbachev addressed the United States as well). Imposed economic sanctions on Libya. Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff. Formed commission on Challenger disaster. Delivered State of the Union speech regarding the Welfare Plan. United States recognized the Aquino government of the Philippines. Addressed the nation about national security. Packard Commission Report on defense management. Addressed the nation on Nicaragua. Libyan air strike conducted. Nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl in the Soviet Union. G7 Summit held in Tokyo, Japan. Participated in Hands Across America Day. Rogers Commission on Challenger disaster received. Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger resigned. William Rehnquist nominated for Chief Justice. Antonin Scalia nominated for
Supreme Court Justice. Addressed the nation on aid to Contras. Participated in Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration. Addressed the World Affairs Council on South Africa. William Rehnquist confirmed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Antonin Scalia confirmed as Justice of the Supreme Court. Addressed the United Nations on arms reduction progress. William Rehnquist and Antonin Scalia sworn in as Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court. Reagan-Gorbachev Summit, Reykjavik. Reagan proposal to reduce, if not eliminate nuclear weapons stalled on Soviet demand that SDI not leave the laboratory. Signed Tax Reform Act bill. Hostage David Jacobsen released from captivity in Beirut, Lebanon. Democrats win control of Senate (55 to 45) in off-year elections. Immigration Reform and Control Act signed. Addressed the nation on Contra aid. Iran-Contra controversy erupted. Tower Commission appointed to study Iran-Contra affair. Addressed the nation on Iran-Contra affair. Independent Counsel Lawrence E. Walsh selected. Delivered New Year's address to the people of the Soviet Union. Delivered State of the Union speech—"I'm Back". Vetoed Water Quality Act. Launched Up From Dependency welfare initiative. Launched Competitiveness Initiative. Economic sanctions against Poland lifted. Tower Commission report received. Don Regan resigned as Chief of Staff, replaced by Howard Baker. Vetoed Highway Bill. CONRAIL privatized. Participated in new Q&A with reporters on security breach at the new United States Embassy in Moscow. Addressed the World Affairs Council on possible negotiations breakthrough with the Soviet Union. Launched White House Conference on a Drug Free America. Iraqi missile hits the U.S.S. Stark in the Persian Gulf. William Webster sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Soviet Gulf Policy announced. Signed GI Continuation Act. Paul Volcker resigned. Alan Greenspan appointed as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. Economic Summit in Venice, Italy. Tariffs lifted from Japan. Visited Berlin, gave speech at Brandenburg Gate ("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"). Supreme Court Justice Powell resigned. Robert Bork nominated to be Supreme Court Justice. Economic Bill of Rights launched. Launched Central American Peace Initiative. Alan Greenspan sworn in as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra controversy. Signed Nuclear Risk Reduction Center treaty. Held Bicentennial Celebration of the United States Constitution. Addressed the United Nations on the INF agreement and Iran. Senate Committee rejected Robert Bork. Addressed OAS on the Central American Peace Initiative. Addressed the nation on Washington, D.C. Mrs. Reagan underwent surgery for breast cancer. United States forces attack Iranian oil platforms in Persian Gulf. Senate rejected Robert Bork nomination. Douglas Ginsburg nominated to Supreme Court. United States-Soviet Summit announced. William Sessions sworn in as head of FBI. Addressed Europe, via WorldNet, on Soviet-U.S. relations. Ginsburg withdrew nomination over marijuana scandal. Anthony Kennedy nominated to Supreme Court. INF Treaty announced in Denver. Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Washington, D.C. INF treaty signed. Addressed the nation on the Washington Summit. Addressed the Soviet Union and Gorbachev addressed the United States. Signed Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement in Palm Springs, California. Delivered State of the Union speech: "We're not finished yet." Anthony Kennedy sworn in as Supreme Court Justice. White House Conference on a Drug Free America. NATO Summit in Brussels. Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis conference on SDI. United States forces deployed to Honduras. United States forces attack Iranian oil platforms in Persian Gulf. Addressed World Affairs Council on Soviet Union, Afghanistan, and the INF treaty. Briefing on religious freedom in the Soviet Union. Endorsed the George H. Bush candidacy. Senate approved INF Treaty. INF Treaty ratified at Moscow Summit with Gorbachev. Addressed the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. Addressed the Atlantic Council in preparation for the G7 Summit. G7 Summit in Toronto, Canada. Signed Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act. Iran Air Flight 655 shot down in Persian Gulf by U.S.S. Vincennes. Resignation of Attorney General Edwin Meese III announced. Richard L. Thornburgh nominated to be Attorney General. Free Trade Agreement with Canada sent to Congress. HIV Action Plan announced. Vetoed National Defense Authorization Act. Signed Japanese-American Internment Compensation Bill. Signed Disaster Assistance Act. Richard L. Thornburgh sworn in as Attorney General. Delivered farewell address at Republican National Convention. Signed the Trade & Competitiveness Act. Signed Fair Housing Act Amendments. Addressed United Nations on disarmament. Signed U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement. First stage of envisioned North-American Free Trade Agreement. Conducted cornerstone laying ceremony for Holocaust Memorial Museum. Family Support Act signed. Signed the Department of Veteran Affairs Act. Signed Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Groundbreaking ceremony held at Reagan Presidential Library site. Mini-summit in New York with Gorbachev. Addressed American Enterprise Institute. Final press conference as President. Addressed administrative officials on domestic policy. Ban on talking with PLO dropped. Addressed University of Virginia on foreign policy. Addressed Soviet Union. Gorbachev addressed United States. Gave Farewell Address to the nation. Left the White House and returned to California.
 |
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
