The Presidency of Ronald Reagan

Running head: THE PRESIDENCY OF RONALD REAGAN

The Presidency of Ronald Reagan

Abstract

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was sworn into office in 1981. Reagan, at 69 years old was the oldest person to ever be sworn into the presidency. His two terms were marked by innovative, and controversial, approaches to domestic policies. His foreign policy can be characterized as forceful. Reagan's domestic policies are often criticized as voodoo economics or Reaganomics. His economic policies were based on deficit spending and tax cuts primarily for the wealthy. But they also provided for new mechanisms for adjusting economic activity on the national level.

No less controversial was the Iran-Contra affair where his administration was caught selling weapons to Iran and funneling the proceeds to the Contra movement against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Reagan's two terms also saw the liberation of Granada, the loss of more them 200 Marines in Beirut, the bombing of Libya, and the high jacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro.

To this day though, Reagan's legacy lives on as his domestic economic policies are still evident on the management of the national economy. His effects of his foreign policies still reverberate throughout the world today from the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, and South America. His legacy is sure to live for generations to come.

Contents

Abstract - Denton Clark ................................................... 2

Contents ........................................................................ 3

Introduction - Michael Douglas ............................................. 4

Brief Biography - Michael Douglas ....................................... 4

Prior Political Career - Michael Douglas.................................. 5

Key Events - Michael Douglas .............................................. 7

Relationships with Advisors - Denton Clark............................... 9

Relationships with Democrats, Congress, and the Supreme Court

Richard King............................................................... 10

Political Pressure - Minority Groups - Richard King ................... 12

Primary Legacy - Lianna Plangklang....................................... 14

Conclusion - Michael Douglas...................................................... 17

References ........................ ................................................. 18

The Presidency of Ronald Reagan

History, what exactly does this word imply? For most school children history simply means to learn about the past, which for the most part include events, dates, and people. For those of us whom have advanced on to higher education we realize that history is much more and yet far less than our previous definition. We have realized that history is our interpretation of the connections between dates, events, and people. No matter which philosophy of history one studies under, there should be no dispute that on occasion this world has produced some unique individuals which merit taking a closer look at, in order to better interpret the connection in which he or she holds in the world. We believe Ronald Wilson Reagan is one such individual who merits such an honor. In the pages that follow we will explore this man, his life and family and career, the triumphs and pitfalls in which made Ronald W. Reagan one of the most notable political figures in recent years.

Brief Biography

Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, the second son of John Reagan and Nelle Wilson in Tampico Illinois. Reagan grew up and attended high school in Dixon Illinois and attended Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois.

Reagan grew up the son of an alcoholic, and at an early age developed a gift for storytelling and acting. At the age of 15 he became a lifeguard. Later he became a radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs Baseball team, and eventually worked his was into becoming a successful Hollywood leading man. He was also a reserve officer in the US Army and assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit in the United States Army Air Force after the attack on Pearle Harbor, where he made training and educational films. He was kept from the front line due to his eye sight, astigmatism or commonly referred to as near-sightedness.

Reagan married actress Jane Wyman in 1940. They had three children, an adopted son and two daughters, one of which was born four months premature and lived for only a day. Reagan and Wyman divorced in 1948, which made him to later become the first president to be elected that, had ever been divorced.

Reagan remarried in 1952 to Nancy Davis, whom becomes a powerful agent in his rise to political affairs. Reagan spent eight years starting in 1954 traveling around for General Electric as a motivational speaker to make celebrity appearance as company events. With the support of Nancy and his interaction with the many people he met while speaking for General Electric, Reagan decided he was playing on the wrong team and removed himself from the Democratic Party and became a Republican. In 1960, Reagan was actively supporting the Nixon campaign; after his party switch, Reagan ran for and won the seat of the governor for the state of California in 1966. In 1980 Reagan made history and not only being elected the 40th President of the United States, the first of which whom had even been divorced but he was also the oldest ever elected.

Prior Political Career

While we have taken a quick look at a big part of Ronald W. Reagan's life before he was elected to the Office of The President of The United States, we should slow down and pause for a moment, taking a closer review of his political career prior to becoming President.

Politically speaking, Reagan began his life as a Democrat. He was a supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal. His