FREE ESSAY ON RONALD REAGAN

RONALD REAGAN

Introduction
Reagan, Ronald Wilson (1911- ),the 40th president of the United States (1981-1989),
enforced the policies that reversed a general direction of movement toward greater
government involvement in economic and social regulation. Reagan as the younger of two
sons, was born in Tampico, Illinois and spent most of his childhood in Dixon, Illinois. 
After studying at Eureka College,a small Disciples of Christ college near Peoria,
Illinois, he majored in economics, and became the president of the student body, a member
of the football team, and captain of the swimming team. He had special drawings toward
acting, but after the graduation in 1932 the only job available related to show business
was as a local radio sportscaster. In 1936 he became a sportscaster for station WHO in
Des Moines, Iowa. A year latter, Reagan went to Hollywood and began an acting career that
spanned more than 25 years. He played in more than 50 films, including "Knute Rockne"-All
American (1940), "King's Row" (1942), and "Bedtime for Bonzo" (1951). 
Early political career
Reagan's first political activities were associated with his responsibilities as a union
leader. As union president, Reagan tried to remove suspected Communists from the movie
industry. When the U.S. House Committee. Began an investigation in 1947 on the influence
of Communists in the film industry, Reagan took a strong anti-Communist stand testifying
before the committee. Reagan emerged on the national political scene in 1964 when he made
fervent television speech supports for the Republican presidential candidate, United
States Senator Barry Goldwater from Arizona. Although the election was lost, Reagan's
speech brought in money and admiration from Republicans around the country. After the
speech a group of Republicans in California persuaded Reagan to run for governor of
California in 1966. Reagan appealed to traditional Republican voters. He defeated Edmund
G. (Pat) Brown, Sr., Democrat, by almost a million votes.
The election of 1980
Reagan spent years making political friends at party fund-raising dinners around the
country. In the election of 1980 for the president, the candidates were Carter and
Reagan. The contrast between the television personalities of two candidates was very
important to people. Carter's nervous manner had never been popular to people, while
Reagan's charm and happy face was a call for return to patriotism, which appealed to the
public. Many voters believed that Reagan was forceful leader who could get their lives in
shape and who could restore prosperity at home. In 1980 Reagan won the election ,
receiving 51 percent to Carter's 41 percent.
The President 
As president, Reagan defined his management style as to identify the problem, find the
right individuals to do the job, and then let them go to it. Reagan's main function in
his presidency was described as the great communicator.
Reagan also received strong support from religious groups, who were unhappy about what
they saw as decreasing respect for religion in public life and about increasing respect
to sex and drugs, that had emerged in the late 1960s. These groups had little in common,
and stood on Reagan's side to make changes.
Reagan also controlled a solid majority over middle class and working class Americans,
many of them were the once who had supported the Democratic Party. He won their support
with his positive declaration that the federal government imposed taxation high and had
grown too large to control over people. Reagan spoke out in public against what overgrown
government bureaucracy, expensive social programs, and federal regulatory agencies that
interrupted in the private lives and business dealings of U.S. citizens.
His strength in the 1980 election helped the Republicans win a majority in the Senate for
the first time in 26 years. With more control of the House, Democrats had the ability to
stop and block many of Reagan's plans but his strengths of approaching to people directly
and his abilities as a speaker did a lot to influence public. 
On March 30, 1981, John W. Hinckley shot Reagan in the chest during an assassination
attempt. John has santed to court and later they found Hinckley was not guilty because of
insanity. Hinckely was sented to a mental hospital. After the assassinations attempt the
support for Reagan increased public support for Reagan.
In 1984 the Republicans nominated Reagan and Bush for a second term. Reagan promised to
keep taxes down, and won 59 percent of the popular vote and carried 49 states. In the
1986 elections the Democrats regained control of the Senate. During his last two years in
office, unable to run for reelection himself, Reagan found it harder to get his
legislative proposals finished.
Foreign affairs 
In the Middle East, Reagan came out several times with U.S. forces to help out with army
and military needs. In the early 1980s, armed conflict broke out in Lebanon between the
Christian government and a number of Muslim groups. In effort to strengthen the Christian
government, Reagan sent marines to Lebanon to help out. In October 1983 a bomb killed
nearly 250 marines and other U.S. service members at their Beirut headquarters. In 1986 a
bomb in a West German dance club killed an U.S. soldier and injured others. Reagan
claimed that Libya was responsible for the bombing activities, retaliated with air
strikes against several Libyan cities on April 15, 1986 and related to the supporting of
Christian government in Libya.
The President Reagan was one of the greatest presidents. Majorities of people were
amassed of how great union leader he was. I was impressed with his courage and motivation
that he gave to American people. More Americans were working than ever before and new
businesses were being started up in the country. The President Reagan always had sense
for humor and smile on his face. He was a great leader for our country. His great courage
was shown during the assassination when he was very close to dying. Still then, in the
hard moments of life, he had sense of humor. When he arrived at the hospital he made his
famous comment to doctors; "I hope somebody is a Republican in this crowd." He was a
great dictator and communicator. Reagan explained in his own words; " I was not a great
communicator, but I communicated great things." He also said; "everyone can rise as high
and as far as his ability will take him," and he pointed his own beginnings as proof.