American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and became a highly influential voice of modern conservatism. Reagan earned the nickname “the Teflon President,” in that public perceptions of him were not tarnished by the controversies that arose during his administration. Prior to his presidency, he was a Hollywood actor and union leader before serving as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 to 1975.
A former sportscaster from 1932-1937, he was the host of TV’s Death Valley Days in the early ’60s. Reagan first signed with Warner Brothers in 1937, and, by 1946, was earning $150,000 per year. He also was the President of the Screen Actors Guild for many years. Ron was a star from the start. He was elected student council president in high school, a football player in college and a radio announcer in 1937. In Hollywood he made 25 movies.
He first entered politics when he was elected the Republican Governor of California on 8 November 1966, sworn in on 2 January 1967, 00:02 AM, Sacramento, California. When he entered the presidency, he was the oldest president ever elected, aged 69. By the time he left office, he was missing a sandwich from his picnic basket once in a while, nodding off for naps or forgetting his lines but he was still immensely popular, an inspirational and convincing leader.
In a harrowing ordeal, President Reagan was shot at close range on 30 March 1981 by Jim Hinckley; his life was saved by Jim Brady, Reagan’s press secretary, who took the bullet in his head and survived only with extensive therapy. With the saving grace of a great sense of humor, Reagan said to his wife Nancy, “Honey I forgot to duck.”
He married actress Jane Wyman in 1940. The marriage lasted for eight years and ended in divorce in 1948. His second marriage, to actress Nancy Davis, was on 4 March 1952. Their devotion and care for each other was palpable. After retirement to their California ranch, the former president remained active for two years lecturing and touring. It was announced in 1994 that he had Alzheimer’s. On 13 January 2001, he had surgery to place a pin into the hip he had broken the prior day. Doctors said that his physical condition was excellent and that Nancy never left his side.
After a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, Reagan died of pneumonia on 5 June 2004 at 1:09 PM PDT at his home in Los Angeles, aged 93.
Link to Wikipedia biography
Link to Astrodienst discussion forum