Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)/biography

Ronald Wilson Reagan (, –, ) was the 40th  (1981–1989) and the 33rd  (1967–1975). Born in Illinois, Reagan moved to in the 1930s, where he became an actor, president of the  (SAG), and a spokesman for. Reagan became involved in politics during his work for G.E. and switched from the to the  in 1962. After delivering in support of 's presidential candidacy in 1964, he was persuaded to seek the California Governorship, winning two years later and again in 1970. He was defeated in his run for the as well as, but won both the nomination and election in.

As president, Reagan implemented new political initiatives as well as economic policies, advocating a  philosophy, but the extent to which these ideas were implemented is debatable. The policies, dubbed "," included implemented in 1981. After surviving an and ordering controversial military actions in  and, he was  in a landslide victory in 1984.

Reagan's second term was marked by steps toward ending the, as well as the , one of a few. The president ordered a massive military buildup in an arms race with the, rejecting the previous strategy of and directly confronting. He portrayed the USSR as an "" and publicly. Despite his rejection of détente, he negotiated with  to shrink both countries' nuclear arsenals,  and is regarded as a major driving force behind the end of the Cold War. Reagan left office in 1989 and he had been diagnosed with  in 1994. He at the age of ninety-three, and ranks today with a high  among former U.S. presidents.

Early life
Ronald Reagan was born in an above the  in,  on ,  to John "Jack" Reagan and Nelle Wilson Reagan. As a boy, Reagan's father nicknamed him "Dutch", due to his "fat little Dutchman"-like appearance, and his "Dutchboy" haircut. The nickname stuck with him throughout his youth. Reagan's family briefly lived in several Illinois towns, including, and , until 1919, when they returned to Tampico and lived above the.

According to, author of God and Ronald Reagan, Reagan had a particularly strong faith in the goodness of people which stemmed from the optimistic faith of his mother, Nelle, and the faith. For the time, Reagan was unusual in his opposition to racial discrimination, and recalled a time in when the local inn would not allow black people to stay there. Reagan brought them back to his house, where his mother invited them to stay the night and have breakfast the next morning.

Following the closure of the Pitney Store in late 1920, the Reagans moved to ; the midwestern "small universe" had a lasting impression on Ronald. He attended, where he developed interests in acting and storytelling. His first job was that of a lifeguard at the Rock River in Lowell Park, near Dixon in 1926. "I saved 77 lives," Reagan said in an interview, and mentioned that he notched a mark on a wooden log for every life he saved. After high school, Reagan attended, where he was a member of the fraternity, majored in economics and sociology, and was very active in sports.

Radio and film
After graduating from Eureka in 1932, Reagan worked at radio stations in  and  in  as an announcer for  baseball games. While traveling with the Cubs in California, Reagan took a screen test in 1937 that led to a seven-year contract with studios.

His first screen credit was the starring role in the 1937 movie , and by the end of 1939 he had appeared in 19 films. Before the film ' in 1940, he played the role of  in the film '. He acquired the lifelong nickname "the Gipper" from this role. Reagan's favorite acting role was in 1942's , but his performance did not meet with universal approval; one reviewer felt that Reagan had made "only casual acquaintance with the [character]". Reagan also acted in ', ', ', ', ', and ' (his final film) in a 1964 remake.

Military service
After completing fourteen home-study Army Extension Courses, Reagan enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve on, as a private assigned to Troop B, 322nd  at. He was appointed in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry on , and on  was assigned to the 323rd Cavalry.

Reagan was ordered to active duty for the first time on. Due to his nearsightedness, he was classified for limited service only, which excluded him from serving overseas. His first assignment was at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation at, California, as a liaison officer of the Port and Transportation Office. Upon the request of the (AAF), he applied for a transfer from the Cavalry to the AAF on  1942, and was assigned to AAF Public Relations and subsequently to the 1st Motion Picture Unit in. On  he was promoted to First Lieutenant and was sent to the Provisional Task Force Show Unit of This Is The Army at. Following this duty, he returned to the 1st Motion Picture Unit and was promoted to Captain on.

In January 1944, Captain Reagan was ordered to temporary duty in to participate in the opening of the sixth War Loan Drive. He was assigned to the 18th AAF Base Unit, Culver City, California on, where he remained until the end of the. He was recommended for promotion to Major on 1945, but this recommendation was disapproved on  of that year. He returned to, California, where he was separated from active duty on 1945. By the end of the war, his units had produced some 400 training films for the AAF.

Television and SAG President
Reagan landed fewer film roles in the late 1950s and moved to television as the host of , earning approximately $125,000 per year ($800,000 in 2006 dollars), until he was fired by General Electric in 1962. His final work as a professional actor was as host and performer from 1964 to 1965 on the television series .

Reagan was first elected to the Board of Directors of the in 1941, serving as an alternate. Following World War II, he resumed service and became 3rd Vice president in 1946. The adoption of conflict-of-interest bylaws in 1947 led the SAG president and six board members to resign; Reagan was nominated in a special election for the position of president and was elected. He would subsequently be chosen by the membership to seven additional one-year terms, from 1947 to 1952 and in 1959. Reagan led SAG through eventful years that were marked by labor-management disputes, the, (HUAC) hearings and the  era.

In 1947, as SAG president, Reagan testified before HUAC regarding the influence of Communists in the motion picture industry. Strongly opposed to communism, he reaffirmed his commitment to democratic principles, stating, "As a citizen, I would hesitate to see any political party outlawed on the basis of its political ideology. However, if it is proven that an organization is an agent of foreign power, or in any way not a legitimate political party&mdash;and I think the government is capable of proving that&mdash;then that is another matter. [...] but at the same time I never as a citizen want to see our country become urged, by either fear or resentment of this group, that we ever compromise with any of our democratic principles through that fear or resentment."

Jane Wyman
In 1938, Reagan co-starred in the film Brother Rat with actress (1917–2007). They were engaged at the, and married on , , at the Wee Kirk o' the Heather church in Forest Lawn, California. Together they had two children, (1941–2001) and Christine (born and died, 1947), and adopted a third,  (born 1945). Reagan and Wyman divorced on, following arguments about Reagan's political ambitions, making Reagan the only American president to have been divorced.

Nancy Davis
Reagan met actress (born 1921) in 1949 after Davis contacted then-president of the Screen Actors Guild Reagan to help her with issues regarding her name appearing on a communist blacklist in Hollywood (Davis was mistaken for another Nancy Davis). Nancy described their meeting by saying, "I don't know if it was exactly love at first sight, but it was pretty close." They were engaged at restaurant in Los Angeles and were married on,  at the Little Brown Church in the. Ronald and Nancy Reagan had two children: (born 1952) and  (born 1958).

Observers described Ronald and Nancy Reagan's relationship as close, real, and intimate. While president and first lady, the Reagans were reported to display their affection for each other frequently, with one press secretary noting, "They never took each other for granted. They never stopped courting." He often called her "Mommy"; she called him "Ronnie". When the president was recuperating in the hospital after the assassination attempt in 1981, Nancy Reagan slept with one of his shirts to be comforted by the scent; in a letter to Mrs. Reagan, President Reagan wrote, "whatever I treasure and enjoy [...] all would be without meaning if I didn’t have you." In written in 1994, President Reagan wrote "I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with  [...] I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience," and in 1998, while her husband was severely affected by Alzheimer's, Nancy told , "Our relationship is very special. We were very much in love and still are. When I say my life began with Ronnie, well, it's true. It did. I can't imagine life without him."

Early political career
A registered and admirer of, Reagan supported the , as well as the presidential candidacies of  in 1952 and 1956 and  in 1960. His political loyalties soon shifted to the, however, for he thought that the Democrats had created a larger government. Following the election of, Reagan formally switched parties in 1962, saying "I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The party left me." During his work for General Electric, Reagan wrote his own speeches, laboring diligently and daily upon his prose. Although he had speechwriters later in the White House, he continued editing, and even occasionally writing, many of them.

Two years after switching parties, Reagan joined the campaign of conservative presidential contender. Speaking on Goldwater's behalf, Reagan revealed his ideological motivation in a famed speech given on, : "The Founding Fathers knew a government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they knew when a government set out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose.  So we have come to a time for choosing." The address soon became known as the "" speech, and is considered the speech that launched Reagan's political career.

Governor of California, 1967–1975
California Republicans were impressed with Reagan's political views and charisma after his "Time for Choosing" speech, and nominated him for in 1966. In Reagan's campaign, he emphasized two main themes: "to send the welfare bums back to work", and in reference to burgeoning anti-war and anti-establishment student protests at the, "to clean up the mess at Berkeley". He was elected, defeating two-term governor, and was sworn in on ,. In his first term, he froze government hiring and approved tax hikes to balance the budget.

Shortly after the beginning of his term, Reagan tested the as part of a "Stop Nixon" movement, hoping to cut into Nixon's Southern support and be a compromise candidate if neither Nixon nor second-place  received enough delegates to win on the first ballot at the. However, by the time of the convention Nixon had 692 delegate votes, 25 more than he needed to secure the nomination, followed by Rockefeller with Reagan in third place.

Reagan was involved in high-profile conflicts with the protest movements of the era. In 1969, during the at UC Berkeley, Reagan sent  officers onto the campus to quell the protests. On of that year, the protests increased, and the officers resorted to using firearms, shooting and killing a 25-year-old man from San Jose, California and injuring others, the incident being known as "Bloody Thursday." Reagan then called out 2,200 troops to occupy the city of Berkeley in order to crack down on the protesters.

Early in 1967, the national debate on abortion was beginning. Democratic California state senator introduced the "Therapeutic Abortion Act", in an effort to reduce the number of "back-room abortions" performed in California. The State Legislature sent the bill to Reagan's desk where, after many days of indecision, he signed it. About two million abortions would be performed as a result, most because of a provision in the bill allowing abortions for the well-being of the mother. Reagan had been in office for only four months when he signed the bill, and stated that had he been more experienced as governor, it would not have been signed. After he recognized what he called the "consequences" of the bill, he announced that he was. He maintained that position later in his political career,.

Reagan was re-elected in 1970, defeating "Big Daddy", but chose not to seek a third term. One of Reagan's greatest frustrations in office concerned, which he strongly supported. His efforts to enforce the state's laws in this area were thwarted when the issued its  decision, which invalidated all death sentences issued in California prior to 1972, though the decision was later overturned by a constitutional amendment. The only execution during Reagan's governorship was on, , when Aaron Mitchell's sentence was carried out by the state in gas chamber.

Reagan's terms as governor helped to shape the policies he would pursue in his later political career as president. By campaigning on a platform of sending "the welfare bums back to work," he spoke out against the idea of the welfare state. He also strongly advocated the Republican ideal of less government regulation of the economy, including that of undue federal taxation.

1976 presidential campaign
In 1976, Reagan challenged incumbent President in a bid to become the Republican Party's candidate for president. Reagan soon established himself as the conservative candidate; like-minded organizations such as the became the key components of his political base, while President Ford was considered a more moderate Republican. He relied on a strategy crafted by campaign manager of winning a few primaries early to seriously damage the lift-off of Ford's campaign, such as his victories in North Carolina, Texas, and California, but the strategy disintegrated. Reagan ended up losing New Hampshire and later Florida.

As the party's in  neared, Ford appeared close to victory. Acknowledging his party's moderate wing, Reagan chose moderate Republican Senator of  as his running mate. Nonetheless, Ford narrowly won, with 1,187 delegates to Reagan's 1,070.

Reagan's concession speech emphasized the dangers of nuclear war and the threat posed by the Soviet Union. Although he lost the nomination, he received 307 write-in votes in New Hampshire, 388 votes as an Independent on Wyoming's ballot, and a single electoral vote from a Washington State "" in the November election. Ford went on to lose the 1976 presidential election to the Democratic challenger.

1980 presidential campaign
The 1980 presidential campaign was conducted during domestic concerns as well as the ongoing. After receiving the Republican nomination, Reagan challenged incumbent President Jimmy Carter. His showing in the boosted his campaign, and he selected one of his primary opponents, George H.W. Bush, to be his running mate.

Reagan won the election, carrying 44 states with 489 electoral votes to 49 electoral votes for Carter (representing six states and Washington, D.C.). Reagan won 50.7% of the popular vote while Carter took 41%, and Independent (a liberal Republican) received 6.7%. for the first time since 1952, and, but the Democrats retained a majority.

Presidency, 1981–1989
During his Presidency, Ronald Reagan pursued policies that reflected his optimism in individual freedom, expanded the, and contributed to the end of the. The "Reagan Revolution," proponents claimed, would reinvigorate American morale, and reduce the people's reliance upon government. As president, Reagan kept a series of leather bound diaries, in which he talked about daily occurrences of his presidency, commented on current issues around the world (expressing his point of view on most of them), and frequently mentioned his wife,. The diaries were published in May 2007, into the bestselling book, .

First term, 1981–1985
In his on, , which Reagan himself wrote, he addressed the country's economic malaise arguing: "Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem." The Reagan Presidency began in a dramatic manner: just 30 minutes into his inaugural address, were set free. .

Assassination attempt
On, , only 69 days into the new administration, Reagan, his press secretary , and two others were struck by gunfire from a deranged would-be assassin, Missing Reagan’s heart by less than one inch (2.5 cm), the bullet instead pierced his left lung, which likely saved his life. In the operating room, Reagan joked to the surgeons, "I hope you're all Republicans!" Though they were not, Dr. Joseph Giordano replied, "Today, Mr. President, we're all Republicans," and when came to see him, he famously told her, "Honey, I forgot to duck" (using defeated boxer 's quip). Reagan was released from the hospital on April 11.

Air traffic controllers' strike
Only a short time into his administration, violating a regulation prohibiting Government unions from striking. Declaring the situation an emergency as described in the 1947, Reagan held a press conference in the , where he stated that if the air traffic controllers "do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated". On, 1981, Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order to return to work.

"Reaganomics" and the economy
When Reagan entered office, the American economy's rate stood at 11.83%, and  at 7.1%. Reagan implemented policies based on and advocated a laissez-faire philosophy, seeking to stimulate the economy with large, across-the-board. He aimed to reduce the growth of domestic government spending, cut back on excess regulation, and institute a sound currency policy which would end inflation. In attempting to cut back on non-defense spending, significantly increase defense spending, while at the same time lowering taxes, Reagan's approach was a departure from his immediate predecessors. The economic policy, dubbed "", was the subject of debate, with supporters pointing to improvements in certain key economic indicators as evidence of success, and critics pointing to large increases in federal budget deficits and the national debt. His policy of "" resulted in a record peacetime defense buildup, including a 40% real increase in defense spending between 1981 and 1985.

During Reagan's tenure, income tax rates were lowered significantly, with the top personal tax bracket dropping from 70% to 28% in seven years, although effective payroll tax rates increased. Real (GDP) growth recovered strongly after the 1982 recession and grew during Reagan's eight years in office at an annual rate of 3.4% per year, slightly lower than the post- average of 3.6%. Unemployment peaked at 9.7% percent in 1982 then dropped during the rest of Reagan's presidency, while employment increased by 16 million, and inflation significantly decreased.

Reagan's economics polices proposed that economic growth will occur when marginal tax rates are low enough to spur investment, which would then lead to increased economic growth, higher employment and wages. Critics called this "trickle-down economics" — the belief that tax policies that benefit the wealthy will create a "trickle-down" effect to the poor.

The administration's stance toward the Savings and Loan industry and reluctance to take action as problems arose contributed to the. It is also suggested, by a minority of Reaganomics critics, that the policies partially caused the, but there is no consensus regarding a single source for the crash. In order to cover newly-spawned federal budget deficits, the borrowed heavily both domestically and abroad, raising the  from $700 billion to $3 trillion, and the United States moved from being the world's largest international creditor to the world's largest debtor nation. Reagan described the new debt as the "greatest disappointment" of his presidency.

He reappointed as, and in 1987 appointed monetarist  to succeed him. Some economists, such as winners  and, argue that Reagan's tax policies invigorated America's economy and contributed to the economic boom of the 1990s. Other economists, such as Nobel Prize winner, argue that the deficits were a major reason why Reagan's successor, , and raised taxes.

War on Drugs
Midway into his second term, Reagan declared more militant policies in the "". He said that "drugs were menacing our society" and promised to fight for drug-free schools and workplaces, expanded drug treatment, stronger law enforcement and drug interdiction efforts, and greater public awareness. On, , President Reagan signed a drug enforcement bill into law that budgeted $1.7 billion dollars to fund the War on Drugs and specified a mandatory minimum penalty for drug offenses.

The bill was criticized for promoting significant racial disparities in the prison population, because of the differences in sentencing for versus powder. Critics also charged that the administration's policies did little to actually reduce the availability of drugs or crime on the street, while resulting in a great financial and human cost for American society. Defenders of the effort point to success in reducing rates of adolescent drug use.

made the War on Drugs one of her main priorities by founding the "" anti-drug association, which aimed to discourage children and teenagers from engaging in by offering various ways of saying "no." Mrs. Reagan traveled to 65 cities in 33 states, raising awareness about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Judiciary
During his 1980 campaign, Reagan pledged that, if given the opportunity, he would appoint the first female Supreme Court Justice. That opportunity came in his first year in office when he nominated to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice. In his second term, Reagan elevated to succeed  as, and named  to fill the vacant seat. However, in 1987, Reagan lost a significant political battle when the Senate rejected the nomination of, but was eventually confirmed in his place.

Lebanon and Grenada, 1983
American peacekeeping forces in, a part of (MNF) during the , were attacked on ,. The, in which 241 American servicemen were killed by suicide bombers, was the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the , and the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States military since the first day of the. Reagan called the attack "despicable," pledged to keep a military force in Lebanon, and planned to target the Sheik Abdullah barracks in, Lebanon, which housed Iranian Revolutionary Guards believed to be training fighters, but the mission was later aborted by Defense Secretary. Besides a few shellings, there was no serious American retaliation, and the Marines were moved offshore where they could not be targeted. On, 1984, President Reagan ordered the Marines to begin withdrawal from Lebanon. This was completed on : the rest of the MNF was withdrawn by April.

Two days later, U.S. forces invaded, where a 1979  had established a government aligned with the Soviet Union and Cuba. The Grenadan government began military expansion and construction of an international airport with Cuban assistance. On, 1983, a faction led by Deputy Prime Minister seized power. A formal appeal from the (OECS) led to the intervention of U.S. forces; President Reagan also cited the regional threat posed by a Soviet-Cuban military build-up in the Caribbean and concern for the safety of several hundred American medical students at St. George's University as adequate reasons to invade. On, 1983, in the first major operation conducted by the U.S. military since the , several days of fighting commenced, and led to U.S. victory, with 19 American fatalities and 116 wounded American soldiers. In mid-December, after a new government was appointed by the Governor-General, U.S. forces withdrew.

1984 presidential campaign
Reagan accepted the Republican nomination in, on a wave of positive feeling bolstered by the recovering economy and the dominating performance by the U.S. athletes at the that summer. He became the first American president to open a summer Olympic Games held in the United States.

Reagan's opponent in the was former Vice President. With questions about Reagan's age, and a weak performance in the first presidential debate, many wondered if he was up to the task of being president for another term. Reagan rebounded in the second debate, and confronted questions about his age, stating, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience," which generated applause and laughter from members of the audience, and even from Mondale himself.

In the, Reagan was re-elected, winning 49 of 50 states. The president's landslide victory saw Mondale carry only his home state of Minnesota (by 3800 votes) and the District of Columbia. Reagan won a record 525 electoral votes total (of 538 possible), and received 58.8% of the popular vote to Mondale's 40.6%.

Second term, 1985–1989
Reagan was sworn in as president for the second time on, , in a private ceremony at the. The public ceremony took place in the the next day, because  fell on a Sunday, and thus no public celebration was held. was one of the coldest days on record in, and due to the low temperatures and large snowfall the night before, inaugural celebrations were held inside the Capitol.

On, , Reagan underwent surgery to remove polyps from his colon, causing the first-ever invocation of the acting president clause of the , and on , , Reagan underwent surgery for prostate cancer which caused further worries about his health. At the time, the president was 76 years old.

In 1985, Reagan visited a German military cemetery in to lay a wreath with West German Chancellor, but it was found that the cemetery held the graves of 49 members of the. In advance of the visit, many prominent U.S. government officials, veterans, Jewish leaders, Holocaust survivors, 95 Republican and 215 Democratic members of Congress, even First Lady Nancy Reagan protested and called on Reagan to cancel the visit, but the president argued that it would be wrong to back down on a promise he had made to Chancellor Kohl. Reagan issued a statement that called the Nazi soldiers buried in that cemetery "victims" and some say equated them with victims of the Holocaust, but, Director of Communications under Reagan, argues: "President Reagan never equated SS troops and camp victims. He equated the teenage boys Hitler put in uniform and sent to certain death at war's end with concentration camp victims." In the end, Reagan attended the ceremony where two military generals laid the wreath, as was customary. In 1983, he told prominent Jews — notably Prime Minister of Israel,, and Rabbi  of  — of his personal experience vis-à-vis the , saying "I was there," and that that he had assisted at the liberation of Nazi death camps. He was in a film unit in Hollywood that processed raw footage it received from Europe for newsreels, but was not in Europe during the war.

Reagan's administration was criticized for its slow response to the - epidemic, and for Reagan's controversial refusal to say the term "AIDS" in public for several years, until the illness of movie star and national icon became public news in July 1985. By that time, over 10,000 Americans had been diagnosed with AIDS, and over 6,000 had died.

Immigration
In 1986, Reagan signed the (IRCA). The act made it illegal to knowingly hire or recruit, required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status, and granted to approximately 3 million illegal immigrants who entered the United States prior to , 1982 and lived there continuously. Critics of the act claim that its laws subjecting employers to sanctions were without teeth and that it failed to stem illegal immigration. Upon signing the act at a ceremony held beside the newly refurbished, Reagan said, "The legalization provisions in this act will go far to improve the lives of a class of individuals who now must hide in the shadows, without access to many of the benefits of a free and open society. Very soon many of these men and women will be able to step into the sunlight and, ultimately, if they choose, they may become Americans."

Iran-Contra Affair
In 1986, the (ICJ)  the Reagan Administration to have illegally sold arms to  to fund the  in, which had been specifically outlawed by an act of Congress. The became the largest  in the United States during the 1980s. President Reagan professed ignorance of the plot's existence and quickly called for an Independent Counsel to investigate, but while the arms sales and hostage releases were going on, Reagan allegedly signed a presidential finding authorizing the actions after they had begun. The ICJ, whose jurisdiction to decide the case was disputed, ruled that the U.S. had violated international law in Nicaragua due to its treaty obligations and the customary obligations of international law not to intervene in the affairs of other states.

Reagan appointed two Republicans and one Democrat (, and, known as the "Tower Commission") to investigate the scandal. The commission could not find direct evidence that Reagan had prior knowledge of the program, but criticized him heavily for his disengagement from managing his staff, thus making the diversion of funds to the Contras possible. A separate report by Congress concluded that "If the president did not know what his national security advisers were doing, he should have."

Fourteen individuals who were directly involved in the illegal activity were indicted, resulting in eleven convictions (both plea agreements and trial convictions). was indicted for perjury, but received a pardon from then-President George H.W. Bush during the last month of his presidency. At the same time, President Bush pardoned five others, four of whom had already pleaded guilty or had been convicted. In 2006, a survey of presidential historians ranked the Iran-Contra affair as the ninth worst mistake by a U.S. president.

Many Central Americans criticize Reagan for his support of the Contras, saying he was an anti-communist zealot, blinded to human rights abuses, while many others say he "saved Central America." , president of  from 1979 to 1990, said that he hoped God would forgive Reagan for his "dirty war against Nicaragua."

Cold War
Reagan escalated the, accelerating a reversal from the policy of which began in 1979 following the. The Reagan Administration implemented new policies towards the : reviving the program that had been canceled by the, and producing the MX "Peacekeeper" missile. In response to Soviet deployment of the, Reagan oversaw 's deployment of the in West Germany.

One of Reagan's more controversial proposals was the (SDI), a defense project that would have used ground and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. Reagan believed that this defense shield could make nuclear war impossible, but disbelief that the technology could ever work led opponents to dub SDI "Star Wars," and argue that the technological objective was unattainable. The Soviets became concerned about the possible effects SDI would have, and leader  said it would put "the entire world in jeopardy." For those reasons,, former aide to President Reagan, believes that in retrospect, SDI hastened the end of the Cold War.

In a famous address on, to the , Reagan called the Soviet Union an "" that would be consigned to the "ash heap of history." On, 1983, he predicted that communism would collapse, stating, "communism is another sad, bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages even now are being written." After Soviet fighters downed on, 1983, Reagan labeled the act a "massacre" and declared that the Soviets had turned "against the world and the moral precepts which guide human relations among people everywhere." The Reagan administration responded to the incident by suspending all Soviet passenger air service to the United States, and dropped several agreements being negotiated with the Soviets, hurting them financially.

Reagan's foreign policies were criticized variously as aggressive, imperialistic, and known to some as "warmongering". These events occurred before a reformer,, rose to power in the Soviet Union in 1985. To confront the USSR's serious economic problems, Gorbachev implemented new policies for openness and reform: ' and '.

Reagan displayed humor throughout his presidency, with one notable statement regarding the Cold War. As a sound check prior to his weekly address in August 1984, Reagan made the following gaffe as a way to test the microphone: "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."

End of the Cold War
By the early 1980s, Moscow had built up a military that had surpassed that of the United States. Previously, the United States had relied on the qualitative superiority of its weapons to essentially frighten the Soviets, but with Soviet technological advances in the 1980s, the gap between the two nations was narrowed. With the Soviet military buildup came large budget deficits; as a result, Gorbachev offered major concessions to the United States on the levels of conventional forces, nuclear weapons, and policy in Eastern Europe.

Ronald Reagan recognized the change in the direction of the Soviet leadership with Gorbachev, and shifted to diplomacy, with a view to encourage the Soviet Leader to go further with his reforms. Gorbachev agreed to meet Reagan in four summit conferences around the world: the first in, the second in , the third held in Washington, D.C., along with the fourth summit in. Reagan believed that if he could persuade the Soviets to look at the prosperous American economy, they would embrace free markets and a free society. Gorbachev, facing severe economic problems at home, was swayed.

Speaking at the, on , , Reagan challenged Gorbachev to go further: General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, !

When Gorbachev visited Washington, D.C. for the third summit in 1987, he and Reagan signed the at the White House (they finalized it a year later), which eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons.

When Reagan visited Moscow for the fourth summit in 1988, he was viewed as a celebrity by Russians. A journalist asked the president if he still considered the Soviet Union the evil empire. "No," he replied, "I was talking about another time, another era." At Gorbachev’s request, Reagan gave a speech on free markets at.

In his autobiography An American Life, Reagan expressed his optimism about the new direction that they charted, his warm feelings for Gorbachev, and his concern for Gorbachev's safety because he pushed reforms so hard: "I was concerned for his safety," Reagan wrote. "I've still worried about him. How hard and fast can he push reforms without risking his life?" The Berlin Wall was torn down starting in 1989 and two years later the Soviet Union collapsed.

Close of the Reagan era
In 1988 George H. W. Bush, Reagan's vice president, was elected President of the United States. On, Reagan addressed the nation for the last time on television from the , nine days before handing over the presidency. On the morning of, Ronald and Nancy Reagan escorted the Bushes to the Capitol Building, where Bush took the. The Reagans then boarded a, and flew to in Maryland. There, they boarded the and flew to California—to their new home in the wealthy suburb of  in. Reagan was the oldest president to have served (at 77), surpassing, who was 70 when he left office in 1961.

Post-presidential years, 1989–2004
For the next five years, the Reagans traveled from their home to the  in  every few months. They regularly attended and occasionally made appearances on behalf of the Republican Party, including a well-received speech at the. He publicly spoke in favor of a, a requiring a , and the repeal of the , which prohibits a president from serving more than two terms. Reagan's final public speech was on, , during a tribute in Washington, D.C., and his last major public appearance was at the funeral of fellow Republican President on , 1994.

In 1992, President Reagan established the with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. The award, the highest given by the Reagan Foundation, is presented on a regular basis to one person in the world who has "made monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide," and who "embodies President Reagan's lifelong belief that one man or woman truly can make a difference." The first recipient was former leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, and the most recent (as of February 2007) was former United States President George H. W. Bush. When President Reagan was diagnosed with, Nancy Reagan took on the role of presenting the award on behalf of her husband.

Presidential Library and Museum
On, , the was dedicated and opened to the public. At the dedication ceremonies, five presidents,, , , Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, were all in attendance, as well as six first ladies, , , , , Nancy Reagan, and. As of 2007, the library is the largest of the presidential libraries. Notable exhibits include ones on the Reagan's Ranch; a full-scale replica of the Oval Office; the limousine that President and Mrs. Reagan used while in the White House; and the actual Boeing 707,, that served President Reagan during his eight years in office. On, 2004, after a in Washington, D.C., President Reagan was interred on the property, and on , 2007, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation hosted the first 2008 Republican presidential candidates debate in the Air Force One Pavilion at the Library, with Mrs. Reagan in attendance.

Alzheimer's disease
In July 1989, the Reagans took a trip to, where Reagan was thrown off of a horse and taken to a hospital for tests. The Reagans returned to the U.S. and visited the where they were told President Reagan had a head concussion and a subdural hematoma, and was subsequently operated on. According to Nancy Reagan, doctors believe that is what hastened the onset of, something Reagan was diagnosed with in 1994 and , writing, "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you."

As the years went on, the disease slowly destroyed his mental capacity and his family decided that he would live in quiet isolation. On, , Reagan reached the age of 90, becoming the third former president to do so (the other two being and ). Reagan's public appearances became much less frequent with the progression of the disease. Nancy Reagan told CNN's that very few visitors were allowed to see her husband because she felt that "Ronnie would want people to remember him as he was." Since his diagnosis and death, Mrs. Reagan has become a advocate, urging  and President  to support federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, something President Bush opposes. Mrs. Reagan has said that she believes that it could lead to a cure for Alzheimer's.

Death
Reagan died at his home in Bel-Air, California, at 1:00 PM PDT on,. A short time after his death, released a statement saying: "My family and I would like the world to know that President Ronald Reagan has passed away after 10 years of Alzheimer's Disease at 93 years of age. We appreciate everyone's prayers." Reagan's body was taken to the Kingsley and Gates Funeral Home in Santa Monica, California later in the day, where well-wishers paid tribute by laying flowers and American flags in the grass. On, his body was removed and taken to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where a brief family funeral service was held. His body lay in repose in the Library lobby until ; over 100,000 people viewed the coffin.

On, Reagan's casket was flown to Washington D.C. where he became the tenth United States president to. In the thirty-four hours that it lay there, 104,684 people filed past the coffin.

On, a was conducted in the , and presided over by President George W. Bush. Eulogies were given by former British Prime Minister, former Canadian Prime Minister , and both Presidents Bush. Also in attendance were, and many world leaders, including British Prime Minister , German Chancellor , Italian Prime Minister , and interim presidents of Afghanistan, and  of Iraq.

After the funeral service, the Reagan entourage was flown back to California—to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library—where another service was held, and President Reagan was interred. He is the second longest-lived president in U.S. history and was the first United States president to die in the 21st century. His was the first state funeral in the United States since that of President in 1973.

His burial site is inscribed with the words he delivered at the opening of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there’s purpose and worth to each and every life.

Legacy
Reagan's legacy is mixed, with supporters pointing to a more efficient and prosperous economy, a peaceful end to the Cold War, and a world safer from the threat of nuclear war. Critics argue that his economic policies caused huge budget deficits, quadrupling the United States national debt, and that the Iran-Contra affair lowered American credibility.

Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D., President of the said that Reagan "helped create a safer, freer world," and said of his economic policies: "He took an America suffering from 'malaise'... and made its citizens believe again in their destiny." of , however, stated that Reagan was "a far more controversial figure in his time than the largely gushing obits on television would suggest," and Mark Weisbrot, co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, says Reagan's "economic policies were mostly a failure."



Popularity
Reagan did not have the highest approval ratings as president, but his popularity has increased since 1989. A February 2001 poll asked respondents to name the greatest president in U.S. history; Reagan came in first, capturing 18% of the vote. In February 2007, another Gallup poll ranked him as number two with 16% of the vote after. He ranked third with a 72% approval rating in a July 2007 poll on presidents who served after, fifth in an ABC 2000 poll of the public, and ninth in another Rasmussen 2007 poll of Americans. In a survey of over 200 historians, however, Reagan ranked sixteenth out of 42.

Honors
Reagan received a number of awards in his pre- and post-presidential years. After he was elected president, Reagan received a lifetime gold membership in the Screen Actors Guild, as well as the 's.

Reagan received an British knighthood,  in 1989. This entitled him to the use of the post-nominal letters GCB, but did not entitle him to be known as "Sir Ronald Reagan." Only two American presidents have received the honor—Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Reagan was also named an honorary Fellow of. Japan awarded Reagan the in 1989, the only American president to receive the award.

In 1993, Reagan's former Vice-President and sitting President George H.W. Bush awarded Reagan the, the highest honor that the United States can give. Reagan was also awarded the, the highest honor bestowed by the Republican members of the Senate.

On, , Washington National Airport was renamed by a bill signed into law by President Clinton. Three years later, the was christened by Nancy Reagan and the United States Navy. It is one of few ships christened in honor of a living person, and the first to be named in honor of a living former president. Also in 1998, the was dedicated in Washington, D.C. Reagan was among 18 included in, from a poll conducted of the American people in 1999.

Congress authorized the creation of in Dixon, Illinois, in 2002, pending federal purchase of the property. On of that year, Nancy Reagan accepted the, the highest civilian honor bestowed by Congress, on behalf of the president and herself.

The issued a President Ronald Reagan commemorative postage stamp in 2005. On, , along with the editors of  magazine, named him the "most fascinating person" of the network's first 25 years. TIME also named Reagan one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century. On, , the asked its viewers to vote for  in an unscientific poll; Reagan received the honorary title.

In 2006, California Governor and First Lady  inducted  Reagan into the, located at. In 2007, Polish President posthumously awarded Reagan the highest Polish distinction, the.