Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan (May 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American actor and politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Before entering national politics, he was the governor of California from 1967 to 1975. Reagan rose to prominence as an actor in Hollywood and later as a spokesman for General Electric, also serving as president of the Screen Actors Guild.

Born in Tampico, Illinois, Reagan studied at Eureka College before building a career in film and television. He moved into politics in the 1960s, aligning with conservative causes and winning the California governorship after a vigorous campaign against incumbent Pat Brown. His tenure as governor included tax reform and a tough stance on street crime, contributing to his national reputation as a conservative leader.

As president, Reagan pursued policies known as Reaganomics, which emphasized tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending to stimulate economic growth. The Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 reduced marginal tax rates, and deregulation targeted several industries. While the economy recovered in the mid- and late 1980s, the federal deficit widened. Reagan increased defense spending and pursued a hardline foreign policy against the Soviet Union, while engaging in diplomacy with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The Strategic Defense Initiative and negotiations helped set the stage for the end of the Cold War, though the administration was later marred by the Iran-Contra affair, in which some officials illegal acted to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

Reagan died in 2004 at age 93. He is remembered for shaping conservative politics in the United States and for his role in the late-stage Cold War transition.