Ronald Reagan: The Presidential Portfolio - Research Paper Example

? Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Cannon, Lou. Ronald Reagan: the presidential portfolio. New York: PublicAffairs, 2001. Cannon, a renowned author of the book Ronald Reagan, describes the life of Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of U.S.A. The book begins with a history of the childhood life of Reagan starting from when he became born in 1911, February 6th. Living with his parents, Edward and Nelle Reagan, Reagan grew to become successful. In 1928, Reagan finished Dixon High School and managed to join Eureka College. In both this institutions, Reagan remained as a leader and a sportsman. After finishing college, he managed to get a position as a radio presenter. Later in 1937, he managed to get a place as an actor in Hollywood contributing to his successful ventures. 3 years later, he married Jane Wayman, and then divorced her 8 years down the line. In 1952, he married Nancy Davis (Cannon 13). Reagan managed to become president of a society that managed fought for the rights of actors. He went around United States during that time supporting liberalism. As years went by, he changed his views to conservatism. In 1966, he became elected governor of California, the again in 1970. In 1980, he got elected as the 40th president of United States as a Republican candidate. The book describes Reagan as the president associated with Reaganomics, a policy that helped improve the economic situation at the time. In March 30th 1981, Reagan became assassinated, though later recovered and returned to office. In 1984, Reagan became re-elected in office with a landslide victory. Reagan played a significant role in encouraging peace in the world. For example, he initiated a peace agreement with the soviet regarding intermediate range missiles. In regard to foreign policy, Reagan gets depicted as a man that despised terrorism and did all it took to stop it (Cannon 112). He also sent U.S troops to various countries that needed help, for instance Grenada and Lebanon. The book hence provides a detailed account of the life of Ronald Reagan. Joseph, Paul. Ronald Reagan. New York: Abdo, 1999. The author, Paul Joseph, in his book describes the history surrounding Ronald Reagan life starting from childhood, education, Hollywood career and political career. An account of the early life of Ronald Reagan gets narrated by Joseph from the day he became born in February 6th, 1911, his parents and his social life (Joseph 14). Furthermore, his academic life gets revealed by the author as Reagan passed from junior to high school to college. In these various academic institutions that Reagan went, an account of the subjects and overall achievement in extra curriculum activities also become given in this book (Joseph 34). The author continues to write about Reagan’s life when he became an actor in Hollywood in 1937 and describes to the readers regarding some of the movies Reagan featured. A detailed account of Reagan’s career as an actor gets described in the book. In addition, some of the jobs Reagan did become described in the book, for instance, television host, spokesman, radio presenter and many more. During his life as an actor, Reagan managed to get many people to support him in his career and therefore, got a background support when he shifted to politics (Joseph 49). Furthermore, the author talks about how Reagan got political interest and his bid for the governorship. A history regarding his life as a governor of California starting from 1966 becomes accounted in this book. Paul continues by giving a history of Reagan’s life when elected president in 1980, his inauguration, and then the events that surrounded his assassination (Joseph 89). Finally, an account of the achievements and downfalls Reagan’s rule brought to the United States of America. Majorly, Reagan often becomes remembered due to his Reaganomics that helped curb inflation that existed at the time Reagan took power. Furthermore, Reagan played a key role in initiating peaceful talks with the Soviets. In summary, the book provides a detailed history of President Ronald Reagan right from his childhood to adulthood including his best and worst moments. Ronald Reagan." 5 July 2012. Biography.com. 6 August 2012 . This website provides a chronological biography of Ronald Reagan. This website gives an account of Reagan’s life starting from birth, his childhood, schools he went, academic qualifications he achieved, Hollywood careers and marriages, governorship, presidency, inauguration, assassination, domestic agenda, foreign affairs, reelection, later years and death. Ronald Reagan became born in 1911, February 6th in Tampico and had both parents, Edward Reagan and Nelle Reagan (Biography.com). From a humble background, with his father a shoe salesman and always moving from town to town, eventually Ronald managed to graduate from Dixon High School in 1928. He later joined Eureka College in Illinois and managed to emerge as an exemplary student and the student’s president (Biography.com). In college, he also participated in athletics and proved to be proficient in it, for instance, swimming and football. After graduating in the college in 1932, he managed to get the post of a radio announcer in Iowa. In 1937, his career as a film actor began after auditions with the Warner Brothers. The next three decades of his life, Reagan spent as an actor and featured in over 50 films. Reagan married his first wife, Jane Wayman in 1940, and then divorced 8 years later. In 1952, he married Nancy Davis. From this website, Reagan could not join the army because of poor eyesight during World War II. In the film industry, he managed to become president of SAG (Screen Actors Guild). As a spokesman of the General Electric Theatre, he also toured United States as he spoke issues regarding too much government control (Biography.com). In regard to politics, Reagan became a member of the DP (Democratic Party), though as years passed, and changed his views to become a conservative. In 1966, he managed to get elected as the governor for California. 4 years later, he got re-elected for the same seat. Reagan made numerous attempts in 1968 and 1976 to get the Republican’s presidential bid, but did not get. In 1980, he received the Republican’s party bid and managed to win the election at age 69. In office, in 1981, Reagan gave an inauguration speech that touched on the economic situation of the nation at that time. On March 30th, 1981, John Hinckley assassinated Reagan outside a hotel in Washington. Reagan recovered some few weeks later and returned to office. In order to curb the inflation and the poor economic situation that existed at that time, Reagan came with policies for example, tax cuts in order to spur economic growth, this became known as Reaganomics (Biography.com). Fruits of his policy became seen when the economy improved in 1983. In regard to foreign affairs, Reagan came to power as the Cold war still continued. He became faced with many challenges while in office especially security of the American people during the war. Reagan came up with the “Reagan Doctrine,” an initiative that provided aid to anticommunist movements located in Asia, Africa and Latin America. During his reign, the SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) became started so as to develop spacebased weapons responsible for protecting the Americans from the Soviet nuclear weapons. In his reign, he managed to send U.S troops to various countries that needed help, for example, in Lebanon and Grenada (Biography.com). In 1987, he managed to sign an agreement with the Soviet to eliminate any intermediate nuclear missiles. In 1984, the website provides an account of Reagan’s re-election after defeating Walter Mondale with a landslide. In 1994, he showed the whole country of having been diagnosed of Alzheimer disease. In 2004, he passed away after suffering from pneumonia. "Ronald Reagan." 4 September 2011. Whitehouse.com. 6 August 2012 . This website illustrates a life history of Ronald Reagan starting from his social life, extending to academic life and then provides more information regarding his political career. Born from a humble background on February 6th, 1911 in Tampico. Ronald Reagan attended Dixon High school and finished in 1928. He later joined Eureka College (Whitehouse.com). After college, he managed to secure a job as an actor in Hollywood in 1937 after years of being a radio sports announcer in Iowa. He managed to make numerous films after that and gained fame among many American citizens. He first married a woman named Jane Wayman and had two children with her. In 1948, he divorced Jane and 4 years later, married Nancy Davis, and they too had two children. He later became the president of the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and more so supported liberalist. As years went by, he changed his views and started supporting conservatives. In 1966, he managed to get elected as governor of California, then 4 years later, re-elected (Whitehouse.com). In 1980, as a presidential Republican candidate, Reagan managed to become the 40th president of United States of America. Reagan entered power in a time when inflation and the Cold war. 69 days after taking office, Reagan became assassinated and survived. Later on, he returned to office and his popularity increased. Reagan came up with policies to curb inflation and increase employment in ‘Reaganomics.’ In 1984, he became re-elected back to office (Whitehouse.com). During his term, he more so sought ways to encourage peace between Americans and the Soviet. He managed to strike an agreement with the soviet regarding eliminating intermediate range nuclear missiles. During his reign, he declared war on international terrorism and sent some of American troops in various countries to help curb terrorism. The website ends with a remark of Reagan’s reign bringing prosperity to the Americans and to the rest of the countries (Whitehouse.com). Sutherland, James. Ronald Reagan. New York: Viking, 2008. James Sutherland, the author of Ronald Reagan, wrote a meticulous history regarding the 40th American president. James starts a description of Reagan’s life, not from birth unlike other authors. This book starts with the assassination of the Ronald Reagan in 1981, March 30th by John Hinckley. The author provides a scenario of near death as it depicted the time the country underwent economic depression and had the problem of cold war at hand (Sutherland 23). The author continues to describe Reagan’s life before and after the event as the assassination serves as the land mark in the history of Ronald Reagan. By starting from a defined event in Reagan’s life, the author captures the readers’ attention as he writes about his social and political life. A lot regarding his presidency becomes described in this book and some of the challenges that Reagan’s regime faced. The author manages to write in detail regarding some of the key themes that faced the regime at that time when Ronald Reagan came to power (Sutherland 67). The country at that time was in a mess and Reagan entered the presidency with an aim of seeing some of the issues eradicated. Reagan managed to come with policies to curb inflation in the country at that time, for instance Reaganomics. In 1984, Reagan became re-elected (Sutherland 89). During his term, he managed to sign agreements with the Soviets regarding intermediate range missiles. He also rejected the idea of international terrorism and helped countries get rid of tyrants and terrorists. The book ends with the death of Reagan after a fight with pneumonia in 2004 with some reflection of his history. In summary, this book offers more history on Ronald Reagan when he was the 40th president of United States of America in a detailed manner. James Sutherland provides a spectacular angle in viewing the biography of Ronald Reagan, and he does so in his own style, unlike other authors. Works Cited Cannon, Lou. Ronald Reagan: the presidential portfolio. New York: PublicAffairs, 2001. Dallek, Robert. Ronald Reagan. Harvard: Harvard University Press, 1984. Hughes, Libby. Ronald Reagan: From Sports To Movies To Politics. New York: IUniverse, 2005. Joseph, Paul. Ronald Reagan. New York: Abdo, 1999. Kiron K. Skinner, Annelise Anderson, Martin Anderson. Reagan's Path to Victory: The Shaping of Ronald Reagan's Vision: Selected Writings. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004. Reagan, Ronald. Michael Benson. Washington: Twenty-First Century Books, 2003. Reagan, The Greatest Speeches of Ronald. Ronald Reagan. New York: NewsMax Media, 2004. "Ronald Reagan." 5 July 2012. Biography.com. 6 August 2012 . "Ronald Reagan." 4 September 2011. Whitehouse.com. 6 August 2012 . Sutherland, James. Ronald Reagan. New York: Viking, 2008. Read More