Ronald Reagan

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Family

American politician, elected U.S. President on November 1980, sworn in January 1981; re-elected in 1984. A former sportscaster from 1932-37, 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 November 8, 1966, sworn in on January 2, 1967, 00:02 AM, Sacramento, CA. When he entered the presidency, he was the oldest president ever elected, age 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 March 30, 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 March 4, 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 January 13, 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 June 5, 2004 at 1:09 PM PDT at his home in Los Angeles, aged 93. (Carrie Sheridan quotes CNN.com for time.) Link to Wikipedia biography Link to Astrodienst discussion forum