Ronald Reagan: A Life (Biographies of US Presidents)

The Small Town Boy Who Became the President

Ronald Reagan, born in a small town, grew up to become the 40th president of the United States. On January 20, 1981, he was inaugurated, and on that same day, the Americans who had been held hostage in Iran were released. For many Americans, the timing of these two events was not a coincidence. Reagan was the president they had elected to restore their country's waning influence in the world and its disappointing image at home.

Reagan believed in the myth of American greatness, and for a nation that was still numb from Watergate, immersed in economic stagnation, and humiliated by international events, he made this belief seem believable. He was a president who truly believed, as he stated in his farewell address, that the United States was "a shining city."

Before becoming the president, Reagan had a successful career in Hollywood, where he starred in numerous films. He then entered the political arena, running for governor of California and winning the race. During his time as governor, Reagan faced an assassination attempt, which only served to strengthen his image as a resilient and determined leader.

As president, Reagan took on the mantle of opposing the "Evil Empire" – the Soviet Union. His conservative politics and passionate idealism would go on to change the composition of the globe, as he is credited with beating the Russians and ending the Cold War. Even through the political trials he faced, such as the Iran-Contra hearings, the mixed results of his economic policies known as Reaganomics, and the military build-up that swelled the national debt, the nation saw him as the man who had restored the country to its rightful place as a leader among nations.

Reagan's legacy as the president who restored American greatness is undeniable. He was a small-town boy who had become a Hollywood star and then the leader of the free world, captivating the nation with his vision of a United States that was a "shining city" on a hill. Even as he faced political challenges, Reagan's unwavering belief in American exceptionalism and his ability to make it seem believable to the American people cemented his place in history as one of the most influential presidents of the 20th century.

product information: