June 5, 2004, the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan passed away at the age of 93. Ronald Reagan was known as the Great Communicator and left the White House as one of the most popular presidents in American history.
Reagan lived the American dream. He grew up in the midwest in small towns, played high school football, basketball and ran track. He had his first taste of politics in high school as a member of the student council. Not only was Reagan athletic and popular, he was a skilled worker, saving over 70 lives as a summer lifeguard. Ronald Reagan continued his path to the presidency by attending college and becoming Eureka College’s student body president. He graduated with a sociology and economics degree.
After graduation, Reagan worked as a sports announcer before becoming an actor, his profession of over 20 years. Reagan was also on active military duty from 1942-1945 but never saw combat due to poor eyesight. It was at this point in his life he became more conservative. Reagan was elected president of the Screen Actor’s Guild in 1947 and held the position until 1952 and again 1959-1960.
Ronald Reagan married Nancy Davis in 1952. The couple remained married for the rest of Reagan’s days. Reagan had achieved the great American dream of fame, fortune and family. His success continued with Nancy by his side as the governor of California from 1967-1975.
Ronald Reagan became the 40th President of the United States after winning the election in 1980. He was re-elected in 1984 after a landslide vote. He lived the American dream that mother’s and father’s wish for their children when they are born and the American dream that young children hope to obtain when they grow up into adulthood.
His final speech as president contained the following “And let me offer lesson number one about America: All great change in America begins at the dinner table. So, tomorrow night in the kitchen, I hope the talking begins. And children, if your parents haven’t been teaching you what it means to be an American, let ’em know and nail ’em on it. That would be a very American thing to do.”
Reagan knowing his final days of living the American dream were coming to an end wrote in an open letter to the people, “I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.”
Celebrate the life of Ronald Reagan, February 11, 1911 to June 5, 2004, an achiever of the American Dream.
Coin Cents 