Timeline: Ronald Reagan

Feb 6, 1911

Ronald Reagan Born

Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on Febuary 6 1911

1926

Lifeguard

While being a lifeguard he was credided for saving 77 lifes during the 7 summers he worked their.

1928

College

Reagan attends Eureka College in Illinois where he majored in economics and sociology.

1932

First Job

Reagan receives a job from WOC, a small radio station in Davenport Iowa.

1937

Army Reserve

Reagan enlists in the Army Reserve as a private but is soon promoted to 2nd lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry.

1940

Actor

Reagan plays Notre Dame football legend George Gipp in the movie Knute Rockne, All American

1950

Political Career Starts

Reagan campaigns for California Democrat Helen Gahagan Douglas in her bid for the U.S. Senate against Richard Nixon.

1960

Campaign

Reagan campaigns as a Democrat for Richard Nixon for president.

1966

Landslide

Reagan defeats California Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown in a landslide.

Nov 20, 1975

Presidential Announcment

Reagan announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president.

Nov 4, 1980

Elected President

Reagan is elected president in a landslide victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter.

Mar 30, 1981

Assassination Attempt

Reagan is shot in the chest upon leaving a Washington hotel but makes a full recovery after surgery. Three other people, including Reagan press secretary James Brady, are wounded in the assassination attempt. John Hinckley Jr. is charged but found not guilty by reason of insanity.

1982

Recessio

The nation sinks into its worst recession since the Great Depression. Reagan fears budget deficits as high as $200 billion. On Nov. 1, more than 9 million Americans are officially unemployed.

Jan 20, 1985

Second Term

Reagan, 73, begins a second term, making him the oldest president ever to be sworn in.

1987

U.S and Russia treaty

In a Washington summit, Reagan and Gorbachev sign Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty to eliminate 4% of the superpowers nuclear arsenals. It is the first U.S.-Soviet treaty to provide for the destruction of nuclear weapons and to provide for onsite monitoring of the destruction.