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Ronald Reagan

40th President of the United States

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Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico. He graduated from Eureka College in 1932, after which he worked as a sports announcer in Des Moines. Soon, he headed for California, where he enjoyed a successful career in movies and television.

In 1966, Reagan was elected governor of California. He was re-elected in 1970. During his term, he confronted students at University of California Berkeley and generally followed conservative policies. He was unsuccessful for the 1976 Republican nomination for President, but won both the nomination and the election in 1980, defeating Jimmy Carter. The "Reagan Revolution" reduced taxes and limited government growth. In international affairs, the United States invaded Grenada and supported anti-communist movements in Central America. He held 4 summit meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Despite his expectations, lower taxes led to high budget deficits throughout his terms. Nevertheless, he was popular throughout his term.