Timeline of Ronald Reagan's Life Search the archives for more information on Ronald Reagan
1911 - February 11 Ronald Wilson Reagan is born in Tampico, Illinois. Read Article (pictured on the right) A Remarkable Life The Intelligencer, June 6, 2004 1940 Reagan appears in his best known role as Notre Dame Football legend George Gipp in the movie Knute Rockne, All American. Read Article Knute Rockne Film Is Ready The Oakland Tribune, November 2, 1940 1952-1956 Reagan leads a movement of "Democrats for Eisenhower" during both of Eisenhower's election campaigns in 1952 and 1956. Read Article Uncle Sam... The Oakland Tribune, November 2, 1952 1960 Reagan campaigns as a "Democrat for Richard Nixon", delivering more than 200 speeches in support of Nixon's candidacy. Read Article Defense Program Scored by Democrats for Nixon The Van Nuys News, November 4, 1960 1964 Reagan appears in his final film The Killers in which he plays a villain for the first time in his career. Read Article Hemingway's 'Killers' The Van Nuys News, August 23, 1964 1966 - January 5 Reagan announces his candidacy for governor of California. He will defeat his opponent, Edmund G. Brown, by almost 1 million votes. Read Article It's Official: Reagan Seeks GOP Governor Nomination The Van Nuys News, January 6, 1966 1967 - June Governor Reagan signs a bill liberalizing California's abortion laws. Read Article Abortion Law Near Reality The Oakland Tribune, June 14, 1967 1969 Governor Reagan sends National Guard troops armed with bayonets and tear-gas to break up a student protest at the University of California at Berkeley. Read Article Riot-Trained Troops Occupy 'People's Park' The Oakland Tribune, May 16, 1969 1975 Former Governor Reagan opens his presidential campaign against incumbent Gerald Ford. He will eventually be asked to withdraw from the race. Read Article Reagan Challenges Ford for Nomination The Oakland Tribune, November 21, 1975 1980 Reagan accepts the Republican nomination for the presidency, going on to defeat incumbent Jimmy Carter by a landslide. Read Article Republicans are optimistic with Reagan-Bush ticket The Intelligencer, July 18, 1980 1981 - January 20 President Reagan is sworn in on the same day that Iran releases the 52 remaining hostages held in the American Embassy in Tehran. Read Article (pictured on the right) Reagan becomes 40th President The Valley Independent, January 20, 1981 1981 - March 30 President Reagan is shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside of a Washington hotel. Press Secretary James Brady is also hit and suffers severe brain damage. Read Article (pictured on the right) Assassin Fails; President OK The Daily Herald, March 31, 1981 1981 - September President Reagan appoints the first female Supreme Court Judge, Sandra Day O'Connor. Read Article She'll be 'very busy, very fast' The Syracuse Herald-Journal, September 22, 1981 1983 - January The official unemployment rate reaches 11.5 million people, causing President Reagan's approval rating to plummet to 35 percent. Read Article The economy: most everything got worse in 1982 The Daily Intelligencer, January 2, 1983 1983 - March President Reagan reveals his proposal for a Space Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as "Star Wars." Read Article Defensive weapons sought The Daily Herald, March 24, 1983 1983 - October 25 President Reagan sends 5,000 troops to Grenada to protect against a perceived Communist threat, and to protect American medical students from the growing unrest. Read Article (pictured on the right) Yanks invade Grenada The Syracuse Herald Journal, October 25, 1983 1984 President Reagan defeats Democratic challenger Walter Mondale to earn a second term. Read Article (pictured on the right) Reagan gets 4 more years The Daily Herald, November 7, 1984 1986 - January President Reagan signs legislation making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday to be celebrated on the third Monday of January. Read Article (pictured on the right) Reagan praises King's work The Daily Herald, January 16, 1986 1986 - November The Lebanese magazine "Al Shiraa" reports that the US sold arms to Iran. The Iranian government confirms the story, beginning the Iran-Contra scandal. Read Article Iran says it arrested, expelled 'special Reagan envoy' The Constitution Tribune, November 4, 1986 1987 - March President Reagan acknowledges that mistakes were made in the Iran-Contra dealings. Read Article 'It was a mistake' The Gettysburg Times, March 5, 1987 1987 - April President Reagan labels AIDS "public health enemy No. 1." Read Article Reagan says AIDS top enemy The Daily Intelligencer, April 2, 1987 1987 - June President Reagan delivers a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, Germany in which he challenges Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall!" Read Article (pictured on the right) 'Tear down this wall' The Daily Herald, June 13, 1987 1988 - March 16 Colonel Oliver North, former National Security Advisor John Poindexter and two others are indicted on fraud charges stemming from Iran-Contra dealings. Read Article Poindexter, North indicted in arms deal The Daily Herald, March 17, 1988 1988 - November 8 Vice-President George Bush defeats Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis to succeed Ronald Reagan as the 41st President of the United States. Read Article Bush wins big The Daily Herald, November 9, 1988 1989 - January 20 George Bush is inaugurated. President Reagan leaves office with the highest approval rating of any president since FDR. Read Article (pictured on the right) Hail To The Chief The Syracuse Herald Journal, January 20, 1989 1989 - March Mikhail Gorbachev is elected President in the first ever election in the Soviet Union. He announces his intentions to move the U.S.S.R towards democracy the following month. Read Article Soviets nominate reformers The Syracuse Herald Journal, May 26, 1989 1989 - November 9 The Berlin Wall is opened, ending the physical separation of East and West Germany. Read Article (pictured on the right) Dancing On The Wall The Syracuse Herald Journal, November 10, 1989 1991 - November 4 The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is opened in Simi Valley, California. Read Article Reagan opens his library to the world The Daily Herald, November 5, 1991 1994 - November After faltering at his 83rd birthday tribute in February, Reagan announces that he is suffering from Alzheimer's. He will make no further public appearances. Read Article (pictured on the right) Reagan reveals he has Alzheimer's disease The Intelligencer, November 6, 1994 2004 - June 5 Ronald Reagan dies peacefully at his home in California. At 93, he lives longer than any other president in American history. Read Article (pictured on the right) Ronald Reagan dies; 'sad day for America' The Intelligencer, June 6, 2004		Newspaper Articles (click to view readable full images) The Intelligencer June 6, 2004 The Valley Independent January 20, 1981 The Daily Herald March 31, 1981 The Syracuse Herald Journal October 25, 1983 The Daily Herald November 7, 1984 The Daily Herald January 16, 1986 The Daily Herald June 13, 1987 The Syracuse Herald Journal January 20, 1989 The Syracuse Herald Journal November 10, 1989 The Intelligencer November 6, 1994 The Intelligencer June 6, 2004