Feb 6, 1911-Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in Tampico. Illinois to Nelle Wilson and John Edward ("Jack") Reagan. The Reagan's had one previous son, Neil ("Moon") Reagan.

1920-The Reagan's moved to a succession of rural northern Illinois towns until they settled in Dixon, Illinois, the place Reagan considers his hometown.

1926-Beginning in 1926, Reagan was employed as a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon. He was credited with saving seventy-seven lives during the seven summers he worked there.

1928-Reagan graduated from Dixon High School. He served as student body president and participated in football, basketball, track, and school plays.

1928-1932-Reagan attended Eureka (Illinois) College, a small liberal arts institution and majored in economics and sociology. During his sophomore year, Reagan became interested in drama. Reagan also served as student body president.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt's populis rhetoric attracted Reagan to him and later influenced Reagan's speaking style.

1932-Reagan received a temporary sports broadcasting job with WOC, a small radio station in Davenport, Iowa. After WOC consolidated with WHO in Des Moines, "Dutch" recreated Chicago Cubs baseball game from the studio. WHO, an NBC affiliate, gave Reagan national media exposure.

1937-Reagan enlisted in the Army Reserve as a Private but was soon promoted to 2nd lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry.

An agent for Warner Brothers "discovered" Reagan in Los Angeles and offered him a seven year contract. Reagan played George Gipp in his most acclaimed film, Knut Rockne-All American (1940).

January 24, 1940-Reagan and Jane Wyman married. They met while making the movie, Brother Rat.

January 4, 1941-Maureen was born.

1942-The Army Air Force called Reagan to active duty and assigned Lt. Reagan to the 1st Motion Picture Unit in Culver City, California, where he made over 400 training films.

July 22, 1943-The Army honorably discharged Capt. Reagan.

1945-1965-Reagan resumed his acting career after the war. Reagan made fifty-three motion pictures and one television movie.

March 18, 1945-Birth of Reagan and Wyman's adopted son, Michael.

1948-Reagan supported Harry S. Truman for President.

1949-Reagan and Wyman divorced.

1950-Reagan campaigned for Helen Gahagan Douglas for the Senate.

1952-Reagan campaigned as a Democrat for Eisenhower.

March 4, 1952-Reagan and Nancy Davis wed.

 

October 21, 1952-Patricia was born.

Reagan accepted a job as spokesman for the General Electric Company which allowed him to tour the country giving speeches.

1956-Reagan again campaigned as a Democrat for Eisenhower.

May 20, 1958-Ronald Prescott was born.

1960-Reagan campaigned for Richard Nixon for President.

1962-Reagan officially changed his party registration to Republican.

1964-Reagan's television address for Goldwater, "A Time for Choosing," launched his political career. A group of California businessmen soon afterward supported Reagan's candidacy for Governor.

1965-Publication of Reagan's autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me?

1966-Reagan defeated incumbent governor Edmund G. ("Pa") Brown. His success in the election and as governor made him a leading contender for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1968.

1968-Reagan made a tentative run for the presidency, waiting until the Republican National convention to announce his candidacy. He later joined in unanimously supporting Richard Nixon.

1970-The voters of California reelected Reagan Governor.

1974-For several months after leaving the governorship, Reagan wrote a syndicated newspaper column and provided commentaries on radio stations across the country.

November 20, 1975-Reagan announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President. Reagan lost the party's nomination but his strong showing laid the groundwork for the election in 1980.

November 13, 1979-Reagan announced his candidacy for President. After winning the party's nomination, he chose George Bush as his running mate. The platform call for "a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these words: family, work, neighborhood, peace and freedom."

November 4, 1980-Reagan was elected the 40th President of the United States in a landslide victory over incumbent, Jimmy Carter.

 

The Reagan Presidency

1981

March 30-Assassination attempt by John W. Hinckley, Jr.

July 20-21-Economic Summit, Ottawa

August 13-Economic Recovery Tax Act

September 21-Sandra Day O'Connor confirmed as Justice of the Supreme Court.

1982

June 5-6-Economic Summit, Versailles

1983

May 28-30-Economic Summit, Williamsburg, Virginia

October 25-U.S. invasion of Granada

1983

June 7-9-Economic Summit, London

November 19-21-Reagan-Gorbachev Summit, Geneva.

1986

May 4-6-Economic Summit, Tokyo.

September 17-William Rehnquist confirmed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court; Antonin Scalia confirmed as Justice of the Supreme Court.

October 10-11-Reagan-Gorbachev Summit, Reykjavik

October 22-Tax Reform Act

November 6-Immigration Reform and Control Act

1987

June 8-10-Economic Summit, Venice.

December 8-Reagan and Gorbachev sign the Intermediate Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty at the Summit in Washington, DC.

December 8-10-Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Washington, DC.

1988

February 3-Anthony Kennedy confirmed as Justice of the Supreme Court.

May 29-June 2-Reagan-Gorbachev Summit in Moscow. The leaders exchanged ratifications of the INF Treaty.

June 19-21-Economic Summit, Toronto.

September 28-U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act.

November 18-Anti-Drug Abuse Act

December 7-Final meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev.