Ronald Reagan was born in Illinois in 1911 and began his career as a radio sports announcer before becoming a Hollywood actor in the 1930s. He appeared in more than fifty films and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild, where he became increasingly involved in politics.

Initially a Democrat, Reagan shifted to the Republican Party and was elected governor of California in 1966, serving two terms. In 1980 he won the presidency, defeating the incumbent Jimmy Carter.

As president from 1981 to 1989, Reagan pursued tax cuts, deregulation and increased military spending, an approach often called Reaganomics. His administration took a firm stance towards the Soviet Union before pursuing arms-reduction agreements. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and left office as a popular figure. Reagan died in 2004 after living with Alzheimer’s disease.