Its just so strange seeing Reagan in Hollywood golden age movies. I know he was an actor for 30 years but its still strange thinking of the man who had such an enormous effect on the world, for good (nuclear arms treaties with the Soviets) or ill (support throughout his tenure for Islamic radicals that would become the Taliban and al-Queda) and having made his living by dressing up in costumes and saying words into a camera.
shareReagan made his living as an actor. Most Presidents worked at something. Jimmy Carter worked in his family's peanut business. Harry S. Truman was a partner in a Habadashery shop. The only guys that didnt work were rich guys like JFK
shareReagan worked as a lifeguard, and reportedly saved many lives in doing so. He also was a sports announcer for WHO radio in the 1930s. So he did work. He didn't grow up rich. He was middle class.
Ronald Reagan was an actor for 30 years and, until switching from a liberal Democrat to a moderate Republican in the late 1950s, didn't really have a political agenda. He was always interested in politics (one of the things that drove he and Jane Wyman apart in 1948 was Reagan's slowly changing political beliefs), however.
As governor of California, he actually supported pro-choice sentiments, but over the years he changed his mind about the practice. Sound like someone we know today?
In any case, being a President isn't only acting. It is a tough job that most of us would not have the patience for. You make decisions that affect lives, and that is a heavy burden.
Reagan had experience in dealing with people at high levels and with overseeing large government responsibilities by the time he ran for the Republican nomination against Gerald R. Ford in 1976 and the general election in 1980. By that time he was a staunch conservative, but he had an open mind about taking advice and what advice to take. Read "The Reagan Diaries" (his own personal journal during his White House years) and "Reagan's Revolution" (all about the 1976 Primary campaign battle).
I was a sophomore in high school for the 1976 election and I do remember watching the Republican convention that previous summer on TV (tired of reruns, I guess). I remember the drama taking place well into the night when it looked like a lot of the delegation was going to switch to Reagan from Ford. They even kicked around the notion of a "co-Presidency". Reagan refused to tell his delegates to back down. All made for quite a bit of excitement at the time. Just think, if Reagan had been the nominee in 1976, I think we all could have been spared the debacle that was the Carter presidency.
shareIt's possible, but I don't think it was the right time. The country was suspicious of anyone from the party of 'Tricky Dicky.' When the country gets in the mood for a change, they usually want to change parties. We'll never know now.
The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank.
I remember that myself, I was 21, my 1st national election, Best thing that that could happen to Reagan did... Ford got the nomination,,,, Took the bullet,,,, The Democrats could have run a dog catcher for president after Watergate and win,,, Which they did,,,, setting the stage for Reagan in 80
I was such a good Democrat I voted for Ford --- Been voting Republican ever since
Reagan continued to dress up in costumes and act. He just got a different role, politician.
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His greatest performance was as one of the best presidents this country ever produced. Probably in the top 5, maybe the best of the 20th century.
Many despise him because he was so successful, well liked, brought down the Soviet Empire, but was not from their party. Hence the inane comments such as the one above.
Reagan continued to dress up in costumes and act. He just got a different role, politician.