Ronald Reagan
1911–2004 · American (Tampico, Illinois / California) · Cold War, 1980s America
Known for: 40th President who helped end the Cold War, championed free markets, and was known as 'The Great Communicator'
Reagan was a Hollywood actor turned politician who became the most consequential conservative president of the 20th century. He cut taxes, expanded the military, confronted the Soviet Union ('Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!'), and restored American confidence after the malaise of the 1970s.
His presidency was also marked by the Iran-Contra scandal, the AIDS crisis (which he largely ignored), and rising inequality. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 with characteristic humor: 'I hope you're all Republicans,' he told the surgeons. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1994 and died in 2004.
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