Hi everybody. Today, my mommy is going to talk about Ronald Reagan.

Thank you, Noah, for introducing Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States.

Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois in the year 1911.

Ronald Reagan attended Eureka College in his home state and worked as a sportscaster

following his graduation. The games he called included Chicago Cubs baseball games and Big Ten

Football Action. It was during his time as a sportscaster that he decided to take a screen

test, which landed him an acting contract. He appeared in over 50 movies from 1937 to 1964,

including a movie called Newt Rockney, All-American. In that film, he played Notre Dame football star George Gip.

It was this acting role that earned him the nickname that would stick with him throughout his life,

the Gipper. His prolific acting career took a short break while he served for the U.S. Army in World War II,

rising to the rank of captain.

Ronald Reagan was a Democrat throughout the 50s before his political beliefs shifted him toward the Republican Party.

He became a Republican in 1962 and spoke in his support for Republican

presidential nominee Barry Goldwater in 1964. Barry Goldwater didn't succeed in his run for the

presidency, but Reagan's efforts in getting him elected led to many influential Republicans, suggesting

that he should transition from the big screen to the political arena.

Ronald Reagan defeated incumbent California governor Edmund G. Brown Sr. in 1966 by almost one million votes.

At the time, it was the largest margin of victory against an incumbent in U.S. history.

He would go on to spend eight successful years as governor of California.

He tried to ride that wave of success into a run for president in

1976, but he was unable to secure the Republican nomination, losing out to Gerald Ford.

When Gerald Ford couldn't manage to defeat Jimmy Carter in 1976, Ronald Reagan became the inevitable Republican nominee in 1980.

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