On February 6, 1911 in a second-floor apartment in the mid-western farming town of Tampico, Illinois, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the second son of John Edward (Jack) and Nelle Wilson Reagan was born. When he was born, his father said, "He looks like a little dutchman, but who knows he could grow up and be President someday." The name Dutch became his nickname during his growing up years, and little did his father know when he spoke those words that his son would grow up to be one of the most popular Presidents of the 20th Century. The young impoverished family later moved to Dixon, Illinois, where Jack Reagan was a shop clerk and owned a shoe shop.  During his high school years, young Ronald sold homemade popcorn at high school games and worked as a lifeguard to earn money for his college tuition.

Beginning in 1926, Reagan was employed as a lifeguard at Lowell Park in Dixon.  He is credited with saving 77 lives during the 7 summers he worked there. In 1928 Reagan graduated from High School in Dixon, IL, where he had served as student body president and participated in football, basketball, track, and school plays. He went on to attend Eureka College, a small liberal arts school near Peoria, Illinois, where he majored in economics and sociology, served as student body president and graduated in 1932.  It was during his sophomore year at Eureka that Ronald Reagan first became interested in drama.

After leaving college Reagan was able to find work as a sports announcer for the Davenport radio station, WOC.  In 1933 he moved to WHO radio station in Des Moines, Iowa, where for four years he was one of the most popular sports commentators in the region. In 1937 Reagan moved to California and after a screen test with Warner Brothers was given a seven-year contract.  He appeared in a series of films from 1937 until 1954 and earned his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1937 Reagan enlisted in the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps at Des Moines, IA. He was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the Officer's Reserve Corps of the Cavalry. He continued to play in movies until shortly after the United States became involved in World War II.

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Lt. Reagan interrupted his acting career and went active duty.  This was not achieved without some difficulty because when he took his physical exam, he was not accepted for active duty due to eyesight difficulties.  His persistence finally triumphed and he was given another exam which he passed.  He was classified for limited service only, which permanently denied him his ambition of serving overseas.  His first assignment was at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation, Fort Mason, CA, as Liaison Officer of the Port and Transportation Office. During this time, the Army Air Force and Warner Brothers Studios were planning a feature motion picture to be entitled "Air Force" and wanted Lt. Reagan for the leading role, so on May 15, 1942, he applied for transfer from the Cavalry to the AAF.  The transfer was approved and Lt. Reagan was assigned to AAF Public Relations as P.R. Officer in Burbank, CA and subsequently to the 1st Motion Picture Unit in Culver City. Lt. Reagan was promoted to First Lieutenant, Jan. 14, 1943, and was sent to the Provisional Task Force Show Unit of "This is the Army" at Burbank.  Following this duty, he returned to the 1st Motion Picture Unit and on Jul. 22, 1943, was promoted to Captain.  Capt Reagan left Active Duty on December 9, 1945.  His commission in the Officer's Reserve Corps ended on April 1, 1953. From 1945 until he entered the political arena in 1965 Ronald Reagan continued his movie career.  He had actually had some political experience both at Northside High School, Dixon, IL and Eureka College, Peoria, IL where he served both schools as President of the Student Body.  Then during his Hollywood career, he was elected to 7 terms as President of the Screen Actors Guild. On January 2, 1967, Ronald Wilson Reagan became the 33rd Governor of the State of California as he took the oath of office from California State Supreme Court Justice Marshall F. McComb.  He served 8 years as the State's Governor before going on to become the 40th President of the United States.

On January 20, 1981, on the west front of the U.S. Capitol Building and with his hand on his mother's Bible, Ronald Wilson Reagan took the oath of office to become the 40th President of the United States.

Official White House portrait President Ronald Reagan and Vice-President George Bush

Just over two months after he had taken office, President Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton Hotel, when he was shot by John Hinkley.  He was rushed to the hospital, where just before he underwent surgery commented to the doctors, "I hope you are all Republicans."  To which they replied, "Mr. President, today we are all Republicans." Americans did not realize that day how close they came to loosing their beloved President.  The bullet stopped just short of his heart.

President Reagan and his Cabinet Members

he gave the annual Presidential Thanksgiving Pardon to a turkey and in December 1984, when he and Nancy lit the National Christmas Tree.

Although every minute of a President's day is spoken for and scheduled, President Reagan did find time for a little fun, as shown here in this undated photo, when

In the Presidential election of November 1984 the Reagan/Bush team won by a landslide and on January 20, 1985, Reagan was again sworn in as President of the United States, with his hand on his mother's Bible which his wife, Nancy, was holding.  Due to the cold weather, it was necessary to have the ceremony inside the Capitol Rotunda.

A fireside chat at the Geneva Summit, November 19, 1985 President Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev

When President Reagan spoke at the Brandenberg Gate in West Berlin, Germany on June 12,1987, he was speaking to those on the west side of the wall but could be heard by those on the east side of the wall when he said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Just six months later, on December 8, 1987, General Secretary Gorbachev and President Regan signed the INF Treaty.

July 16, 1988 President Reagan working alone in the Oval Office White House Portrait - 1988 Barbara and Vice-President Bush, President and Nancy Reagan Leaving the White House, January 20, 1989

January 20, 1989 President and Mrs. Reagan leave the Capitol after seeing George Bush sworn in as 41st President and board the Helicopter that will take them to Andrews A.F.B. for a flight that will take them home to California.

November 4, 1991 was a historic occasion when it brought President George H.W. Bush and former Presidents Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon together for the Dedication and opening of Reagan's Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA

Also present for the dedication were First Lady Barbara Bush and former First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Roslyn Carter and Betty Ford.  Jacqueline Kennedy was not able to be there, but representing President Kennedy were his children Caroline and John.

Reagan Presidential Library - May 4, 1992 President Reagan presents the REAGAN FREEDOM MEDAL to former Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev White House - January 13, 1993 First Lady Barbara and President George Bush with former First Lady Nancy and former President Ronald Reagan just after President Bush presented the former President THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM Capitol Hill - May 16, 2002 President George W. Bush awards the CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL to former President Ronald Reagan and former First Lady Nancy Reagan

On November 5, 1995, in a hand written letter to the American people former President Ronald Reagan announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzeheimer's disease.  The letter he wrote is on display at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.  He ended that letter by saying, "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life.  I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."

On June 5, 2004 at his home in Bel-Air, California, Ronald Wilson Reagan, with his beloved wife, Nancy, and children Ron and Patti at his side, passed away from pneumonia, a complication of Alzeheimers. He was carried to his final rest on June 11, 2004 and interred at his Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA.