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President Ronald Wilson Reagan's Football Career

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Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6th, 1911 in the small town of Tampico, Illinois to parents John and Nelle Wilson Reagan. His father never finished high school, but was a talented salesman. Throughout Reagan’s early years, his family moved several times before eventually settling in Dixon, Illinois when Ronald was nine years old.

Throughout high school he focused more on sports than he did on anything else. He especially loved football and was liked for his enthusiasm and pride. He also enjoyed acting and took the lead in several church and school plays. It was through acting that his classmates realized he wasn't the shy kid they thought he was. He became one of the most popular and respected students in his school, and by his senior …show more content…

Just like in high school, he wasn't the best student as most of his time was put into school activities. He became a popular student figure in college after he led a student strike against the college's decision to lay off teachers. During his years at college, Reagan participated in multiple activities, including the football and track teams, and being captain of the swimming team. He was also a member of the cheerleading squad. He was also elected Booster Club President and Student Body President. He graduated from Eureka with majors in economics and sociology.

After graduating, Reagan found work as a radio sports announcer in Davenport, Iowa. His vivid imagination and distinct radio voice made up for his inexperience in radio. He became the main announcer and within two years transferred to WHO Radio in Des Moines, Iowa. By 1936, he was earning an impressive salary with his coverage of Chicago Cubs baseball games.

Raegan later developed a career in film after he attracted the attention of an agent, who set him up with a screen test at Warner Brothers. The studio was impressed and offered him a seven year contract. At first he mainly starred in low budget films, but later became more popular and earned more important roles. By the end of his acting career he had appeared in over 50 films from 1937 to …show more content…

His views changed to conservative after becoming a spokesman for the General Electric Theater, a new television drama series. During this time Reagan traveled to factories across the country seeking out the opinions of workers. He grew sympathetic toward taxpayers being crushed by extreme government regulation. Reagan's extensive travel on behalf of General Electric gave him the opportunity to develop his skills as a public speaker and conservative.

Reagan was enthusiastic about his political future. In 1966, He won the Republican nomination for governor with 65 percent of the vote. As Governor of California, Reagan attempted to limit the power of the federal government, supporting the state government’s ability to manage their populations by themselves. He also played a part in trying to control the protests at the University of California in Berkeley, California.

Reagan unsuccessfully ran for President in 1968 and 1976. However, in 1980 during a time of economic hardship, he won the Republican presidential nomination against George H.W. Bush and defeated Jimmy Carter in the general election.

When Reagan took office, public trust in government was at its lowest since the Great Depression. Reagan launched his presidency with a specific set of goals. He accomplished his goal of "making the American people believe in themselves again". Reagan later called this the greatest accomplishment of his

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