Born: February 6, 1911 in Tampico, IL

College/University: Eureka College

Religion: Presbyterian

Occupation/Profession: Actor

Military Rank: Lieutenant

Spouse: Jane Wyman (divorced in 1949); Nancy Davis

Children: From first marriage – Maureen, Michael, and Christine; From second marriage – Patricia (Patti) and Ron Prescott

President number: 40th

Political Party: Republican

Runner Up: Jimmy Carter

Vice President: George H.W. Bush

Age at Inauguration: 69

Served 1981-1989

Number of terms: 2

Other offices/commissions: Governor of California

Died: June 5, 2004 at age 93

Buried: California

Other Interesting Facts and Trivia:

– Reagan was the first member of his family to go to college. He worked as a dishwasher and did other odd jobs while attending Eureka College.

– In college, Reagan played football and acted in plays.

– After college, Reagan became a popular sports announcer in Iowa.

– Reagan became an actor. He made fifty-two films and hosted a weekly television program – General Electric Theater. He held various positions in the SAG (Screen Actors Guild).

– President Reagan loved jelly beans. When he became president, the Jelly Belly company came out with a new flavor – blueberry. Reagan then was able to have red, white, and blue jelly beans in a jar on his desk.

– Reagan tried to improve the economy by cutting taxes and creating jobs. He increased spending on the military. This created a deficit in the Treasury.

– “Reagonomics” was a term given to Reagan’s economic policy. He believed in cutting taxes for the wealthy because he thought the savings would “trickle down” to the rest of Americans.

 

[adapted from here]