Creating Tolerance and World Peace

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February 6, 2011 was the 100 year anniversary of the birth of one of the most influential and effective U.S. presidents of the 20^th Century, Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was born in a small town called Tampico, IL to a poor family of Irish immigrants. From his humble beginnings, he went on to become a radio broadcaster and later a movie actor. He starred in dozens of movies from the late 1930s through the 1950s. In the 1960s, Ronald Reagan entered the world of politics.

Many believe Reagan’s political career was launched at the 1964 Republican National Convention when he made his famous speech entitled “A Time for Choosing.” In that speech, Reagan laid out a set of principles that launched the modern conservative political movement in America that continues to this day. In 1967, Ronald Reagan assumed his first post in elected office as governor of California. He served for two terms and eight years until 1975. In 1980, he was elected the 40^th President of the United States.

Ronald Reagan became president at a time when the U.S. economy was struggling, and America’s image abroad was waning. The U.S. was coming off of a humiliating 444 day hostage crisis in which the Iranians had held over 150 workers of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran captive. The hostages were released on the very day Reagan assumed office, and many believe his presidency launched a period of national renewal.

During eight years as president, Reagan embraced fiscally conservative policies like tax cuts and government spending reductions, while at the same time rebuilding the U.S. military and taking a hard line against the Soviet Union and against terrorism. After eight years in office, unemployment and inflation were way down, and great progress was made toward bringing freedom to the Soviet satellite nations. Shortly after Reagan left office, the Berlin Wall came down and freedom spread throughout Eastern Europe.

Today, 22 years after he left office, Ronald Reagan is remembered and revered as one of the most beloved American presidents of the last century.