Reagan graduated from Eureka College in 1932. His first job after college was at WOC station in Davenport, Iowa as a radio announcer. He then went on to become a sports announcer at WHO station in Des Moines. In 1937 he did a screen test at Warner Brothers and for four years played in so called B-films. In 1940, Reagan married Jane Wyman, an actress. Shortly after the USA entered World War II, Reagan enlisted. He served at the Army Air Corps film unit making army morale films. In 1949, Wyman divorced Reagan and got custody of the couples two young children; Michael, their adopted son, and their daughter Maureen. In the meantime, Reagan was involved in the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and was the organization's president from 1947 till 1952. In 1952 Reagan married again, this time to Nancy Davis. They had two children together, Patricia and Ronald Jr. Two years later, in 1954, Reagan began hosting the General Electric weekly television series and delivered corporate speeches. In 1962 his employment at General Electric was abruptly ended by the company and Reagan returned to playing television and film roles.
In 1967 Reagan was elected governor of California, and re-elected in 1970, but decided not to run for a third term in 1975. Reagan became the Republican presidential candidate in 1980. He had tried earlier to become the Republican candidate, but lost to Nixon and Ford. In 1980 however, he not only became the Republican candidate, but also won the election defeating Jimmy Carter with only a 9% margin in the popular vote and 489 electoral votes against Carter's 49. In 1984 he was re-elected, this time beating Walter Mondale with an 18% margin in popular vote and 525 electoral votes against 13. In 1989 he was succeeded by George Bush. |
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