Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan: Whether in sports, politics, or life in general, the path to victory is rarely straight. Ronald Reagan is a perfect example of this reality.
Reagan was born in a small midwestern town to a poor family. Hard work and determination moved him from this environment to the lights of Hollywood, where he embarked on a successful acting career. He was then selected as president of the Screen Actors Guild, and he’d later say that negotiating with studio heads prepared him to go toe-to-toe with Mikhail Gorbachev. His movie-star success would only be temporary, though.
Luckily for Reagan and our country, he had more dreams than just acting.
After serving as the guild president, Reagan’s acting gigs evaporated. To make ends meet, he entertained at a Las Vegas dinner theater, which was a far cry from the lights, cameras, and black-tie events of Hollywood.
Reagan became the host of a weekly TV show sponsored by General Electric and for the next 8 years he was a regular guest in America’s living room. He toured the nation’s GE plants and honed his speaking skills by listening to the concerns of real people.
Almost out of nowhere, he ran for and was elected Governor of California, winning in a landslide. As the state’s chief executive, Reagan balanced the budget and became the chair of the Republican Governors Association. He could have retired with distinction for all he’d accomplished to this point – but there was more to do for this remarkable leader.
His commitment to the United States, and the importance of defeating communism, and particularly the Soviets, were a primary motivation to seek the highest office in the land.
Reagan unsuccessfully ran twice for president before becoming the Republican party’s nominee, and eventually president of the United States in 1980. Four years later, he won reelection in a landslide, capturing 49 of the 50 states.
Today, Reagan’s ascension seems like it was always meant to be. Yet his story shows a number of failures before his successes. If he had given up at any point in his life, who knows where the U.S. would be. His determination is a lesson for us all. Ronald Reagan is an American Encore!
