Reagan, Ronald

1911–

American Actor, Politician, and President

Ronald Reagan enjoyed careers in radio, film, and politics, and he served as the fortieth president of the United States (1981–89). Partly through his acting career, but primarily through his highly popular presidency and his conservative political policies, he became an icon of American masculinity.

Reagan graduated in 1932 from Eureka College, where he played football, and became a radio sports announcer. In 1937 he turned to acting. Appearing in fifty-three films over the following two decades—most notably Knute Rockne: All American (1940) and King's Row (1941)—he played roles that identified manliness with patriotism, football, military heroism, and the West.

After making army training and morale films during World War II, Reagan became president of the Screen Actors' Guild (1947–52). While he initially ...