Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan, GCB, (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). Reagan was also a broadcaster, film actor, and head of the Screen Actors Guild before entering politics.

Legacy and retirement from public life

On January 11, 1989, Reagan addressed the nation one last time on television from the Oval Office of the White House, nine days before handing over the presidency to George H. W. Bush. After Bush's inauguration, Reagan returned to his estate, Rancho del Cielo, near Santa Barbara, California, to write his autobiography, ride his horses, and chop wood. He eventually moved to a new home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles . As of 2005, Reagan is one of only three presidents to serve two full terms since the adoption of the 22nd Amendment in 1951 (The others are Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bill Clinton).

Related Topics:
January 11 - 1989 - Oval Office - George H. W. Bush - Inauguration - Rancho del Cielo - Santa Barbara, California - Bel-Air, Los Angeles - As of 2005 - 22nd Amendment - 1951 - Dwight D. Eisenhower - Bill Clinton

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Reagan received an honorary knighthood, as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and thus was entitled to use the postnominal GCB, but he is almost never styled this way. Reagan and George H. W. Bush are the only two American presidents to receive honorary knighthood.

Related Topics:
Order of the Bath - George H. W. Bush

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In the autumn of 1989, Fujisankei Communications Group of Japan hired him to make two speeches and attend a small number of corporate functions. Reagan's weekly fee was about two million dollars, more than he had earned during eight years as president. Reagan made occasional appearances on behalf of the Republican Party, including a well-received speech at the 1992 Republican National Convention. He publicly spoke out in favor of a line-item veto, a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget, and repealing the 22nd Amendment, which prohibits a president from serving more than two terms.

Related Topics:
Fujisankei Communications Group - Japan - 1992 Republican National Convention - Line-item veto - Constitutional amendment - Balanced budget

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In 1994, Reagan was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He informed the nation of his condition on November 5, 1994 with a hand-written letter, which displayed his trademark optimism, stating in conclusion: "I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead. Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you." As the years went on, the disease slowly destroyed his mental capacity, forcing him to live in quiet isolation.

Related Topics:
1994 - Alzheimer's disease - November 5

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In a 1995 poll of 2,307 coin collectors by the Littleton Coin Company, Reagan was ranked as the most popular person to appear on a future U.S. coin.

Related Topics:
1995 - Littleton Coin Company

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On February 6, 1998, Washington National Airport was renamed Ronald Reagan National Airport by a bill signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Three years later, on March 4, 2001, the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) was christened by the Navy. It is one of few ships christened in honor of a living person and the first to be named in honor of a living former president. Many other highways, schools and institutions were also named after Reagan in the years after his retirement and death. (See List of things named after Ronald Reagan).

Related Topics:
February 6 - 1998 - Ronald Reagan National Airport - Bill Clinton - March 4 - 2001 - ''USS Ronald Reagan'' (CVN-76) - List of things named after Ronald Reagan

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Reagan's health was further destabilized by a fall in 2001, which shattered part of his hip and rendered him virtually immobile. By 2004, Reagan had begun to enter the final stage of Alzheimer's.

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Job approval rating

According to ABC News by date:

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Death

In 2003, Reagan's death was incorrectly announced by CNN when his pre-written obituary (along with those of several other famous figures) was inadvertently published on CNN's website due to a lapse in password protection.

Related Topics:
Incorrectly announced - CNN

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Reagan died on June 5, 2004 at his home in Bel-Air and is buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Related Topics:
June 5 - 2004 - Bel-Air - Ronald Reagan Presidential Library - Simi Valley

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Reagan holds the record as the longest lived U.S. president, at 93 years and 120 days. Since Reagan's death, Gerald Ford is now the oldest surviving president at 92, and if he lives to or beyond November 11, 2006, he will hold the new record. Reagan also holds the record as the oldest-elected president at 69 and oldest president to serve at 77.

Related Topics:
Gerald Ford - November 11 - 2006

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Posthumous honors

In 2005, Reagan was given two posthumous honors:

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• On May 14, CNN, along with the editors of TIME, named him the "most fascinating person" of the network's first 25 years. http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/02/cnn25.top.fascinating/index.html http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0505/14/se.02.html
• On June 26, participating voters selected Reagan as the "Greatest American" during a live television special sponsored by AOL and broadcast live on the Discovery Channel.