The Great Communicator - Ronald Reagan
“My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you today that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” Ronald Reagan during a microphone check, unaware that he was on air. (NPR Audio, NPR.org)
The Russians were not pleased, to say the least. In some of the darkest days of the Cold War, in 1984, no world leader was smiling. The world was on the brink nuclear annihilation. To show humor was a sign of weakness. However, in all the darkness that surrounded the world at this time, one man’s bright smile and wit shined through; Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in 1911 in Tampico, Illinois on February 6th, 1911 to John Reagan and Nelle Wilson Reagan. His beginnings were tough, like many at the time. John Reagan was a shoe salesman, but also a heavy alcoholic. A counter to his father, his mother, Nelle was a strong advocate in the church. She often kept the peace in the home and was a cornerstone to Ronald’s temperament.
From an early age, Ronald moved several times with his family. They traveled between several towns including a city named Monmouth and Chicago. In 1919 they returned to Tampico where they lived as Reagan progressed through school. At this time, Reagan gained the nickname ‘Dutch’ due to his ‘fat little Dutchman’ appearance and his ‘Dutch boy’ haircut. While at high school in Dixon, Reagan gained two major attributes. First, was his love for sports. He became very involved in physical activities, such as soccer and swimming. Reagan actually became good enough at swimming that he became lifeguard for a local pool, saving seventy seven lives by the time he ‘retired’ from the job. The other major attribute was public speaking. With undiagnosed nearsightedness, Reagan had problems reading from an early age. A writing teacher named B.J. Frazier brought out his talent by making Reagan read his papers in front of the class. This practice became natural to Reagan, giving him the skills he would need,
The Russians were not pleased, to say the least. In some of the darkest days of the Cold War, in 1984, no world leader was smiling. The world was on the brink nuclear annihilation. To show humor was a sign of weakness. However, in all the darkness that surrounded the world at this time, one man’s bright smile and wit shined through; Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in 1911 in Tampico, Illinois on February 6th, 1911 to John Reagan and Nelle Wilson Reagan. His beginnings were tough, like many at the time. John Reagan was a shoe salesman, but also a heavy alcoholic. A counter to his father, his mother, Nelle was a strong advocate in the church. She often kept the peace in the home and was a cornerstone to Ronald’s temperament.
From an early age, Ronald moved several times with his family. They traveled between several towns including a city named Monmouth and Chicago. In 1919 they returned to Tampico where they lived as Reagan progressed through school. At this time, Reagan gained the nickname ‘Dutch’ due to his ‘fat little Dutchman’ appearance and his ‘Dutch boy’ haircut. While at high school in Dixon, Reagan gained two major attributes. First, was his love for sports. He became very involved in physical activities, such as soccer and swimming. Reagan actually became good enough at swimming that he became lifeguard for a local pool, saving seventy seven lives by the time he ‘retired’ from the job. The other major attribute was public speaking. With undiagnosed nearsightedness, Reagan had problems reading from an early age. A writing teacher named B.J. Frazier brought out his talent by making Reagan read his papers in front of the class. This practice became natural to Reagan, giving him the skills he would need,