Ronald+Reagan

"The boys in the state are going to kill me, but it's the right thing to do" - Ronald Reagan (Hampson). This quote became one of the most famous quotes ever said by Ronald Reagan during the Cold War. Nuclear and atomic bombs ready to be launched at a single press of a button. The American people lived in fear for their own safety during the Cold War. Bomb drills being practiced in every school across the United States. It's all up to one man to end this fear, and that man was the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan. The fate of most of the world was in his hands to end the Cold War and help unite people and end fear among Americans. President Reagan always faced many obstacles, but was always "willing to make hard choices" (Smith).
 * Introduction**[[image:ahswhg2/Reagan 40.jpg width="537" height="293" align="left" caption="Ronald Reagan, The United States 40th President" link="@https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/ronaldreagan"]]

A man who was described as “A true leader and a man of his word” (Gorbachev). Ronald Reagan was different from many presidents because he was always “Willing to make the hard choices” (Smith). In most of Reagan’s political campaigns he was “often seen as an underdog” (Hoitsma). Reagan is looked as one of the greatest presidents of all time for what he faced and what he accomplished in his life. Reagan was not only a president, but he was also a football player, lifeguard, and an actor. Reagan was a very religious man and often “chose religion over many things In life” (Hoitsma). Reagan was seen by millions of Americans, and millions of other people as a true leader. Many people seen him as a true leader because “he had to end a separation of people in the Soviet Union” (Hampson). Not only was he seen as a leader, but he was also seen as a “very committed man." Reagan was often seen as a great human being and an amazing president. Reagan was a strong believer in “freedom for all” (Smith). His belief in freedom for all led to many people supporting Reagan through his presidency. In Reagan’s run for president he won his election by a landslide and was often favored by many. Reagan wasn’t all always favored in his elections in fact early in his political career “he was often seen as an underdog." Reagan had an “incredible victory in Texas” (Hoitsma). Reagan was not even in the conversation for winning this political campaign in Texas. Somehow Reagan pulled out an upset victory beating all other delegates by a landslide. Mikhail Gorbachev former leader of the Soviet Union stated that “Reagan had many triumphs in his life” (Gorbachev). Reagan’s big win in Texas can be seen as one his great triumphs. Reagan was a very religious man throughout his life. In a conversation with Ray Barnhart, Co-Chairman of Reagan’s Texas Campaign, Reagan said “You don’t understand Ray my relationship with God is my relationship, and we’re not going to abuse it.” Religion never came in contact with his political issues. However Religion did interfere with Reagan’s political issues when it came to freedom and human liberty. Reagan embraced the idea of human liberty for all” (Smith). Religion and his wife let Reagan “Experience happiness of true love” (Gorbachev).
 * Personal Background**

Ronald Reagan’s life was defined by his many personality traits. Ronald Regan was known for having many different personalities. Reagan's personality would ultimately define his legacy and his life. Reagan was often known to be very "hardheaded and passionate" (Hampson). Ronald Reagan was often referred to as a "Vocal person who could rally the American people in critical situations" (Smith). Regan was mostly defined by one of his most infamous personalities which was "being a very optimistic person in difficult situations" (Gorbachev).
 * Personality Traits**

Regan was known for being hardheaded in the choices he made. One of his most stubborn moments of all time was when he spoke in front of the Berlin Wall. This was one of Reagan’s most famous speeches of all time were he showed his “hardheadedness and his passion” (Hampson). Reagan started his famous speech with “The boys in the state are going to kill me, but it’s the right thing to do”. Later on in that speech Reagan went on to say his most famous quotes of all time which was “Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” (Barnhart). Reagan believed this was the right thing to do, but many people believed his stubbornness got the best of him. Ronald Reagan was never afraid to show he was a very vocal person.

In Reagan’s darkest moments he was described as being “optimistic, hopeful, and courageous.” Years after Reagan’s presidency he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a deadly disease that causes you to lose your memory and destroys many mental functions often leading to death. Reagan had many conversations with Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union, during his time of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. After, those conversations with Reagan Gorbachev said that “Ronald Reagan was very optimistic and hopeful that everything would get better.” Reagan was described as “living life with true dignity” (Gorbachev).

**Obstacles** Many presidents have to go through many obstacles in their life and during their presidency. There is one president who went through many obstacles in his life and during his presidency. Ronald Reagan is known for facing many obstacles head on, and not being scared of the consequences. Reagan had to face the cold war, the Berlin wall, communism, and the space shuttle explosion. Even after his presidency Reagan fought the biggest obstacle of his life. Reagan faced many obstacles and was described as “making the hard choices and always wanting the best of a situation” (Hoitsma).

One of Reagan’s most difficult obstacles was “having to convince a communist country to become free.” Reagan was forced to “bring down the Berlin wall at any cost” (Hampson). During these disputes he had many fiery altercations with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. In those altercations Reagan “had to make peace with the Soviet Union.” During this time Reagan had to “reach an agreement on arms control, and security.” He had to overcome this time of fear and overcome “his trust issues with countries” (Gorbachev).

The Berlin wall was one of Reagan’s most famous obstacles. He had to travel back and forth from the Soviet Union to get this done. There was a war that was threatening Reagan’s idea of tearing down the wall. The “Cold war was at its highest point and people were In fear” (Smith). Reagan was so determined on ending the Cold war and bringing down the Berlin wall he even resorted to “strengthening the U.S military” (Gorbachev).

The biggest obstacle Reagan faced was fighting Alzheimer’s. Even though he died after long years of fighting courageously he faced the disease head on. He was described as being “Very optimistic during this time” (Gorbachev). Reagan never backed down from an obstacle no matter how big or small

**Historical Significance**

A few presidents have changed the history of the United States and many other countries once. Ronald Reagan changed the outcome of history for the United States and the Soviet Union multiple times. Ronald Reagan is creditited by many for “the fall of the Berlin wall” (Hampson). Ronald Reagan had some of the “best political wins of all time by winning in a linside in his Texas campaign” (Hoitsma). Reagan visited Mikhail Gorbachev and the Soviet Union for many years in those visits “he met with Gorbachev to talk about freedom and ending communism” (Barnhart). Ronald Reagan changed the life of many people and also changed history in many ways.

Ronald Reagan had some of the best political campaigns of all time in North Carolina and Texas. Reagan enterd North Carolina with no chance in the world to win, but "came out of North Carolina with huge upset wins."One of Reagans biggest wins in history occured in Texas during his "great texas Campaign." Somehow some way Reagan "beat all 100 Texas delegates in a huge landslide." Reagan was always looked over and was always considered the "underdog". These wins were significant because by the time he chose to run for president "the world had a true underdog to look up to" (Hoitsma).

The Soviet Union is closely related to Ronald Reagan because he spent much of his presidency traveling from The United States to the Soviet Union and back. He had many meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev were they discussed "the views on the Soviet Union and the ending of the Berlin wall.” Reagan visited the Soviet Union and met with Gorbachev were "they both signed the 1987 intermidiate-range nuclear forces treaty"(Gorbachev). The signing of the treaty created a huge step into ending The Cold War between the Soviet Union and The United States. Ronald Reagan gave one of his most "historical speeches of all time near the Berlin wall."In that speech Ronald Reagan gave his most famous quote of all time"Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"-Ronald Reagan. Reagan’s quote would later on be the rally cry for the fall of the Berlin wall. "The Berlin wall fell two years later, and suddenly Reagan's famous line was now everywhere" (Hampson). media type="youtube" key="WjWDrTXMgF8" width="338" height="168" align="center"

Barnhart, Ray., Donatelli, Frank. "A RARE POLITICIAN." //Human Events//. 14 Jun. 2004: S7. //eLibrary//. Web .19 Sep. 2014. **Source Evaluation #1** Gorbachev, Mikhail."A President who Listened." //The New York Times.The New York Times,// 06 Jun. 2004.//The New York Times//. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. **Source Evaluation #3** Hampson, Rick."Presidential words helped bring down Berlin Wall." //Clarion Ledger; Jackson, Miss.//. 09 Nov. 2014: 1. //eLibrary//. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. **Source Evaluation #6** Hoitsma, Gary."Remembering Reagan's Big Win in Texas." //Human Events//. 01 May. 2006: 26. //eLibrary//. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. **Source Evaluation #4** Ronald, Reagan. "Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger," January 28, 1986. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, //The American Presidency Project//. Web. 17 Nov. 2014. **Source Evaluation #2** Smith, R, Craig."Reflecting on the Days of REAGANOMICS." //USA Today; New York//. 01 Sep. 2004: 18. //eLibrary//. Web. 19 Nov. 2014. **Source Evaluation #5**
 * References**