Ronald Reagan Went From Hollywood to the White House
Perhaps the most extraordinary post-celebrity career was that of Ronald Reagan (1911 – 2004). A conservative and fervent anticommunist, he capitalized on his appealing personality, folksy charm, and jaunty affability, to make the transition from an acting career to one in politics. Unlike most celebrities who made that switch, Reagan was far more successful as a politician than he had ever been as an actor. As an actor, he had never risen above Hollywood’s B-list or left much of a legacy. As a politician, he rose swiftly to get himself elected governor of California, before making the jump to the White House, where he became a transformative American President.
He was born into a poor family in Northern Illinois, and the family’s lot was made worse by his father’s alcoholism. The booze kept Reagan’s father from holding on to a job for long, and necessitated frequent moves. Reagan weathered the chaotic upbringing, finished school, and pursued a higher education degree. In 1932, he graduated from Eureka College, where he played football, was active in the drama society, and was elected class president in his senior year.
Reagan began his career as a sports announcer for regional radio stations, before moving to Hollywood in 1937. There, he had a successful screen test at Warner Brothers, and was typecast in a series of mostly B movies as a wholesome and easygoing good guy – roles that actually matched his real-life personality. Over the following quarter century, he appeared in over 50 movies, of which the best known are Knute Rockne, All American, and Bedtime for Bonzo, in which he starred opposite a chimpanzee. He also became president of the Screen Actors Guild. In the 1950s, he moved to TV, and added motivational speakers at General Electric factories to his repertoire.
He was a liberal Democrat until 1962, when he made a sharp turn towards conservatism and became a Republican. He garnered national attention with a motivational speech during the failed 1964 Goldwater campaign, and capitalized on that two years later to get elected governor of California. He turned the state budget’s deficit into a surplus by raising taxes, called in the National Guard to confront antiwar protesters, and imposed stricter gun controls to restrict open carry. He was reelected to another term in 1970.
After twice failing to secure the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 and 1972, Reagan finally got the nod in 1980, and went on to defeat the incumbent, Jimmy Carter. He was reelected in a landslide in 1984. As President, Reagan helped redefine the purpose of government, and switched America from a New Deal track to a decidedly free market and business-oriented one.
The results of his presidency have been mixed, depending on one’s perspective. On the one hand, a huge increase in wealth, albeit concentrated in the hands of the wealthy. On the other hand, a shrinking middle class and a widening chasm of income inequality, as wages for most Americans, adjusted for inflation, have been stagnant or declining ever since. He suffered from Alzheimer’s in his later years, and died in 2004. To date, he is the only movie actor to ever become President of the United States.
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Where Did We Find This Stuff? Sources & Further Reading
ABC News – Leaving Hollywood For a Higher Calling
Clash Magazine, March 30th, 2010 – The Stooges: James Williamson Interview
Indy Week – The Many Lives of Actor, Redneck, and Congressman Ben Jones
LA Times, January 7th, 1998 – Sonny Bono Dies in Ski Accident
New York Times, May 5th, 1992 – George Murphy, Singer and Actor Who Became Senator, Dies at 89
Newsday – John Gilchrist, Who Played ‘Mikey’ in TV Ad, Still Likes it After All These Years