Did you know John Hinckley tried killing President Ronald Reagan just 2 months into his Presidency in March 1981? The featured photo shows a recovering President looking at a photo sent to him by Congress.

Mr. Hinckley’s ignorance and mental illness made him want to kill him since Reagan was a great president. As a result of this action Presidential security was tightened and American gun laws were made more strict.  In my opinion Reagan had many achievements, he was of course the President and John in his own mental illness was in love with an actress who had Reagan’s attention at one point.  It is good that President Ronald Reagan survived and was able to lead our country as President for 2 full terms until George Bush was elected in 1988.

Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, he served two terms as governor of California. Originally a liberal Democrat, Reagan ran for the U.S. presidency as a conservative Republican and won two terms, beginning in 1980.  He is the 40th U.S. President. He is the oldest President in U.S. History and he was first made famous in Hollywood Western movies and not politics.  In some ways this shows the influence of popular media on politics in the 20th century.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/ronaldreagan

He is known for the following accomplishments: click the link to the left for an NPR summary of his life with selected audio clips.

• The Appointment of Sandra Day O’Connor as the first woman in the Supreme Court
• The Reagan Revolution which brought economic growth and smaller government.
• Strong words against communism in fighting the Cold War
• Proposing “Star Wars” or the Strategic Defense Initiative
• The oldest President sworn in at age 73

Reagan was known as the “Great Communicator”  What do you think is required of a President today in order to be a great communicator?  Do you think President Obama communicates well with the American People?

http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/ronald-reagan