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Reagan encourages free economics

He is the most important leader in the world. And even though the country may not always like what they hear, when the president of the United States comes to Ottawa, Canada listens. From Franklin Roosevelt to Bill Clinton, U.S. presidents have been given the honour of addressing Canada's Parliament. Sometimes their speeches draw warm ovations; others are met by catcalls and anger. But over time, each presidential message has been an important indicator of the goodwill — and the problems — facing these neighbours.

Although Ronald Reagan was both loved and hated for his extreme conservatism, even his critics couldn't accuse him of being apathetic. Reagan worked hard - from Star Wars to Reaganomics - to boost Republicanism in the White House. When visiting Canada, Reagan's heightened conservatism was evident in personality clashes with Pierre Trudeau, and later a camaraderie with Brian Mulroney. In this CBC Television clip, the recently elected president attempts a greeting in French. He later gives notice that deep U.S. government spending cuts are coming.
• Ronald Reagan was born on Feb. 6, 1911, in Tampico, Ill. He studied sociology and economics at nearby Eureka College. He also acted in school plays and was on the football team.

• One of Reagan's first jobs was in radio as a sports announcer. In 1937, he did play-by-plays of local football games in Iowa.

• He left radio in 1937 and joined the U.S. army as a private -- a career cut short that same year by Warner Brothers.

• In 1937 Reagan took a Warner Brothers screen test, which started what would become a prolific acting career. He was immediately hired during the test to act in Hollywood films.

• During Reagan's days as an actor, from 1937 to 1964, he starred in over 50 films. Reagan met his first wife, actress Jane Wyman, on the set of Brother Rat in 1938. The couple split up in 1948 and in 1952 he married another actress, Nancy Davis.

• Reagan's nicknames included: The Gipper, Dutch, The Great Communicator and The Teflon President.

• "The Gipper" was a moniker borrowed from a film in which he portrayed a heroic halfback named George Gipp.
• The former U.S. president said his father called him Dutch when he was born because he looked like "a fat little Dutchman" in a time of economic hardship.

• Before entering politics, Reagan was twice the president of the Screen Actors Guild, from 1947 to 1952 and from 1959 to 1960. His first political stint was as governor of California in 1966.

• On Jan. 20, 1981, Reagan became the 40th U.S. president and served two terms from 1981 to 1989.

• Shortly after Reagan took office, an assassination attempt was made on his life on March 30, 1981. Gunman John Warnock Hinckley shot the president in the chest outside a Washington hotel.

• Afterwards, the actor-turned-president, long known for his sense of humour, quipped to his wife: "Honey, I forgot to duck."

• Reagan dubbed his economic policies "Reaganomics." By cutting taxes and reducing spending, inflation dropped 8.5 per cent during his first two years in office.

• During Reagan's speech to Canadian Parliament in 1981, NDP MPs wore black armbands. It was a sign of protest against his involvement in El Salvador. The president had just sent U.S. troops to train El Salvador's soldiers fighting communist guerrillas.

• Watch President Reagan's entire 1981 address.

• At age 85 Reagan told the public he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In 2001 Reagan became the oldest living former U.S. president.

• Ronald Reagan died on June 5, 2004, after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 93.

• Reagan, who almost always played the hero in movies, enjoyed a similar celebrity in politics. He became one America's most popular leaders.

Medium: Television
Program: The National
Broadcast Date: March 11, 1981
Guest(s):
Host: Knowlton Nash
Reporter: Brian Stewart
Speaker: Ronald Reagan
Duration: 5:04

Last updated: January 3, 2013

Page consulted on March 26, 2013

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