Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in 1911 in Tampico, Illinois, and died in Los Angeles in 2004 at the age of 93.
In 1937 Reagan moved to Hollywood and began his career as an actor, first in films and later in television. His introduction to politics came when he served as President of the Screen Actors Guild.
In his life he had two major careers – screen actor and politician. His skill as an actor served him in good stead as he became, firstly, Governor of California in 1967, and then the 40th President of the United States in 1981.
Ronald Reagan’s political philosophy led him to hate ‘Big Government’ as these quotes attest.
As president, Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives. His supply-side economic policies, dubbed “Reaganomics”, followed the advice of his economic mentor, Milton Friedman. In his first term as President he survived an assassination attempt; he was re-elected by a landslide vote in 1984.
He still ranks highly in public opinion polls of U.S. Presidents and is credited for generating an ideological renaissance on the American political right.
Browsing these quotes of Ronald Reagan explains why:
- Status quo, you know, is Latin for ‘the mess we’re in’.
- When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
- Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.
- The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.
- Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
- Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.
- Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.
- Welfare’s purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence.
- The taxpayer – that’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to take the civil service examination.
- The problem is not that people are taxed too little, the problem is that government spends too much.
- Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
- It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.
- Man is not free unless government is limited.
- The best minds are not in government. If any were, business would steal them away.
- Governments tend not to solve problems, only to rearrange them.
Now you understand from these quotes something of Ronald Reagan’s attitude to government.
Do you agree with him? Do you think he was one of the greatest American presidents?
Share your opinion by making use of the comments feed provided below.
