http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan View an image slideshow on President Ronald Reagan. en Copyright 2013, History.com Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT History.com 2013-05-22T04:00:00Z en Copyright 2013, History.com http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo1 Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 in Tampico, Illinois. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo1 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo2 Reagan became a famous actor, and in the "Knute Rockne All American" he gained his nick-name "The Gipper". http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo2 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo3 Reagan married Nancy Davis in 1952. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo3 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo4 Reagan had been Governor of California before he challenged Jimmy Carter in 1980. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo4 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo5 In 1980, he gained the nomination and beat out embattled Democratic incumbent Jimmy Carter to become president. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo5 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo6 Reagan was sworn in as president in 1981, ushering in a new era of conservatism in American politics. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo6 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo7 Just weeks into his first term, Reagan was shot by John Hinckley. He was hospitalized and survived. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo7 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo8 Hinckley, later declared insane, shot the president to impress actress Jodi Foster. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo8 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo9 Reagan's increase in military spending and anti-communist rhetoric contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo9 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo10 Although his administration was able to free those held hostage at the Iran Embassy, Islamic fundamentalists hit again with a deadly terrorist attack in Lebanon. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo10 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo11 Reagan pushed for the experimental "Star Wars" defense plan, which called for a missile defense shield in space to protect the United States. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo11 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo12 Shortly after publicly denouncing the Soviet Union as the "Evil Empire" he cultivated a successful diplomatic and personal relationship with Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo12 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo13 Gorbachev and Reagan signed legislation that improved the relationship between the two Cold War opponents. Gorbachev later won the Nobel Peace Prize. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo13 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo14 His popular appeal resulted in a landslide second-term election. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo14 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo15 Reagan appointed the first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor, in 1981. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo15 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo16 Tragedy hit the US in 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff. Reagan spoke at the memorial service. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo16 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo17 In 1986, evidence surfaced that his administration had struck a covert deal to sell Iran arms and used proceeds from the sale to finance anti-Communist guerrillas in Nicaragua. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo17 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo18 Reagan retired from politics in 1989. He later was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo18 http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo19 In 2004, Ronald Reagan died at age 93 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. http://www.history.com/photos/ronald-reagan/photo19