Ronald Reagan: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 16, 2026

Also Known As	Ronald Wilson Reagan
Born	February 6, 1911 • Illinois
Died	June 5, 2004 (aged 93) • Los Angeles • California
Title / Office	presidency of the United States of America (1981-1989), United States • governor (1967-1975), California
Political Affiliation	Republican Party
Notable Family Members	spouse Jane Wyman • spouse Nancy Reagan
Role In	Cold War • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty • Iran-Contra Affair • Iran hostage crisis • Korean Air Lines flight 007 • United States presidential election of 1968 • United States presidential election of 1976 • United States presidential election of 1980 • United States presidential election of 1984 • West Berlin discothèque bombing • Economic Recovery Tax Act • Libya bombings of 1986 • Reykjavík summit of 1986 • Tax Reform Act

Ronald Reagan submitted the first request for a trillion-dollar budget during his presidency, in 1987.
The second time he was elected president Reagan won 525 of the 538 electoral votes, which is the largest number ever won by a candidate.
Ronald Reagan was nicknamed "The Great Communicator".
Ronald Reagan gave his first policy speech regarding AIDS in 1987 after the death of a friend from HIV/AIDS, about 7 years and 20,000 deaths into the AIDS crisis.