Ronald Wilson Reagan And The War Of The Cold War - 1630 Words

The United States during the mid to late 70’s was in a constant state of alert; millions of citizens waiting for the piercing sounds of the air raid sirens to slice through the night air. America was in need of a leader, someone who could unify a divided country and save it from crushing economic failure. One man saw his need and stood up to the task, his name is President Ronald Reagan. Reagan rose to power as President during one of the most critical periods in not only American history, but also, World history: The arms standoff of the cold war. His actions as a unifier in the homeland and as a diplomat in foreign halls changed the way Americans and citizens of the world lived their lives. Ronald Wilson Reagan was born on February†¦show more content†¦Reagan’s shining light in his life was his brother and his mother. Reagan’s mother taught her sons what their father couldn’t; she nurtured them and encouraged them to achieve more than their fat her ever could. Nelle, however, taught the boys that their father’s alcoholism was a disease and to not blame their father, hoping that the boys would still see their father in a positive light (Hayward). His brother, Neil, became and advertising executive (Holloway) and helped Reagan stay focused throughout his childhood. Reagan’s beliefs played an important part in the development of the leader that entered the White House. His mother helped Reagan form a foundation in faith that would lead into Reagan’s ability to believe in humanity. Reagan’s mother reformed Reagan, who was a practicing Catholic at the time to join the Disciples of Christ Church (Cannon, Life Before the Presidency). Reagan would use his new found faith to help build his belief in people, which would become a major point in his national addresses. During an address to the nation following the Challenger space shuttle disaster, then President Reagan displayed his belief in the America n people through his recognition of the bravery of the shuttle crew, â€Å"but they, the Challenger Seven, were aware of the dangers, but overcame them and did their jobs brilliantly†(NASA). As Reagan grew and eventually entered high school, he began to develop an interest in acting. This interest in acting would grow into one of