Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was the oldest person to serve as president. President Reagan emerged on the national political scene in 1965 when he made a speech supporting United States Senator Barry Goldwater from Arizona. Reagan's speech thrust him in the political spectrum and some wealthy Californians persuaded Reagan to run for governor of California. Mr. Reagan became governor of California in 1966 and won reelection in 1970. Mr. Reagan announced his candidacy for the presidency in November 1979 and won the nomination in 1980(Microsoft Encarta). The things that made President Reagan very popular were his economic policy, foreign affairs, and his ability to communicate his conservative message.
During the fall of 1980, President Reagan campaign on the biggest political issues, "The Economy". President Reagan blamed Carter for the recession that begun in 1980 and for increasing inflation. President Reagan won the election in 1980, and his economic policy rested on the claim that investment in industry and spending by consumers would be increase tax revenues, but only if the federal government left money that had been going to the US Treasury in private hands. In 1981, congress passed the Economic Recovery Tax Act. Reagan's tax cuts mainly benefited upper-income taxpayers and large corporation. During the Reagan's years, real economic growth averaged 3.2 percent during the Reagan years versus 2.8 percent during the Ford - Carter years and 2.1 percent during Bush-Clinton years. Family income grew by $4,000 during the Reagan period after experiencing no growth in the Pre-Reagan years. Interest rates, inflation, and unemployment fell faster under President Reagan then they did immediately before or after his presidency (Policy Analysis).
President Reagan foreign policy affairs changed the tone to a peaceful if strained policy of coexistence with the USSR.