I feel that this topic is significant because Regan was a very popular and influential president who became involved in politics under rather unusual and interesting circumstances. Ronald Reagan was the President from 1980 until1988. His background and personal history affected his opinions and leadership style, which, in turn, affected the social and political leadership of the country and the world for nearly the entire decade of the nineteen-eighties.
Reagan had been a very popular Hollywood actor in the nineteen-thirties and forties. He was a prominent Democrat, and was often asked to campaign for various candidates who could benefit from his dynamic oratory skills. Reagan found himself speaking in support of candidates that he did not agree with on most issues. He had always been a Democrat, but in the fall of 1962 he officially changed his party registration to Republican. .
He continued to act, as well as making various public appearances and speeches dealing with political candidates and issues. In 1964 he made his final motion picture, "The Killers," and his career made a drastic change. In October of 1964, Reagan was asked by the Republican National Committee to make a televised speech in support of presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. The speech, eventually titled "A Time For Choosing," was one which Reagan had been delivering at smaller public appearances for some time. (You can read a transcript of the speech, as well as Reagan's later comments about it at: http://www.mpomerle.com/Politics/A_Time_For_Choosing.shtml) His persuasiveness and confidence were so well accepted that this one appearance literally launched his political career.
By November of 1964 a political support group called the "Friends of Ronald Reagan" was formed. Reagan's political career continued to develop, including a position as governor. He continued to gain popularity and tremendous support throughout.
