Here are some key dates in the life of Ronald Reagan:
- Feb. 6, 1911: Born in Tampico, Ill., younger of two sons of Nellie and John Reagan.
- 1932: Graduates from Eureka College, Eureka, Ill.
- 1932-1937: Works as radio announcer, sportscaster.
- 1937: Makes film debut in "Love Is on the Air."
- Jan. 26, 1940: Marries Jane Wyman, actress. Marriage ends in divorce in 1949.
- 1940: Plays George Gipp, "the Gipper," in "Knute Rockne: All-American," probably his best-known role.
- 1942-45: Makes Army Air Force training films.
- 1947: Becomes president of the Screen Actors Guild.
- March 4, 1952: Marries Nancy Davis, actress.
- 1962: Switches from Democratic to Republican Party.
- Nov. 8, 1966: Defeats Democratic incumbent Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown to become California's governor.
- Nov. 4, 1980: Defeats Democratic incumbent Jimmy Carter in presidential election.
- Jan. 20, 1981: Sworn in as 40th president.
- March 30, 1981: Shot and wounded as he left a Washington hotel after a speech.
- Nov. 6, 1984: Re-elected in a landslide over former Vice President Walter Mondale.
- January 1989: Retires to California after second term.
- Nov. 5, 1994: Discloses he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
- Oct. 11, 2001: Becomes the longest-lived president ever, having lived 33,120 days. The nation's second chief executive, John Adams, lived 33,119 days, from 1735 to 1826.
Associated Press
