Ronald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th president of the United States of America, and although Jimmy Carter was president when I was born, he is the first president I remember. It helped shape my perception of what it means to hold that position. He often appears on the poles of the most beloved, respected and greatest presidents. In a 2011 Gallup poll, he was selected as the greatest president of the United States, a title usually reserved for Abraham Lincoln in similar studies. In many ways, Reagan was the image of the all-American boy growing up. He was born in the Midwestern town of Tampico, Illinois, played on the Eureka College football team and was the student body president. He later served in the military during World War II making training films. From the beginning, Reagan was groomed and prepared for his journey in politics by his career. After graduating in Economics, he was hired as a sports radio host. He subsequently began an acting career, appearing in over 50 films and assorted television shows. Reagan eventually earned the nickname "The Gipper" from his role in the film Knute Rockne, All American. He was also president of the Screen Actors Guild. During this time he also worked with the House Un-American Activities Committee and the FBI as they searched for communist sympathizers, although he did not entirely support their methods. Reagan moved on to a position working in front of the camera and as a public speaker for General Electric in 1954. These jobs further trained Reagan in public relations, speaking, and also helped shape his politics. In fact, it was during his time in Hollywood that he began to transition from Democrat to conservative Republican, even though he was raised in an active Democratic family. H...... in the center of the paper ...... is the favorite president of many American colleagues. Works CitedCannon, L. (n.d.). Miller Center. American President: Ronald Wilson Reagan. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://millercenter.org/president/reagan/essays/biographyFreidel, F., & Sidey, H. (n.d.). Ronald Reagan. The White House. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/ronaldreaganGallup. (n.d.). Americans say Reagan is the greatest president of the United States. Americans say Reagan is the greatest president of the United States. Retrieved November 23, 2013, from http://www.gallup.com/poll/146183/Americans-Say-Reagan-Greatest-President.aspx History.com. (n.d.). Ronald Reagan. History.com. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.history.com/topics/ronald-reagan IMDb. (n.d.). Biography for Ronald Reagan. IMDb. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001654/bio