November 4, 1980

On this day in 1980, Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter in a landslide election. Reagan was born in Illinois on February 6, 1911. His father, Jack Reagan, was the grandson to Irish Catholic immigrants from Co. Tipperary. Reagan became successful in Hollywood, appearing in famous roles like George Gipp (earning him the lifelong nickname “The Gipper”) in “Knute Rockne, All American” (1940.) Many considered 1924’s “King’s Row” his best film. Reagan went on to serve in the military. He became governor of California in 1967. He made his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1976, but was defeated by Gerald Ford. He served two terms as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. His terms were marked by such terms as “Reaganomics.”