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I have got a ton of homework still to do, and I'd appreciate it if someone could help revise this. It's just a short research paper on Ronald Reagan. I hope this isn't a bother.

Ronald W. Reagan
bubububu
11/14/2011

In the minds of many people, Ronald Reagan was the last great president to walk into the Oval Office. During his presidency, he accomplished many things and introduced revolutionary ideas, such as the destruction of the Berlin Wall.
'Are these the beginnings of profound changes in the Soviet state? Or are they token gestures, intended to raise false hopes in the West, or to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace.
General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!'(Longley,1-2)
   Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911 as the second son in his family. His father was a shoemaker and an alcoholic, so his mother raised him as part of her mothers church. As a graduate of Dixon High, he moved on to Eureka College with a partial athletic scholarship. During that time, he lead a successful student strike that proved his persuasive ability. After graduating, he started his hunt for jobs and eventually landed a job as a sports announcer for a few different broadcasting companies. Then, in 1937, he passed a screen test set by the Warner Brothers that launched his acting career.
   After years of being a common star in movies, filming opportunities were becoming fewer and fewer, paying less and less. These dwindling opportunities caused him to chase a career in politics, along with the support of several businessmen. In the early 1960s, a group of of conservatives from the state of California suggested he run as governor of California. With large financial support from them and others, and smart campaigning, he took the seat as governor with about 58% of the total vote. After serving several terms as the Governor of California, he decided to run for President. With much support from his state of California, he could. Though he had a rough start in the Primaries, he swiftly caught up, eventually winning the election.
   Only after being the President for two months, his luck was tried after being shot in an assassination attempt. He quickly recovered, and he went on to accomplish many world changing things. First, he appointed the first female supreme court justice, Sandra O'Connor. After that, he introduced “Reaganomics”as an idea on how to improve the U.S. economy. Reaganomics was the idea that by reducing the size and control of government, you could increase economic growth. As he said in 1981, "Only by reducing the growth of government can we increase the growth of the economy."(Niskanen, 1) Reagan also strongly encouraged the destruction of the Berlin Wall, as can be seen by his 1989 speech in Berlin with the famous quote, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"(Longley, 2) However, one of his biggest actions was the proposal and signing of the Landmark Nuclear Arms Treaty. This treaty, if the USSR would agree to its terms, would end the Cold War. With the Cold War over, the USSR slowly dissipated, breaking down into the Russian Federation and many smaller countries.
   The legacy that Mr. Reagan left can be seen in many ways. He put an end to the Cold War, which could have continued to be a persistent problem. He broke the gender barrier in the Judicial Branch by appointing Sandra O'Connor to the position of Supreme Court Justice. He has starred in several movies during his acting career, and he has left behind many legendary quotes, such as, ”I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves,” and, ”The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'.” The list of quotes could go further, if it was not for his death in 2004.