[cheering] NARRATOR: The greatest leader
is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the
people to do the greatest things. Ronald Reagan
was not a success because of other people. He was a success
because of himself. You and I have a
rendezvous with destiny. VIRGINIA MAYO: He knows how to
make a speech like nobody else. He was wonderful at that. And that, he learned
being an actor. It looks bad. They're just waiting
for us to drop. LOU CANNON: When we asked
him what kind of a governor he'd be, you know, he
said, "I don't know. I've never played a governor." And I have only one thing
to say to the tax increasers-- go ahead. Make my day. He loved the spotlight. All actors love the spotlight. I mean, here's the biggest
spotlight in the world. I must tell you, even though
this is the 34th anniversary of my 39th birthday, I believe
Moses was 80 when God first commissioned him
for public service. He was what he said he was. What you saw was what
you got, and what you saw was really good
and very American. Mr. Gorbachev,
tear down this wall. You ain't seen nothing yet. [theme music] I never thought it was
my style or the words I used that made a difference. It was the content. I wasn't a great communicator,
but I communicated great things. NARRATOR: When Ronald Reagan,
America's 40th president, left the political stage
for the last time in 1989, he departed a loved and admired
leader, more popular than when he first became president. Yet it was a
bittersweet farewell. In an open letter to the
American people in 1994, Reagan acknowledged that
he had Alzheimer's disease, a debilitating illness that
gradually destroys the brain. In a cruel twist of fate, it was
President Reagan who, in 1983, signed a proclamation
setting aside November as National Alzheimer's Month. [music playing] And it was Ronald Reagan's
photographic memory that had propelled him into
an acting career in Hollywood. As Ronald Reagan's own memory
of his long and eventful life receded, his wife Nancy
and his four children rallied around to
lend support and love. MICHAEL REAGAN: He
may not know my name when I'm going to
walk out that door, but if I don't turn
around and hug him, he'll stand there and
wait for that hug. And he'll hug me, and I'll hug
him and tell him I love him. NARRATOR: Many Americans
felt the same way. We love ya! NARRATOR: When he made
questionable decisions with controversial and
sometimes tragic outcomes, they never doubted his sincerity
and were quick to forgive. Even the most ardent
critics of his policies liked him for his
self-effacing humor. RONALD REAGAN:
Thank you very much. I want you to know that
also I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit
for political purposes my opponent's youth
and inexperience. [laughter] BOB THOMAS: Nothing phony
about Ronald Reagan-- nothing in the world. I mean, everything
was out there. RONALD REAGAN: As different
as our systems are, there is a great bond that draws
the American and Soviet peoples together. It is the common dream of peace. NARRATOR: Ronald Reagan's
appeal transcended generations. Americans believed in
him because he believed in what he said. For Reagan, these
were not empty words. The American dream
was, to him, a reality, and his life was a testament
to its fulfillment. Ronald Reagan's
American dream began in the small town of Tampico,
Illinois, on February 6, 1911. He was the second son of
Nelle and Jack Reagan. His father nicknamed the
plump 10-pound baby Dutch. Jack Reagan was a shoe salesman
of Irish-Catholic extraction, a man known for his
storytelling and heavy drinking. His mother Nelle was from
Scottish stock, a Protestant with Presbyterian values and
an optimistic temperament. The Reagans moved often
in Ron's early life. His father's love of the bottle
made holding a job difficult. LOU CANNON: His mother would
take him and his brother aside and say, now this is a
disease that his father had. She was a religious
woman, but she viewed it as a sickness, not a sin. And I think that was a
very enlightened attitude for the day and age. [music playing] NARRATOR: Finally,
in the early 1920s, they settle down in Dixon,
where Jack opened a shoe store. Although money was
tight, Nelle made sure that Ron and his brother Neil
realized just how fortunate they were. Nelle was actively
involved in social work. She devoted her time
and meager resources to helping the
sick and the poor. At a young age, Ronald Reagan
discovered the importance of voluntary service. Ron and Neil went to
Dixon High School. Neil was a star football player. Although Ronald played
on the football team, his love was swimming. In the summer months, he
worked as a lifeguard earning extra money for the family. Ronald Reagan was
an average student who was aided by a
photographic memory. Reagan always
regarded these years as the happiest of his
life, though they were not without problems. Many times when he came home,
he would find his father passed out drunk on the doorstep. LOU CANNON: And it's a very
hard thing to deal with. And I think that Reagan
learned to shut out the unpleasantness
in life, to be positive and forward-looking. He was like his
mother in that way. NARRATOR: In 1928, Ronald
Reagan graduated from Dixon and entered Eureka College to
study economics and sociology. It was at Eureka that he
made his acting debut, winning an award for his
part in a college play. He also took his first
steps into politics, leading a successful student
strike against increased tuition fees. Reagan's interest
in politics came from his father, who was an
avid fan of Franklin Roosevelt. BARNEY OLDFIELD: He had
been enamored with President Roosevelt because he could
sit with a microphone and he could lead a country and
he had that wonderful capacity of projecting a voice. LOU CANNON: When
FDR came to town, that was the biggest
thing in Reagan's life. You could hear the note of
excitement in his voice. [music playing] NARRATOR: When Reagan
graduated from Eureka in 1932, it was the height
of the Depression. Inspired by FDR's
radio addresses, Reagan went looking for
a job as an announcer. He got a temporary job with
WOC in Davenport, Iowa, announcing college
football games. When the station consolidated
with WHO in Des Moines, Ronald "Dutch" Reagan was
offered a staff position as a baseball announcer
for the Chicago Cubs. His salary was $75 a week-- a lot of money at that time. With it, he supported not
only himself but his family. In a little over a year, he
rose to become one of the most recognizable voices in radio. In 1937, while covering
the Cubs' Spring Training in Catalina, California,
a friend from Des Moines took him to a party. Reagan was introduced to an
agent named Bill Michael John, who took an instant
liking to him. He arranged for Reagan to take a
screen test at Warner Brothers. Reagan's performance caught the
attention of studio boss Jack Warner. JACK WARNER: Well, he had--
his personality projected in what we-- as I term it, off
the screen into the audience. He'd come through. He had a good smile, happy
delivery, rather a little a good sense of humor. NARRATOR: Reagan was cast
in a series of B pictures as the cheerful, nice
guy, often as a reporter-- roles very similar
to his personality. In 1938, he played opposite
Jane Wyman in "Brother Rat." He won not only good
reviews, but the affections of the leading lady. Influential gossip
columnist Louella Parsons took an interest
in their romance. And when they were
married in 1940, the reception was
held at Parsons' home. By then Ronald Reagan had
appeared in 20 pictures, but he had never actively
sought out roles. That changed when he heard that
Warner Brothers was casting a movie about the famed Notre
Dame football coach Newt Rockne. The movie starred Pat O'Brien. Reagan asked him
if he would arrange for an audition
with the producer Hal Wallis for the
role of George Gipp. RONALD REAGAN: I've always
suspected that there might have been many actors in Hollywood
who could have played the part better, but no one
could have wanted to play it more than I did. NARRATOR: Reagan's portrayal
of Gipp, a football player who died tragically, won
critical reviews. And in a memorable
scene, Reagan, playing Gipp on his deathbed,
uttered the immortal line, "Win one for the Gipper." His strong performance
led to roles in major films such as "Santa
Fe Trails" with Errol Flynn and "The Bad Man"
with Lionel Barrymore. [music playing] Reagan was headed for
the Hollywood A-list when World War II broke out. His career went on hold. Personally, things were
going well for Reagan. He had a beautiful wife and
was now the proud parent of a baby girl, Maureen. His mother Nelle was now
living in California, finding new outlets
for her social work. Reagan's father died of a
heart attack in May 1941. Reagan looked back and
remembered what they shared in common, a love of politics. In the years ahead, Ronald
Reagan would increasingly use his acting and
speaking talents to master the role he
seemed destined to play. When America entered
World War II, Ronald Reagan volunteered
for the cavalry. His poor eyesight caused him
to fail the medical exam. Instead, the army assigned him
to make propaganda war films in Culver City, California. Yes, sir. Get over to the speed range. You might make a gunner. Right there. NARRATOR: The films were shot
at the Hal Roach studio, known affectionately as Fort Roach. BOB THOMAS: I don't disparage
Reagan for that service. I mean, he had been trained as
a cavalryman and volunteered and was willing to serve
anywhere anybody sent him, and they chose to send
him to Ford Roach. I hope those gunner
can hold them off. NARRATOR: When the
war ended in 1945, Reagan and his wife Jane
Wyman adopted a son, Michael. But their film careers
at Warner Brothers allowed little time
for family life. Between takes on the movie
set, Reagan would often expound his liberal Democratic
views to whoever would listen. The war had reignited
his interest in politics, and he joined various
political groups in Hollywood. BARNEY OLDFIELD: At that time,
the people around Hollywood called him a left wing Democrat,
which a little bit beyond just being one. And there was an occasion when
he was a president of something called the American Veterans
Committee Chapter in Hollywood. And he told me one
night about how he was going to go to a
meeting and settle once and for this thing
about this group he was in espousing the foreign
policy ideals of the Soviet Union. NARRATOR: Reagan's motion to
condemn the Soviet Union was rejected. He began to realize that many
of the groups he belonged to were fronts for
pro-Soviet sympathizers. He resigned in disgust, but
he did not get disillusioned with politics. In 1947, he was voted president
of the Screen Actors Guild. His growing involvement
with Hollywood politics was not shared by
his wife, Jane Wyman. In 1948, she sued for divorce. Reagan was devastated. He held the traditional view
that marriage was for life. Reagan buried his unhappiness
by getting even more involved in politics. In the late '40s, there were a
lot of things to keep him busy. The country was undergoing
a wave of Cold War hysteria. There were fears of
communist infiltration into the movie industry. In Washington, the House
Un-American Activities Committee decided
to investigate. As president of the
Screen Actors Guild, Reagan was called
before the panel. In his testimony, he
made a brave pitch for freedom of
speech and assembly. I will be frank with
you that as a citizen, I wouldn't hesitate
or I would not like to see any political
party outlawed on the basis of its political ideology. Because we've spent 170 years
in this country on the basis that democracy is strong
enough to stand up and fight for itself against the
inroads of any ideology, no matter how much we
may disagree with it. NARRATOR: The studio
bosses did not share Reagan's idealism,
instituting blacklists and loyalty oaths. Reagan became a mediator
between actors scared of losing work and studios
nervous about losing box office receipts. In 1949, Ronald Reagan was
introduced to Nancy Davis, a young actress. Reagan was immediately smitten. Nancy Davis was from a very
wealthy conservative family with an active
interest in politics. She could listen to
Ronnie talk all night. And she would talk with
him, but in her $0.02. And they never tired
of talking politics. NARRATOR: Three years later in
1952, Nancy Davis and Ronald Reagan were married. Later that year, a baby
girl, Patti was born. Though he had a new family
Reagan still found time for his other two children
Maureen and Michael MICHAEL REAGAN: I used to
go out to the ranch with him on Saturdays. He would pick me up,
333 South Beverly Glen. I used to sit on the curb
and just wait for him, that red station wagon to come
around the corner from Sunset to Beverly Glen. NARRATOR: Ronald Reagan
was now rich and famous. He was making more money
than at any time in his life, and his acting career
was stagnating. A move to Universal had
given him a better contract, but no good roles. His growing wealth
and marriage to Nancy were also causing changes in
his political convictions. And I think he was-- certain people got to him that
convinced him that there was a Red influence in Hollywood
and that he should do something about it. NARRATOR: Reagan's
transformation from liberal to conservative
was completed when his agent Lew Wasserman negotiated a
television deal for him to host a series called "General
Electric Theater." This story takes place in the
Punchy '30s, which some of you may remember followed
of the Frenzied '20s. So instead of being
a leader of actors, he became a hireling
of a huge corporation, and he espoused their views. I'm sure he believed in them and
believed in them more and more as time went on. Until next week then, good
night for General Electric, where progress and
products goes hand in hand with providing
progress in the human values that enrich
the lives of us all. NARRATOR: Part of Reagan's job
meant making appearances at GE facilities across the country. At these events, he began
making political speeches, refining and honing his new
conservative philosophy. VIRGINIA MAYO: He knows how to
make a speech like nobody else. He was wonderful at that. And that, he learned
being an actor. You know, that's all the
things an actor has to know. The Admiral told
me not to tell. NARRATOR: In 1957,
Ronald and Nancy Reagan appeared together in
"Hellcats of the Navy." It was to be Nancy's
last movie role. [music playing] Upon the birth of
their second child, Ron Junior, in 1958, she
became a full-time homemaker. In 1959, Reagan was again voted
president of the Screen Actors Guild, leading it in its first
and only successful strike. The strike marked his final
act as a liberal Democrat. [applause] ANNOUNCER: Ronald Reagan, the
Screen Actors Guild President, follows with a statement of
action against communism. RONALD REAGAN: Let's for
a moment forget the words "communist" and "communism." Let's substitute the
proper term, pro-Russian. Thank you. NARRATOR: In 1960, he
became the spokesman for a variety of
conservative causes and worked for Richard Nixon's
unsuccessful presidential run. Two years later, he
formally switched parties. Reagan always claimed that he
never left the party of FDR, the party left him. Whatever the reason,
Reagan, at the age of 51, had embarked on a new
chapter in his life. As an actor, he had
always dreamed of being cast in the role of a lifetime. As a politician,
that dream came true. [applause] OK. Thank you all. NARRATOR: In the 1964
presidential campaign, Republican candidate
Barry Goldwater was sinking beneath a wave of
popular support for Democrat Lyndon Johnson. Behind in the polls and
running out of money, Goldwater approached
Ronald Reagan to ask if he would make a
national televised speech to help raise money and morale. You and I have a
rendezvous with destiny. We'll preserve for our children
this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we'll sentence
them to take the last step into a thousand
years of darkness. NARRATOR: The speech was
called "A Time for Choosing." It was a speech Reagan had
given hundreds of times before on his trips for GE-- a call to reduce federal
bureaucracy to reduce taxes and to reduce the
threat of communism. The speech could not save
the Goldwater campaign, but it did impress a group
of influential California businessmen. HENRY SALVATORI: We decided that
we had to look for someone who had the qualifications
that would make him an electable candidate,
and Ronnie Reagan was the man we all
agreed was that-- would be that particular fellow. NARRATOR: They formed a
political action group, Friends of Ronald Reagan,
to raise money. Meanwhile, Reagan
returned to television, appearing in "Death Valley
Days" and doing commercials. We're on the "Death
Valley Days" set and water's not handy. Boraxo Waterless Hand Cleaner
really cleans up for it. NARRATOR: In 1966, Reagan's
conservative backers persuaded him to enter the
Republican primary for governor of California. Pat Brown, the
Democratic governor, was delighted when
Reagan was nominated. When they get in that poll and
they have to make a distinction between a governor that's
been acting and an actor, I think they're going to
pull that down for Pat Brown. That's my opinion. NARRATOR: Reagan campaigned
against big deficits and high taxes. [sirens blaring] He attacked Brown's poor
handling of the Watts Riots and vowed to get tough
with student protesters. Brown ran a mean spirited
and abrasive campaign. In contrast, Reagan was
humorous and dignified. Reagan won by nearly
a million votes. MAN: Do you solemnly swear that
you will support and defend the Constitution of
the United States? I do. EDWIN MEESE: When he took over
the government of California, he had read a lot about it,
he had learned a lot about it, he'd talked to people
a lot about it. And so he brought his tremendous
innate leadership capacity to the state. I ask your help in returning
the state of California to financial strength
and confidence. And I am certain that
working together, we are equal to the challenge. NARRATOR: Reagan kept his word. He turned a state
deficit into a surplus. He showed himself to be
an excellent negotiator and a pragmatic politician. EDWIN MEESE: He introduced
business-like methods into state government. He also, I think, had
a tremendous impact on higher education
in California, in terms of restoring
discipline and restoring order to the college campuses. Those who under the
euphemism of social unrest or civil disobedience, who take
to the streets in riot and mob violence will not be tolerated
in this land of ours. NARRATOR: As governor of the
largest state in the union, Reagan was a potential candidate
for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968. But Reagan refused to
enter any of the primaries. When he finally did
announce his candidacy on the floor of the
Republican Convention, it was only after Richard
Nixon had already clinched the nomination. He wasn't really
running as such. He was kind of a distant
backup candidate in case the front runners like Nixon,
for one reason or another, did not ultimately
get the nomination. NARRATOR: Reagan
returned to Sacramento and was re-elected for
a second term in 1970. [music playing] By the time Reagan
left office in 1974, he had an impressive track
record of achievements. He returned to private life,
writing newspaper columns, and making speeches. He bought a 688 acre ranch
in Santa Barbara, California, spent his days chopping wood
and horse riding with Nancy. They appeared to be as much
in love as the day they met. RONALD REAGAN: For all the
years we've been married, it's been we, not you and I.
It would be inconceivable to me to go my own way and on
something without her, and I think it would
be the same for her. The Republican platform
says exactly the opposite. NARRATOR: It was with
Nancy's encouragement that Reagan decided to make
a run for the White House in 1976, even though it
meant challenging Gerald Ford, the Republican President. Reagan's campaign began badly. By the time he reached his
stride, it was too late. But when Gerald Ford invited
him to address the convention, he received a
tumultuous reception. [shouting] Reagan had failed to
win the nomination, but he had won the love
and respect of many within the Republican Party. Four years later in
1980, Ronald Reagan again stood on the podium at
the Republican Convention, acknowledging the
cheers of the delegates. But this time, he would be
their overwhelming choice to run for president
of the United States. [music playing] MAN: Can you turn that
microphone off, please? If you've asked
for me if you-- I am paying for this
microphone, Mr. Green! [cheering] NARRATOR: When Ronald Reagan
seized the stage at the Nashua, New Hampshire, debate in
1980, it was a defining moment in the Republican primaries. By his decisive
action, he won not only the stage but the support
of the Republican voters. On July 16 1980,
he was nominated by an overwhelming margin
as the Republican candidate for president. I accept your nomination for
the presidency of the United States. [cheering] NARRATOR: Reagan ran against
Jimmy Carter, a president who was seen as weak and indecisive. Inflation, interest
rates, and unemployment were all skyrocketing. The Soviet Union had
invaded Afghanistan. And to add insult to
injury, 52 Americans were being held hostage by
Islamic extremists in Iran. RONALD REAGAN: It might be
well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than
you were four years ago? All righty. NARRATOR: The American
people gave their answer in November 1980-- a resounding no. Reagan won by 8 and
1/2 million votes, winning all but seven states. RONALD REAGAN: I, Ronald
Reagan, do solemnly swear-- That I will faithfully
execute the office of President of the United States. --that I will faithfully
execute the office of President of the United States. [applause] From time to time, we've been
tempted to believe that society has become too complex to
be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite
group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is
capable of governing himself, then who among us has the
capacity to govern someone else? NARRATOR: Reagan enunciated
his vision for American renewal in a stirring inaugural address. After his speech, he
went to a luncheon where he announced the news
all America had been waiting to hear-- the release of the
hostages in Iran. Some 30 minutes ago, the
planes bearing our prisoners left Iranian airspace
and are now free of Iran. NARRATOR: Once in office,
Reagan was anxious to capitalize on his broad public support. He cut off aid to the left
wing Nicaraguan government. He proposed deep cuts in
government spending and income taxes. But what sent his
approval rating soaring was his handling of an
assassination attempt. On March 30, 1981, as he
left the Washington Hilton, a gunman opened fire. RONALD REAGAN: I
didn't know I was shot. In fact, I was still
asking, what was that noise? I thought it was firecrackers. [siren blaring] NARRATOR: The bullets
from John Hinckley's gun missed Reagan's
heart by any inch. When a distraught Nancy Reagan
arrived at the hospital, Reagan displayed a disarming
coolness, joking to Nancy, "Honey, I forgot to duck." LOU CANNON: I think the jokes
that he told, you know, I mean, when he was shot-- you know, "I hope the doctors
are all Republicans"-- where it really commended
him to the American people. It gave him a kind
of a mythic status. NARRATOR: Reagan
recovered quickly. His popularity reached
an all-time high. When he addressed a
joint session of Congress on April 28, partisan loyalties
were set aside as he received a thunderous ovation. Presenting to you the
President of the United States. [cheering] RONALD REAGAN:
Thank you very much. NARRATOR: Reagan's
budget proposal passed. He also redeemed
another campaign promise when he appointed a woman,
Sandra Day O'Connor, to the Supreme Court. In August, when the air traffic
controllers broke the law and went out on strike,
Reagan issued a stern warning. RONALD REAGAN: They are
in violation of the law. And if they do not report
for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their
jobs and will be terminated. End of statement. NARRATOR: His no-nonsense
approach applied to his dealing with the Soviet Union. Reagan asked Congress
for $180 billion in additional defense spending. He proposed putting short range
nuclear missiles in Europe. And to further
intimidate the Soviets, he proposed a space weapons
program, the Strategic Defense Initiative, dubbed "Star
Wars" by the media. We're not going to let them
get to the point of dominance where they can someday
issue to the free world an ultimatum of
surrender or die. And they don't like that. NARRATOR: Reagan also flexed
American military muscle in the Middle East. He sent Marines into Lebanon
to enforce a cease fire to end the Civil War. At the same time, he
became increasingly alarmed about a Cuban backed
military takeover in Grenada. GEORGE SCHULTZ: I took the
president for a golfing weekend down to Augusta. And the first night, we woke him
up at 2 o'clock in the morning because we had all these
urgent messages from Grenada. And basically, he decided to go
ahead with the rescue operation in Grenada. The next night, we woke him
up again about 2 o'clock in the morning. And this was with the news of
the car bombing of our barracks in Beirut. RONALD REAGAN: I have just
met with the families of many of those who were killed. I think all Americans would
cradle them in our arms if we could. Let no terrorist question
our will or no tyrant doubt our resolves. [guns firing] NARRATOR: The pain
of Lebanon was eased by news of the
successful invasion of Grenada. Reagan's popularity increased. In January 1984,
Reagan announced he would run for a second term. [music playing] He had come to office
promising economic and military rejuvenation, and he
had kept his word. And he used words
effectively-- more effectively than any president since
his childhood hero, Franklin Roosevelt. His skill was never
more evident than on June 6, 1984, when he spoke
in Normandy, France, at the 40th
anniversary of D-Day. We stand on a
lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft. But 40 years ago at
this moment, the air was dense with smoke
and the cries of men, and the air was filled with
the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn on the morning of
the 6 of June, 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the
British landing craft and ran to the bottom
of these cliffs. 225 came here. After two days of fighting,
only 90 could still bear arms. These are the boys
of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men
who took the cliffs. These are the champions who
helped free a continent. These are the heroes
who helped end a war. NARRATOR: In 1984, Ronald
Reagan remembered the heroes who made history in 1944. Little did he realize that
less than four years later, he would return to Europe
a hero to announce another historic event-- Mr. Gorbachev,
tear down this wall. NARRATOR: --the beginning
of the end of the Cold War. I, Ronald Reagan,
do solemnly swear-- I, Ronald Reagan,
do solemnly swear-- --that I will
faithfully execute-- NARRATOR: At the age
of 73, Ronald Reagan was the oldest
president in history. He began his second term in
office with a new White House staff. They started on an upbeat note. The US and Soviet Union returned
to the bargaining table. But Reagan's new team soon
faced their first major crises, terrorism. On June 14, 1985, TWA Flight
847 took off from Athens and was hijacked
by Arab extremists. MAN: He has pulled
a hand grenade tin, and he is ready to blow up
the aircraft if he has to. We might-- I repeat, we must-- land at Beirut. NARRATOR: The TWA
hijacking was the first in a series of terrorist
actions in Central America-- in Europe on a Mediterranean
cruise ship, and in Beirut terrorists took
Americans hostage. The situation put
Reagan in a tough spot. You can run, but
you can't hide. LOU CANNON: Reagan could see
these people, these Americans who were held captive in
these barbaric conditions, and he wanted to free them. And really, that was all
that mattered to him. NARRATOR: Reagan asked
his top intelligence aides to find a way to
free the hostages. They came up with a
complex secret scheme. They would get Israel to
sell arms to Iran in exchange for the release of the
American hostages in Beirut. Reagan's senior cabinet
members were dubious. Arms for hostages
is a misguided idea because it only
encourages hostage taking and leads to disastrous results. NARRATOR: Nevertheless,
Reagan gave the go-ahead, leaving the implementation
of the scheme in the hands of his national
security advisors. Meanwhile, in public he
pursued high profile diplomacy. In November 1985, he met
with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva. The meeting was a turning
point in US-Soviet relations. LOU CANNON: When Reagan
came back from Geneva, he was really struck by
his personal encounter with Gorbachev. He would say to people, it drove
the conservatives absolutely wild. Gorbachev's a different
kind of Soviet leader. He isn't bent on world conquest. He wants to work out
something with the west. [music playing] NARRATOR: Reagan had a good
intuitive sense about people, and he related on a very
personal level with them. This characteristic led
to him being regarded not as a politician, but as
a national father figure. In times of national
tragedy, the nation turned to him for consolation. REPORTER: The explosion
appeared to destroy Challenger. We will never forget
them, nor the last time we saw them this morning as they
prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped
the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God. NARRATOR: Reagan also could
express the nation's sense of outrage. When Libya's Colonel Gaddafi
helped stage a bombing at a Berlin disco, Reagan's
response was swift and deadly. The president sent American
warplanes to bomb Tripoli. Despite our repeated
warnings, Gaddafi continued his reckless
policy of intimidation, his relentless
pursuit of terror. He counted on America
to be passive. He counted wrong. NARRATOR: A November 1986
article in a Lebanese newspaper made Reagan's tough talk
on terrorism seem hollow. The paper disclosed the
secret arms for hostages deal with Iran that Reagan had
approved a year earlier. Reagan was caught unprepared and
was attacked as never before. The arms for hostages
deal threatened to become a public relations
and political disaster for the entire administration. Went to the family quarters
of the White House and I had a private
conversation with him, and I never thought I'd talk
to a president that way. A few months ago, I told
the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions
still tell me that's true, but the facts and the
evidence tell me it is not. NARRATOR: When it became
known that profits from the arms for hostages
deal had been funneled to the Nicaraguan Contras,
Congress held hearings. Reagan's aides assumed
responsibility for the scheme. You know, the buck
stops here with me. I made the decision. I felt that I had the
authority to do it. I thought it was a good idea. NARRATOR: Reagan was
never directly implicated in the illegal Contra aid, but
his reputation took a beating. The prestige of his
presidency was saved, though, by an old nemesis,
the Soviet Union. In December 1987, Mikhail
Gorbachev came to Washington to sign a landmark treaty,
the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Missile Treaty. Reagan accomplished what every
post-war president had only dreamed of-- reducing, for the first time,
the huge nuclear arsenals that threatened Armageddon. It was the beginning of
the end of the Cold War. GEORGE SCHULTZ: He was attacked
by Nixon, by Kissinger, by Scowcroft, by lots of
people for doing that. And I think in the
sweep of history, you just have to say that his
judgment was better by far than his critics' judgment was. [music playing] NARRATOR: Through
all the ups and downs in his political career,
Reagan credited one person with providing him the
encouragement and support to endure the trials and
tribulations of public office, his wife Nancy. RONALD REAGAN: She's an
inspiration to me, the way she always keeps her chin up-- and yes, always bounces
back no matter what. I can't imagine
life without her. NARRATOR: In 1989,
Ronald Reagan bowed out of politics for the last time. He was given a hero's farewell. England's Queen Elizabeth
knighted him for his services in the cause of peace. Sir Ronald Reagan retired
to Bel Air, California. In 1994, he disclosed that he
was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Despite his illness, Reagan was
able to see an optimistic side. In 1995, the Ronald and Nancy
Reagan Research Institute was formed to help find
a cure for the disease. Well, the institute
which bears our name isn't really about
Ronnie and me. It wasn't established
to honor two people, but to serve as a symbol of
hope to all those who share our dream of a cure
for Alzheimer's. [music playing] NARRATOR: Reagan's daughter
Maureen shared her family's dream for a cure. Codenamed Radiant by
the Secret Service, she was a tireless fighter
against Alzheimer's. Sadly, she died of cancer
in 2001 at the age of 60. Over the next decade,
Alzheimer's would keep Ronald Reagan
out of the public eye, but he was hardly forgotten. In 1998, Washington,
DC's national airport was renamed Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport. And in 2003, the first aircraft
carrier named after a living president was commissioned
by the Navy, the USS Ronald Reagan. On June 5, 2004, Ronald
Reagan's long battle with Alzheimer's disease ended. He died at home in
Bel Air with Nancy and their children, Patti
and Ron, by his side, but not before adding one more
superlative to his legacy. At 93 years old, he was the
longest living president in American history. Tears and tribute flowed
from across the country and around the world
as thousands lined up to pay their final respects. At his state funeral in
Washington's National Cathedral, family, friends,
heads of state, royalty, presidents, celebrities,
politicians, old allies, even an old adversary came
to mourn and celebrate the son of a shoe
salesman from Illinois. We lost Ronald
Reagan only days ago, but we have missed
him for a long time. And we look for that fine day
when we will see him again. NARRATOR: Ronald Reagan's
journey finally came to an end at his presidential library
in Simi Valley, where he was laid to rest. Reagan's long and colorful
career on the public stage was a performance that changed
the political life of America. What you saw was what you
got and what you saw was really good and very America. LOU CANNON: Reagan's presidency
actually increased the trust of people in government--
not because people trusted the government more or less,
but because they most mostly trusted Reagan. EDWIN MEESE: You did have a
sense that he was put on earth to do certain things
that were important, and some people have called
this a rendezvous with destiny. RONALD REAGAN: A troubled and
afflicted mankind looked to us, pleading for us to keep our
rendezvous with destiny. Pleading that we will uphold
the principles of self-reliance, self-discipline, morality, and,
above all, responsible liberty for every individual. That we will become a
shining city upon a hill.
