Conservative shift in politics
Even prior to becoming president, Reagan was the leader of a dramatic conservative shift that undercut many of the domestic and foreign policies … See more

Supreme Court
Reagan made four successful appointments to the Supreme Court during his eight years in … See more

On March 30, 1981, only 69 days into the new administration, Reagan, his press secretary James Brady, Washington police officer See more

Escalation of the Cold War
Reagan escalated the Cold War, accelerating a reversal from the policy of détente which had … See more

Reagan tapped James Baker, who had run Bush's 1980 campaign, as his first chief of staff. Baker, Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver, and Counselor Edwin Meese formed the "troika," the key White House staffers early in Reagan's presidency. Baker … See more

Reagan used his White House staff to shape major domestic policies. His Chief of Staff made heavy use of the Office of Policy Development in supervising cabinet action on the … See more

At the time, Reagan was the oldest person to have served as U.S. president, a record that is now held by Joe Biden. Reagan's health became a concern at times during his presidency.
Early in his presidency, Reagan started wearing a custom … See more