In 1966, he was elected the 33rd Governor of California, succeeding [[Pat Brown]]. In 1970, he was re-elected. But in 1974, he chose not to seek a third term and was succeeded by [[Jerry Brown]]. Events and achievements during his terms included:
*Called in the National Guard to restore order when People's Park protesters began attacking police, and restoring order to California's chaotic University campuses. [http://police.berkeley.edu/about_UCPD/ucpdhistory.html#anchor178048] Reagan authorized the use of violent force against the peaceful protesters in Berkeley <ref>University of California, Berkeley - Police Department. [http://police.berkeley.edu/about_UCPD/ucpdhistory.html#anchor178048 History Topic: People's Park] August 2006</ref>, saying "If there has to be a bloodbath, then let's get it over with."."<ref> ''San Francisco Chronicle'', early morning edition, May 15 1969</ref> In the resulting chaos, police used fired buckshot into the crowd, fatally wounding one bystander and blinding another, and injuring hundreds of others.
*Led a comprehensive and far-reaching revision of California's massive public assistance programs, actually increasing benefits to the truly needy.