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==Hollywood==

==Hollywood==

[[File:Reagan1953.jpg|thumb|left|250px|1953 film starring Reagan and Dorothy Malone]]

[[File:Reagan1953.jpg|thumb|left|250px|1953 film starring Reagan and Dorothy Malone]]

In 1937 Reagan traveled to [[Hollywood]] to cover the Chicago Cubs's spring training games. However, the real reason he went was to try to make it in the motion picture industry. After traveling to several screen tests, Warner Brothers studio offered him a one year contract with a starting salary of $200 a week. He then became famous starring in numerous "B" movies, where he typically played a supporting character rather then the leading role. Although they were low budget films and poorly acted, Reagan didn't mind in that he was still making good money. In 1938 Reagan meet actress Jane Wyman while they co-starred in the film ''Brother Rat''. They married on January 26, 1940, in Glendale, California. They had three children together: Maureen, Michael who was adopted, and a baby girl who died shortly after her premature birth in 1947. The babies death traumatized Wyman and she divorced Reagan the following years. He met his second wife, actress Nancy Davis, when she came to Reagan for help as she was concerned because another actress with the same name ended up on the "black list."

In 1937 Reagan traveled to [[Hollywood]] to cover the Chicago Cubs's spring training games and look at prospects in the film indystry. Warner Brothers studio offered him a one year contract with a starting salary of $200 a week. He then became famous starring in numerous "B" movies, where he typically played a supporting character rather then the leading role. In 1940 Reagan married actress Jane Wyman, who later won an Oscar. They had three children together: Maureen, Michael who was adopted, and a baby girl who died shortly after her premature birth in 1947. The babies death traumatized Wyman and she divorced Reagan in 1948. In 1952 he married actress [[Nancy Reagan|Nancy Davis]] (b. 1921).

In 1941 Reagan gave a well received performance in the [[Academy Award]] nominated film ''Kings Row''. Just as his career in Hollywood was taking off, he had to stop acting in 1941 after the bombing of [[Pearl Harbor]]. He received notice from the U.S. Army to report for duty in [[San Francisco]]. Because of his poor eyesight (Reagan was one of the first Americans to were experimental contact lenses) he was transferred in mid-1942 to work at the newly created Motion Picture Unit within the Army. He made military movies and training films for new recruits. He returned to Hollywood after the war in 1946.  

In 1941 Reagan gave a well received performance in the [[Academy Award|Oscar]] nominated film ''Kings Row''. During the war Reagan was in the Air Force; he was assigned to make training films. He resumed his Hollywood career on release in 1946.  

Reagan jumped into union politics, and was elected to five terms as president of the [[Screen Actors Guild]], a labor union for movie actors. As SAG President he traveled across the country giving speeches on behalf of actors. Until the 1950s Reagan was an avid liberal Democrat who strongly supported the [[New Deal]] of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and the [[Fair Deal]] of [[Harry S. Truman]]. He often campaigned on behalf of the [[New Deal Coalition]].<ref> Ronald Reagan, [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0743400259/ref=sib_dp_srch_bod?v=search-inside&keywords=truman ''An American Life'' (1990) p 132]</ref>  

Reagan jumped into union politics, and was elected to five terms as president of the [[Screen Actors Guild]], a labor union for movie actors. As SAG President he traveled across the country giving speeches on behalf of actors. Until the 1950s Reagan was an avid liberal Democrat who strongly supported the [[New Deal]] of [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and the [[Fair Deal]] of [[Harry S. Truman]]. He often campaigned on behalf of the [[New Deal Coalition]].<ref> Ronald Reagan, [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0743400259/ref=sib_dp_srch_bod?v=search-inside&keywords=truman ''An American Life'' (1990) p 132]</ref>  

===Assassination Attempt===

===Assassination Attempt===

On March 30, 1981, Reagan was shot underneath his arm outside the Hilton Hotel in [[Washington, D.C.]] The assassin was John Hinckley, a mentally disturbed man who didn't shoot Reagan for political reasons, but instead did to impress lesbian actress Jodie Foster from ''Taxi Driver'' and the Mel Gibson comedic romp "Maverick." Reagan was taken to George Washington University Hospital and managed to recover quickly. White House Press Secretary [[James Brady]] was shot in the head, and although he survived the shooting left him in a wheel chair for the rest of his life.

On March 30, 1981, Reagan was shot neat=r the heart after giving a routine speech.<ref> The assassin was John Hinckley, a mentally disturbed man who didn't shoot Reagan for political reasons, but instead did to impress an actress he had never met.</ref>  Surgeons at George Washington University Hospital saved his life and despite his age he recovered quickly. White House Press Secretary [[James Brady]] was shot in the head, became permanently disabled; Brady then became an icon of the anti-gun movement.  

 

 

Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State in that order, and should the President decide he wants to transfer the helm to the Vice President, he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course.

 

Haig had incorrectly stated the presidential line of secession in the 25th amendment to the [[United States Constitution]], bypassing the [[Speaker of the House]] and [[Senate President Pro-Temper]]. Although Haig's statement was legally false, it may had been the case in the [[White House]] given that Vice President Bush was airborne at the time.

===1984 Reelection===

===1984 Reelection===