Ronald Reagan is one of the most important - and arguably most successful - presidents in modern American history. He is broadly credited with renewing American prosperity in the wake of the most miserable economic era since the 1930s, laying the foundations for Cold War victory and doing much to bring about the late twentieth century shift to the right in American politics. In this book, Iwan Morgan presents the first thoroughly-researched biography of Reagan, based on original materials and first-hand interviews. He plots a chronological path through Reagans life beginning with his childhood and early years in Illinois, through his Hollywood career, his emergent Republicanism and his election as governor of California, before acceding to the presidency in 1981. In office, Morgan assesses Reagans economic and foreign policies, as well as his idealization of the constitution and his near-impeachment over the Iran-Contra affair.