Reagan (2024) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Reagan's intense anti-Communist stance originated from his childhood in northern Illinois, where he encountered a Russian refugee at his church. This early experience with someone fleeing Communist oppression shaped his deep conviction that Communism was a threat to freedom and faith. This belief persisted throughout his Hollywood career, where he clashed with suspected Communist influences during the blacklist era, and ultimately defined his foreign policy as president.

Foreshadowing: Petrovich notes that this childhood encounter led him to call Reagan "The Crusader," foreshadowing his relentless Cold War stance.

• reagan
• communism
• cold war
• anti-communist
• childhood
• beliefs

Reagan met actress Nancy Davis in 1949 at a party in Hollywood. At the time, her name had been mistakenly placed on the Hollywood blacklist due to confusion with another person of the same name. Reagan successfully intervened to clear her name, which not only saved her career but also sparked their romance. They married in 1952.

Foreshadowing: This act of clearing her name demonstrated Reagan's protective nature and political connections, qualities that would define his approach to leadership.

• nancy davis
• reagan
• marriage
• meeting
• blacklist
• hollywood

In 1970, Reagan and Nancy attended a prayer meeting with singer Pat Boone and pastor George K. Otis. During this gathering, Otis prophesied that Reagan would become president if he maintained his faith. This prophetic moment is depicted as a turning point that strengthened Reagan's political ambitions and conviction that he was destined for higher office.

Foreshadowing: The prophecy directly motivated Reagan's subsequent presidential campaigns, providing him with spiritual confidence to pursue the highest office.

• prophecy
• presidency
• 1970
• faith
• pat boone
• george otis

Reagan dubbed the Soviet Union an "evil empire" in his 1983 speech because he viewed Communism as a godless system that oppressed millions and threatened global freedom. His anti-Communist convictions, rooted in his Christian faith and childhood experiences with Russian refugees, led him to take a hardline stance against the Soviet regime. This rhetoric intensified Cold War tensions but also signaled his refusal to negotiate with what he saw as a fundamentally immoral political system.

Foreshadowing: This speech built on decades of Reagan's anti-Communist beliefs, dating back to his Hollywood days when he fought perceived Communist infiltration in the film industry.

• evil empire
• soviet union
• speech
• cold war
• 1983
• communism

Reagan demanded Mikhail Gorbachev "tear down this wall!" in 1987 at the Brandenburg Gate because the Berlin Wall had become the ultimate symbol of Cold War oppression, dividing East and West Berlin since 1961. Though his advisors initially questioned the provocative phrasing, Reagan believed it was essential to directly challenge the Soviet leader and express his conviction that Communist regimes could not permanently trap their citizens. The speech became one of the most iconic moments of his presidency and symbolized America's commitment to ending the division of Europe.

Foreshadowing: The moment was years in the making, representing the culmination of Reagan's firm anti-Communist policies and his direct approach to diplomacy.

• berlin wall
• brandenburg gate
• gorbachev
• tear down this wall
• speech
• 1987

The Iran-Contra affair was a 1986 scandal in which the Reagan administration secretly traded arms to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages held in Lebanon. The proceeds from these arms sales were then funneled to Nicaraguan Contras, despite Congress having banned such funding. The controversy threatened Reagan with impeachment, though he initially denied any involvement before later addressing the nation and accepting responsibility for the operation, albeit claiming he did not intend to violate the law.

Foreshadowing: The scandal created significant tension between Reagan and Secretary of State George Shultz, who had opposed the covert operation.

• iran-contra
• arms
• hostages
• scandal
• 1986
• impeachment
• Nicaragua

After leaving office in 1989, Reagan faced increasing personal struggles with memory loss, which was later diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease. This diagnosis cast a shadow over his retirement, making it increasingly difficult for him to recall key moments from his presidency. He passed away in 2004 at age 93. In his final years, he was cared for by his wife Nancy, who survived him by a decade and played a major role in establishing the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.

Foreshadowing: The film hints at his declining memory during his final horseback ride with Secret Service agent John Barletta, a poignant farewell to the active life he once led.

• alzheimer's
• memory
• retirement
• death
• 2004
• nancy reagan
• legacy

The film uses Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent, as the narrator because it provides a unique Cold War-era lens on Reagan's presidency. Petrovich was assigned to monitor Reagan throughout his time in office, giving him intimate knowledge of both Reagan's political decisions and personal character. This framing device allows the audience to see how Reagan was perceived by his adversaries, highlighting the impact of his anti-Communist policies from the Soviet viewpoint. The KGB perspective also adds narrative tension and an element of espionage that enriches the biographical storytelling.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Petrovich being questioned by Andrei Novikov in present-day Moscow, establishing the retrospective nature of the narrative.

• kgb
• viktor petrovich
• narrator
• perspective
• cold war
• spys

In 1981, shortly after President Reagan addressed the AFL-CIO at the Washington Hilton, John Hinckley Jr. fired six shots at the presidential limousine. One bullet struck Reagan in the chest, piercing his lung and coming within inches of his heart. Despite initial reports that he was unharmed, the injury was serious. After emergency surgery and hospitalization, Reagan made a remarkable recovery, which actually strengthened his popularity and resolve. This event is shown in both the opening and near the end of the film, framing Reagan's entire presidency.

Foreshadowing: The assassination attempt is depicted as a pivotal moment that tested Reagan's resilience and actually galvanized public support for his administration.

• assassination
• john hinckley
• washington hilton
• 1981
• shooting
• president

Reagan's transition from Hollywood to politics began with his election as president of the Screen Actors Guild in 1947. During the turbulent Hollywood blacklist period, he served as an FBI informant, investigating union organizer Herbert Sorrell, whom he suspected of Communist ties. His political awakening culminated in 1964 when he delivered his famous "A Time for Choosing" speech supporting Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign. This speech launched his political career, leading to his successful run for California governor in 1966 and eventually his presidential campaigns.

Foreshadowing: His experience fighting perceived Communist influences in Hollywood directly foreshadowed his anti-Communist policies as president.

• screen actors guild
• hollywood
• politics
• presidency
• career transition
• 1947
• 1964