Reagan's Humble Beginnings

[smirkymonkey]

Consider this upbringing:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1125495.htm

"Born on February 6, 1911, in Tampico, Illinois, to an alcoholic shoe salesman and a mother of strict Puritan upbringing, Mr Reagan earned a degree in economics and sociology from Eureka College in his home state.

He was student body president, captain of the swimming team and a member of the football team at the small college.

After serving in the Army, he worked as a sportscaster and announcer for a radio station in Davenport, Iowa.

He moved on to Hollywood, where he starred in 50 forgettable films, including Bedtime for Bonzo and Knute Rockne, All American, in which he played his most famous role, the college football hero known as 'The Gipper'.

In 1947, he was elected to the first of six terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild, his first taste of politics.

Mr Reagan was a Democrat until 1962 but his political career took off as a Republican when he won election as California governor in 1966 and again 1970."

The alcoholic father and strict Puritan mother would explain a lot, but what I would like to know is WHAT EXACTLY qualified him for the office of President of the United States?? President of the Screen Actors Guild certainly does not prepare one for assuming the highest office in the land. Any thoughts?

[LTR]

1. Governor of California

Hell, what credentials did W have? He was Governor of Texas with virtually no political experience.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Yes, but he had family connections - lots of them.

It's interesting to see where Reagan came from and where he ended up. I still think he was a very unlikely candidate.

[Vickers]

2. Well....he was over 35, and he was a natural born citizen

He met the minimum requirements.

:P

"After serving in the Army"

How misleading.

[maveric]

3. Did he serve in the army twice?

Once before the war and then again during?

[Cleita]

4. A biography I read about him stated that the conservative

California business community drafted him to be the Republican candidate for Governor of California because they liked the way he communicated his ideas. He had been working fund raisers for various candidates in the Republican Party up to then. I guess screwing up our State for two terms enabled him to run for President. The same qualification also brought us George Bush.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Exactly, his stint as Governor was about as

much of a joke as Arnold. It was about style, not substance - nothing SUBSTANTIAL qualified him for office at all. His entire political career has been a joke at the expense of the people he governed.

Also it's interesting that he didn't come from an Prep School,Ivy League, Skull & Bones kind of background but still ended up as the Grandaddy of the ultraconservatives.

[wildmanj]

5. reagan

in the case of mr reagan and mr bush---the business powers that be wanted someone they could manipulate and thats exactly what they have in the former and the latter