Move Back
ADVERTISEMENT
Skip
  • Published
    26 Images

    The Reagan Years: 1981-1989

    We look back at some of the big and small moments during Ronald Reagan's presidency.

  • Reagan Sworn In
    Jan. 20, 1981:  Ronald Reagan is sworn in as 40th president of the United States.
    read more
  • Reagan's Inauguration Speech
    Jan. 20, 1981:  Ronald Reagan gives his first inaugural address, in which he spoke about the country's economic crisis. "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem," President Reagan said. Click here for a transcript of the speech. Also during the inauguration speech, 52 Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days were set free.
    read more
  • Getting a Haircut
    Jan. 23, 1981: President Reagan gets a haircut from Milton Pitts in the West Wing Barber Shop.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Oval Office
    Jan. 26: 1981: President Reagan eats lunch at his desk in the oval office.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • At the White House
    March 6, 1981: President Reagan walks along the White House colonnade.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Attempted Assassination of Reagan
    March 30, 1981: John Hinckley Jr. shot President Reagan and three others are wounded, including press secretary James Brady
    read more
    Reuters
  • Attempted Assassination of Reagan
    March 30, 1981: The bullet pierced Reagan's left lung, and he was rushed to George Washington University Hospital for emergency surgery. Brady ended up paralyzed. Hinckley remains in a mental institution after being found not guilty by reason of insanity.
    read more
    Reuters
  • Reagan Doodle
    July 29, 1981: President Reagan holds up one of his "doodles" to the press in the oval office.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Ready to Meet
    Oct. 8, 1981: President Reagan awaits the meeting with former Presidents at the White House ground floor corridor.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Reagan's First State of the Union
    Jan. 26, 1982: President Reagan makes a point during the first State of the Union speech of his presidency before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. After Republican setbacks in the 1982 House elections, Reagan went to Congress with a message that echoes now: "The problems we inherited were far worse than ... expected; the recession was deeper ... than predicted."
    read more
  • Happy Birthday
    Feb. 5, 1982: President Reagan blows out candles on his birthday cake in the Oval Office.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • In Minnesota
    Feb. 8, 1982: President Reagan speaks at a rally for Sen. Durenberger in Minneapolis, Minn.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Sharing a Laugh
    Sept. 29, 1982: President Reagan laughs with William Wilson, Walter Annenberg, William French Smith, and Charles Wick during a private dinner in the Yellow Oval Room.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Reagan in Texas
    Oct. 11: 1982: President Reagan at a rally for Texas Republican Candidates in Irving, Texas.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Reagan's Star Wars Defense
    March 23, 1983: President Reagan proposes the Strategic Defense Initiative, commonly referred to as Star Wars. The plan was to use ground-based and space-based systems to protect the U.S. from attack by strategic nuclear missiles.
    read more
  • With the Air Force
    May 30, 1984: President Reagan salutes an Air Force cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy Commencement in Colorado Springs, Colo.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • A Trip with Lucky on Marine One
    Nov. 1, 1985: President Reagan aboard the helicopter with his dog "Lucky" on his lap. 
    read more
    National Archives
  • Handshake Seen Around the World
    Nov. 19, 1985: President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev greet each other in Switzerland. It was the first meeting between U.S. and U.S.S.R. heads of state in six years.
    read more
  • Reagan's First Meeting With Gorbachev
    Nov. 19, 1985: President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev begin talks in Switzerland. The two talked about reducing nuclear arsenals in their respective countries.
    read more
  • Reagan's First Meeting With Gorbachev
    Nov. 19, 1985: President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev begin talks in Switzerland. The two talked about reducing nuclear arsenals in their respective countries.
    read more
    Reuters
  • Ready to Fly
    Aug. 29, 1986: President Reagan throws paper airplane off the balcony at Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, Calif.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Reagan: 'Tear Down This Wall'
    June 12, 1987: President Reagan acknowledges the crowd after his speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, where he said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
    read more
  • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Signed
    Dec. 8, 1987: President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty at the White House.
    read more
  • Reagan's Relationship With Gorbachev
    Dec. 8, 1987: Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev is with President Reagan at the White House to sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
    read more
    Reuters
  • Oval Office
    July 13, 1988: President Reagan working at his desk in the oval office.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Saying Goodbye
    Jan. 20, 1989: President Reagan salutes as he boards the helicopter at the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., on his last day as president.
    read more
    Reagan Presidential Library
  • Published
    26 Images

    The Reagan Years: 1981-1989

    We look back at some of the big and small moments during Ronald Reagan's presidency.

Move Forward
  • The Reagan Years: 1981-1989
  • Reagan Sworn In
  • Reagan's Inauguration Speech
  • Getting a Haircut
  • Oval Office
  • At the White House
  • Attempted Assassination of Reagan
  • Attempted Assassination of Reagan
  • Reagan Doodle
  • Ready to Meet
  • Reagan's First State of the Union
  • Happy Birthday
  • In Minnesota
  • Sharing a Laugh
  • Reagan in Texas
  • Reagan's Star Wars Defense
  • With the Air Force
  • A Trip with Lucky on Marine One
  • Handshake Seen Around the World
  • Reagan's First Meeting With Gorbachev
  • Reagan's First Meeting With Gorbachev
  • Ready to Fly
  • Reagan: 'Tear Down This Wall'
  • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Signed
  • Reagan's Relationship With Gorbachev
  • Oval Office
  • Saying Goodbye