Ronald Reagan Centennial

Take a look back through Ronald Reagan’s life. Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, marks what would have been the 40th president’s 100th birthday.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Feb. 6, 2011

Ronald Reagan is shown working as a sportscaster at radio station WHO in Des Moines, Iowa in the photo dated circa 1933-34. Reagan worked as an announcer and sportscaster for over five years and it was his sportscasting work that led him to Hollywood in 1937, where he began his movie career.

File Asociated Press
** FILE ** Actors Jane Wyman and Ronald Reagan hold their nine-month-old daughter Maureen Elizabeth, on Sept. 13, 1941, at their home in Hollywood, Calif.

File Associated Press
FILE - In this Jan. 2, 1967 file photo, Republican Ronald Reagan is sworn in as governor of California as he takes the oath of office from California State Justice Marshall F. McCombs in Sacramento, Calif. Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, marks the centennial anniversary of Reagan's birth.

File Associated Press
** FILE ** California Gov. Ronald Reagan whispers a few words to his wife, Nancy before the start of a fund-raising dinner in this May 21, 1968 file photo in Chicago.

Larry Stoddard Associated Press
FILE--The final days of campaigning for both parties found the Republicans starting the day in Peoria, Ill. Thousands turned out to cheer their candidate. Former President Gerald Ford lends his support to Ronald Reagan and running mate George Bush. Photo taken on Nov. 3, 1980

File Associated Press
FILE- This Jan. 20, 1981 file photo, shows President Ronald Reagan as he gives a thumbs up to the crowd while his wife, first lady Nancy Reagan, waves from a limousine during the inaugural parade in Washington following Reagan's swearing in as the 40th president of the United States. Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, marks the centennial anniversary of Reagan's birth.

File Associated Press
President Ronald Reagan cuts-in on a dance between Frank Sinatra and Nancy Reagan in this Feb. 6, 1981, file photo.

Mike Evans The White House
*** FILE *** President Ronald Reagan joined by former Presidents Richard Nixon, left, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter, right, toast each other in the Blue Room at the White House on October 8, 1981 as the four met prior to the departure of the three former Presidents to Cairo for the funeral of President Sadat.

File White House
This photo provided by the Ronald Reagan library shows then President Ronald Reagan, right, and Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger during a meeting to discuss the 1984 United States budget on Jan. 10, 1983, in Washington.

File Ronlad Reagan Library
FILE - In this Feb. 7, 1984 file photo, President Ronald Reagan addresses a crowd of well-wishers gathered for a huge birthday party in the Dixon High School gymnasium in Dixon, Ill. Reagan returned to his boyhood home for the first time since becoming president to celebrate his 73rd birthday. Reagan was born 100 years ago Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011.

Dennis Cook Associated Press
FILE - In a Feb. 14, 1984 file photo, President Ronald Reagan, center, King Hussein of Jordan, left, and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt walk along the colonnades at the White House.

Barry Thumma Associated Press
**FILE** President Ronald Reagan and Mrs. Nancy Reagan are pictured standing on the Great Wall in Peking, China in this April 28, 1984, file photo. Reagan was a cheerful crusader who devoted his presidency to winning the Cold War, trying to scale back government and making people believe it was ``morning again in America''.

Bob Daugherty Associated Press
** FILE ** President Ronald Reagan comforts family members of Fort Campbell soldiers killed in a Dec. 12, 1985, plane crash near Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, at a memorial service Dec. 16, 2005, at Fort Campbell, Ky.

Mark Humphrey Associated Press
FILE - This Jan. 28, 1986 file picture shows U.S. President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office of the White House after a televised address to the nation about the space shuttle Challenger explosion.

Dennis Cook White House
**FILE** U.S. President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan walk to the waiting presidential helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, in this July 12, 1986, file photo, en route to spend the weekend at Camp David, Maryland.

Ron Edmonds Associated Press
Bill and Anna Mae Graham with President Ronald Reagan in 1986 during a trip to Spokane.

File Courtesy Of Grahams
FILE - This June 12, 1987 file photo shows President Reagan giving a thumbs up sign after his speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, where he had said "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! " Applauding Reagan are West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, right, and West German Parliament President Philipp Jenninger, left.

J. Applewhite Associated Press
Former President Ronald Reagan's casket is carried on a horse-drawn caisson enroute to the U.S. Capitol in Washington Thursday, June 9, 2004.

Eric Gay Associated Press
The family of former President Ronald Reagan, from left, daughter Patti Davis, son Ron Reagan and Ron's wife Doria arrive for funeral services for the former president at the National Cathedral in Washington Friday, June 11, 2004.

Susan Walsh Associated Press
Nancy Reagan is embraced by her children, Ron, left, Michael, back and Patti, right, after interment ceremonies at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Friday, June 11, 2004.

Kevork Djansezian Associated Press
FILE - This July 27, 2004 file photo shows Ron Reagan, son former President Ronald Reagan, addressing delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. As the Feb. 6 centennial of Reagan's birth approaches, and a generation after he exited the White House, the nation's 40th president is enjoying a level of popularity that mostly eluded him while in office.

Ron Edmonds Associated Press
A bronze statue of President Ronald Reagan stands in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 3, 2009, after an unveiling ceremony.

Alex Brandon Associated Press
Former first lady Nancy Reagan speaks in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Wednesday, June 3, 2009, during a ceremony to unveil a statue of President Ronald Reagan.

Alex Brandon Associated Press
A section of the Berlin Wall stands in Ronald Reagan Park during a dedication ceremony in San Bernadino, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. The City of San Bernadino acquired the last piece of the historic wall available by public auction.

Gabriel Acosta The Sun
In this photo taken Jan. 24, 2011, the grounds of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon, Ill. are blanketed with snow. Reagan lived in the house, which is now a museum, for several years as a child. The Feb. 6 centennial of Reagan's birth is a proud moment for region where Reagan was born and raised.

David Mercer Associated Press
In this photo taken Jan. 25, 2011, a banner noting the centennial of Ronald Reagan's birth hangs on the campus of his alma mater, Eureka College in Eureka, Ill. The Feb. 6 centennial is a proud moment for region where Reagan was born, raised and spent much of his young adult life.

David Mercer Associated Press
Ron Reagan, son of former President Ronald Reagan, greets staff and guests Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, as he arrives for a signing of his book, "My Father at 100," in the gift shop next to Ronald Reagan's boyhood home in Dixon, Ill. The event was part of the Illinois Reagan Centennial.

Scott Morgan Rockford Register Star
FILE-This file picture taken Jan. 27,1988, shows U.S. President Ronald Reagan saluting to members of the Reserve Officers Association in Washington.

Mike Sargent Afp Files