Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library

Biography > A Rendezvous with Destiny

1964	Became host of Death Valley Days, replacing "The Old Ranger," Stanley Andrews. He appeared in or hosted twenty-one episodes, which were broadcast from 1965-1966. Portrayed the villain in The Killers, his last motion picture. Originally made for television, it was too violent and was released in movie theaters. October 27 Delivered televised speech, A Time for Choosing, for Barry Goldwater, which launched his political career. November "Friends of Ronald Reagan," a political support group, formed.
1965	Autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me, was published. Resigned as host of Death Valley Days.
1966	November Defeated Edmund G. "Pat" Brown in a landslide. His success in the election and as Governor of California made him a leading presidential nomination contender in 1968.
1967	January 2 Was inaugurated as Governor of California.
1968	August Waited until the Republican Convention in Miami Beach to announce his candidacy for President. Unsuccessful, he joined in the unanimous support for Richard Nixon for President.
1969	May 15 Sent in the National Guard to the University of California campus in Berkeley to restore order, after "a state of emergency" was declared in response to student unrest.
1970	November Won re-election for Governor over Jesse Unruh, the Speaker of the State Assembly.
1971	Signed the California Welfare Reform Act, whose purpose was to reduce welfare rolls.
1974	Fall A consulting and public relations firm, founded by Michael Deaver and Peter Hannaford, booked speeches, newspaper columns, and radio commentaries for Reagan. Fall Declined offers from the Ford Administration to become Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Secretary of Transportation and later, Secretary of Commerce.
1975 1976	November 20 Announced his candidacy for President for the 1976 election. He later lost the race for the nomination but his strong showing laid the groundwork for his 1980 presidential bid. August 19 Addressed the Republican National Convention in Kansas City.
1979	November 13 Announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President. He was the tenth and last Republican to enter the race.
1980	February 23 Participated in the "Ambush at Nashua" debate with George Bush. Debate also included Anderson, Baker, Crane and Dole. March 18 Participated in the Republican debate in Chicago with Bush, Anderson, and Crane. April 24 Participated in the Republican debate in Houston with George Bush. July 16 Won the nomination for President at the Republican National Convention in Detroit, Michigan. July 16 Following several unsuccessful attempts to reach an accommodation with Gerald Ford, Reagan selects George Bush to be his Vice President. September 21 Participated in a debate with Anderson. Carter declined to participate. October 28 Participated in a debate with Carter. November 4 Was elected the 40th President of the United States, in a landslide victory.