Ronald Reagan

For 10 years, he had suffered from Alzheimer's, an incapacitating brain disease.

Reagan, who served eight years as governor of California and eight more as president (1981-89), put the world on notice that the United States would be strong militarily and economically. He preached democracy, stared down communism and denounced the Soviet Union as "The Evil Empire."

On Capitol Hill, Reagan, a conservative, swelled the defense budget, pushed tax cuts and pro-business policies, and riled Democrats who saw him as a threat to labor, the environment and other liberal priorities.

While Reagan opposed bargaining with hostage-takers and called for arms embargoes against nations that backed terrorism, his administration ended up selling arms to Iran and supporting the Nicaraguan opposition Contras in a secret operation that mushroomed into a scandal.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 12, 2004
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