- "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
- — Ronald Reagan's most famous quote, referring to the Berlin Wall
Ronald Reagan (February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who was the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to 1975. Although he had never been on Saturday Night Live, he has been impersonated by Chevy Chase on May 8, 1976 during the "Ronald Reagan" sketch, by Harry Shearer twice on February 23, 1980 during the Weekend Update segment and on May 17, 1980 during the "Reagan Dinner" sketch, by Charles Rocket four times from November 22, 1980 to February 14, 1981, by Joe Piscopo fourteen times from November 7, 1981 to April 14, 1984, by Harry Shearer twice on October 13, 1984 during the opening monologue and on November 3, 1984 during the "Young Christians For Reagan" sketch, by Randy Quaid seven times from November 9, 1985 to May 17, 1986, by Robin Williams on November 22, 1986 during the "Earpiece" sketch and by Phil Hartman nine times from December 6, 1986 to April 13, 1991.
Reagan was known for his trickle-down economics, and his stanch stance against communism. His speech challenging Gorbachev to "tear down that wall (referring to the Berlin Wall)" was one of the many things that helped end the Cold War. After eight years in office, Reagan was succeeded by his Vice President, George H. W. Bush.
Reagan died of pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease on June 5, 2004, at the age of 93. He was, at the time, the longest-living former President. After he died, his record was broken by Gerald Ford.
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