Ronald Reagan was president of the United States.
The first inauguration of Ronald Reagan as the 40th President of the United States was held on January 20 , 1981 , on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington , D.C. . Ronald Wilson Reagan ( [ ˈrɒnəld_ˈwɪlsən_ˈreɪɡən ] ) ( February 6 , 1911 -- June 5 , 2004 ) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989 . Entering the presidency in 1981 , Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives .