The Foundations of Ronald Reagan are deeply rooted in the Midwest of America - specifically in the mores and values of Central Illinois. Born in Tampico, Illinois - a small town on the historic Hennepin Canal and moving from town to town until finally landing in Dixon for his high school years and heading south to Eureka College located between Peoria and Bloomington/Normal, Ronald Reagan learned to adapt and adjust to new friends and to believe in himself and his family above all else. At Eureka College, the world opened up to him. The Midwest left an indelible mark on this man who became President of the United States as he claimed about Eureka College, "Everything that has been good in my life began here." Studying the cultural context within which Ronald Reagan was immersed before he headed to movie stardom in California, is central to understanding who Reagan was and from where his beliefs came.
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