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Reagan: The Movie Star President Who Shaped an Era | The Kids History Podcast Inspired by Billy Joel
•8:05

Reagan: The Movie Star President Who Shaped an Era | The Kids History Podcast Inspired by Billy Joel

0:00 / 8:05
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In this episode

Roll out the red carpet, because in this episode, we are looking at a U.S. President who started out in Hollywood! In this installment of our We Didn't Start the Fire series, we unpack the lyric "Ronald Reagan" and explore how a movie actor and sports broadcaster became one of the most influential Presidents of the 20th century.

We’ll travel back to the 1980s to see how his famous "Great Communicator" nickname helped him connect with people, learn why he loved keeping jars of jelly beans in the Oval Office, and explore how he faced off in the Cold War, famously telling another world leader to "tear down this wall!" Tune in to find out how this optimistic leader went from the silver screen to the White House, leaving a massive mark on American history.

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About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.



Key Takeaways

  • Ronald Reagan was a movie actor and sports broadcaster before becoming a U.S. President.
  • Reagan was known as the “Great Communicator,” a nickname linked in the episode notes to his ability to connect with people.
  • The episode covers Reagan’s jelly beans in the Oval Office and his role in the Cold War, including his call to another world leader to “tear down this wall!”
  • History Ignited explores stories behind people and events from the 1950s through the 1980s and won the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Ronald Reagan do before becoming President?

He was a movie actor and sports broadcaster.

What does this episode explore about Reagan?

His communication style, jelly beans in the Oval Office, and role in the Cold War.