1911: Born in Illinois

1938: Appears in first motion picture

1947-52, 1959: Serves as president of the Screen Actors Guild

1954: Becomes television spokesman for the General Electric Company and makes speeches around the country promoting the American way

1967-75: Serves as California governor

1976: Falls eighty votes shy of becoming the Republican nominee for president

1981-89: Serves as fortieth U.S. president

1981: Wounded in assassination attempt

1985: The first of several summits with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev takes place

1986: Iran-Contra scandal breaks

1994: Announces he has Alzheimer's disease