Nelson W. Aldrich Jr. wrote a book entitled “Old Money: The Mythology of America’s Upper Class” in 1988.  The book, at some point discussed how the term nouveau riche has shifted from a derogatory term into a more positive light.  He mentioned  Ronald Reagan as perfect example of a nouveau riche. So perfect in fact that many believed that he is the  embodiment of the nouveau riche of America which was believed to be one of the major factors for his election as the 40th President of America.

Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911 to John “Jack” Reagan and Nelle Wilson Reagan.  His family moved to several towns and cities until 1919 where they moved back to Tampico where they lived above the H.C. Pitney Variety Store.  In 1920, when the PItney store closed, his family moved to Dixon where he attended Dixon High School.  After high school, he attended Eureka College where he majored in economics and sociology.  In 1932, he finished college and drove to Iowa to audition for a job in a small radio station.  His career in the fim industry started in 1937 when he starred in Love is in the Air. This was after a screen test that he took and ended up with a seven-year contract with Warner Bros.  It is believed that his political career started when he became the host  for General Electronics Theater where he was required to travel to the different GE plants and give speeches which were mostly political and pro-business by nature.  He was the Governor of California from 1967 to 1975 and became the President of the US in 1981 until 1989.  He was diagnosed with Alzhiemer’s disease on August 1994 and died June 5, 2004.