Reagan: The Life (131 page)

Radio was his first career, one that capitalized on his pleasing voice but didn’t do justice to his face.

This was more like it: a promo still from Warner Brothers, where he realized his dream of acting in movies.

World War II gave Reagan new roles to play. Here he is a flier in a training film.

His first family seemed happy enough for ABC to feature it in a story about home lives of Hollywood stars. Daughter Maureen is between the reporter and her mother, Jane Wyman, who is holding son Michael. Jane appears distracted; perhaps she is reflecting that things are not what they seem.

As audiences found other favorites, Reagan turned to the politics of the film industry. In 1947 he testified at the HUAC hearings on communists in Hollywood.

It took him a while to realize that Nancy was his true love, but she gradually convinced him, and their wedding ensued. The love affair lasted the rest of his life.

A secret of his success was his persistent optimism. He should have been disappointed at being demoted from film to television, but he appears delighted to be host of
The General Electric Theater
.