Donald Regan, Former Treasury Secretary and Reagan Chief of Staff, Dies at 84
Uncommon Power in Two Key Roles
Donald T. Regan, who served as Ronald Reagan's Treasury Secretary and later as an uncommonly powerful White House chief of staff, died on June 10th at the age of 84. Regan's passing marks the loss of a key figure in American politics during the early 1980s.
From Coal to Capitol Hill
Regan's rise to prominence was fueled by a combination of hard work and ambition. Born in 1918, he began his career as a 12-year-old shoveling coal and stoking furnaces during the Great Depression. After serving in the Marine Corps during World War II, Regan went on to found Premier Bank, which he later sold for a substantial profit.
In 1981, Regan was appointed Treasury Secretary by President Reagan. During his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of the administration's economic policies, including tax cuts and deregulation. Regan's reputation as a tough negotiator played a key role in the Reagan administration's efforts to rein in government spending.
A Powerful Chief of Staff
In 1985, Regan was appointed White House chief of staff. In this role, he wielded significant influence over the President's schedule, appointments, and policy decisions. Regan's forceful personality and unwavering loyalty to Reagan made him one of the most powerful chief of staff in recent history.
However, Regan's tenure as chief of staff was not without controversy. In 1987, he was forced to resign amidst accusations of mishandling the Iran-Contra affair, a scandal involving the secret sale of arms to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages in Lebanon.
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