Can You Spot Defining Moments?
A Surprising Lesson from Ronald Reagan's Years as a Lifeguard
This summer I was watched a documentary on Iowa PBS about President Ronald Reagan. I’ve always been intrigued by his story, since he was a small-town Midwestern kid like me. I decided to read Reagan’s Roots: The People and Places That Shaped His Character.
Author Peter Hanaford shared a memorable story that occurred in the summer of 1932, just weeks after Reagan graduated from Eureka College in Illinois. As the Great Depression gripped America, Reagan had returned home to Dixon, Illinois, to work as a lifeguard at Lowell Park along the Rock River. He met Sid Altschuler, a prosperous Kansas City businessman who was staying with his family at one of Lowell Park’s cottages that summer. “Dutch” Reagan taught the Altschuler daughters to swim, and Sid Altschuler liked the engaging young man.
One day Altschuler asked Reagan what he wanted to do when the summer was over. Reagan didn’t know. Altschuler urged Reagan to think it over. If it were in a field where he had connections, Altschuler would do everything he could to open doors for Reagan.
“His secret ambition was to go into acting professionally, but even suggesting it would no doubt make Mr. Altschuler think he had taken leave of his sense,” Hanaford wrote.
Reagan’s thoughts turned to the new industry of radio. He figured maybe he could be a radio sports announcer. Altschuler thought this was a promising choice, but he had no connections in radio. “The important thing was that Altschuler’s asking of the question had caused Dutch’s thoughts to crystallize into a real goal,” Hanaford wrote.
Reagan went onto land a job as a sportscaster at WOC Radio in Davenport, followed by a stint at WHO Radio in Des Moines. In 1937, he covered the Chicago Cubs when they were in southern California for spring training. During this trip, Reagan took a screen test at Warner Bros.’ studio, which led to his successful career in Hollywood.
Reagan probably had no idea that conversation with Altschuler one summer day in 1932 would be a defining moment in his life. Life provides all of us with turning points. Many come disguised as ordinary events of daily life. The most powerful ones go right to the heart of who we are.
I think back to February 2002, when I found out I was laid off from my job as an ag editor after the dot-com bubble burst. Back then, I had no idea this would start my journey to self-employment. All I knew was that I would need extra courage, creativity and confidence to forge a path forward.
No doubt there will be more defining moments ahead. I may not recognize them at the time, but they will certainly keep life interesting.
Thanks for this perspective, Darcy!