When did Ronald Reagan become a republican and why?
Ronald Reagan officially became a Republican in 1962, although he supported Nixon’s condidacy in 1960s. Reagan often said that his reason for leaving were what he saw as a major change in the philosophy of the Democratic party, away from individual rights in favor of a more collectivist philsoophy. He was quoted on at least one occasion as saying “I didn’t leave the Democratic party; my party left me”.
