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The Reagan Diaries (Hardcover) (Hardcover)
by Ronald Reagan
| Category:
History, President, Reagan, Diaries, politics |
| Market price: ¥ 368.00
MSL price:
¥ 348.00
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Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
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| MSL Pointer Review:
The "Reagan Diaries" is a fabulous read and an interesting personal look into the life of one of our country's greatest presidents. |
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Author: Ronald Reagan
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pub. in: May, 2007
ISBN: 006087600X
Pages: 784
Measurements: 9.1 x 6.4 x 2 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BA00979
Other information: ISBN-13: 978-0060876005
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- Awards & Credential -
The Reagan Diaries is an excellent compilation of our late president's own daily reflections during his two terms in office. For historians and those nostalgic for the Reagan years alike, this book is essential reading. |
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- MSL Picks -
This is a must for those interested in Ronald Reagan - the man, the husband, the father, and the President. In "The Reagan Diaries," Reagan, in his own words, gives us much more than any of his biographies has provided thus far.
Reagan, as it turns out, kept a daily diary for his entire presidency. And editor Douglas Brinkley has distilled the original five large leatherbound books into this highly readable, 767 page book. Nancy Reagan said they initiated the diaries as memory books "to capture the moment and feelings before they were whisked on to the next day." And sure enough, the two of them spent many moments after they left Washington to read and reminisce while together in their California home.
The "Diaries" covers plenty of political (brokering policy within his administration, his party or congress) and historical (the balancing of relations between Israel and the Arab states) events. The book also provides a good account of family and friends. Nancy was never far away nor were his Hollywood friends; and, as the press reported at the time, relations with Ron Jr. and Patty were difficult.
"The Reagan Diaries" is a treat.
--MSL quote
Target readers:
History buffs, Reagan's fans and political junkies.
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At the end of his two terms in office, Ronald Reagan viewed with satisfaction the achievements of his innovative program known as the Reagan Revolution, which aimed to reinvigorate the American people and reduce their reliance upon Government. He felt he had fulfilled his campaign pledge of 1980 to restore "the great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism."
On February 6, 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan was born to Nelle and John Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. He attended high school in nearby Dixon and then worked his way through Eureka College. There, he studied economics and sociology, played on the football team, and acted in school plays. Upon graduation, he became a radio sports announcer. A screen test in 1937 won him a contract in Hollywood. During the next two decades he appeared in 53 films.
From his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman, he had two children, Maureen and Michael. Maureen passed away in 2001. In 1952 he married Nancy Davis, who was also an actress, and they had two children, Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott.
As president of the Screen Actors Guild, Reagan became embroiled in disputes over the issue of Communism in the film industry; his political views shifted from liberal to conservative. He toured the country as a television host, becoming a spokesman for conservatism. In 1966 he was elected Governor of California by a margin of a million votes; he was re-elected in 1970.
Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.
On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by a would-be assassin, but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar.
Dealing skillfully with Congress, Reagan obtained legislation to stimulate economic growth, curb inflation, increase employment, and strengthen national defense. He embarked upon a course of cutting taxes and Government expenditures, refusing to deviate from it when the strengthening of defense forces led to a large deficit.
A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes. Their victory turned away Democratic challengers Walter F. Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro.
In 1986 Reagan obtained an overhaul of the income tax code, which eliminated many deductions and exempted millions of people with low incomes. At the end of his administration, the Nation was enjoying its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity without recession or depression.
In foreign policy, Reagan sought to achieve "peace through strength." During his two terms he increased defense spending 35 percent, but sought to improve relations with the Soviet Union. In dramatic meetings with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, he negotiated a treaty that would eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles. Reagan declared war against international terrorism, sending American bombers against Libya after evidence came out that Libya was involved in an attack on American soldiers in a West Berlin nightclub.
By ordering naval escorts in the Persian Gulf, he maintained the free flow of oil during the Iran-Iraq war. In keeping with the Reagan Doctrine, he gave support to anti-Communist insurgencies in Central America, Asia, and Africa.
Overall, the Reagan years saw a restoration of prosperity, and the goal of peace through strength seemed to be within grasp.
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During his eight years as the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan kept a daily diary, in which he recorded his innermost thoughts and observations. The handwritten diaries have been seen by only a few people to date, and they share Reagan's personal insights into the extraordinary, the historic, and the routine day–to–day events of his Presidency. "When we left Sacramento, we felt the time passed so quickly, we could hardly remember the eight years," said Nancy Reagan. "When Ronnie became president, he wanted to write it all down so we could remember these special times."
From his first inauguration to weekends at Camp David to the end of the Cold War, these Presidential diaries are the most detailed in American history, filled with Reagan's trademark wit, sharp intelligence, and humor. They offer the deep warmth of his voice, while shedding a new light on the character of a true American leader. To read these diaries is to gain a unique understanding of the Oval Office and one of the greatest presidents in our nation's history.
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Marvin Pipher (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-17 00:00>
Based on Reagan's personal diaries, kept daily over a period of eight years, this book gives us more insight into the REAL Ronald Reagan than any book written to date or any book likely to be written in the future.
When I began reading it, I was tuned to several aspects of Reagan's character and to some of his presumed faults as asserted by the liberal media and by his political enemies during his time in office. Did Reagan, for example, sleep through his daily National Security Council (NSC) briefings and his Cabinet meetings? Was he so indecisive that he could never make a decision? Did his aides have to tell him exactly what to say and where to stand to say it? Did Nancy Reagan really run things often using astrology as the basis for her decisions? Did Don Regan keep people from contacting the president while he was Chief of Staff? Did the president know about Iran/Contra? And did Reagan suffer from early Alzheimer's during the latter part of his presidency? I also wondered if I could discern the familial relationships between Reagan and his children.
Taking these one by one: I was amazed at Reagan's continued grasp of what was happening in his administration and was astounded that, after what must have been a grueling day's work, he could sit down and recount and record the major happenings of each day's activities. No! Reagan didn't sleep through his NSC and Cabinet meetings. Was Reagan indecisive? If he was, he certainly didn't think so, for his diary entries are consistently dynamic, forceful, and resolute. Did his aides tell him what to say and do? If they did, he couldn't possibly have kept these diaries. Did Nancy make the decisions? Perhaps she influenced him in private, but, as near as I can recall, there was only one time in his diary where Nancy attempted to influence him - and they disagreed. Did Don Regan keep people and, perhaps information, from Reagan? If he did, it isn't apparent from Reagan's diary entries during Regan's term. Did Reagan know about and approve Iran/Contra? It is clear that Reagan approved the sale of military hardware to Israel to replace that sold by them to Iran, but it is just as clear that he knew nothing about any funds being diverted to the Contras. As for Reagan's presumed loss of mental capacity during his last two years in office: I could not discern any change in mental capacity based on his diary entries. I did, however, note a distinct change following George H. W. Bush's election in November of 1988. Perhaps the load had been lifted. As for Reagan's relationships with his children: based on numerous diary entries, it would seem that Reagan had a fairly good relationship with his son Ron, an excellent rapport with his daughter Maurine, and good relations with his son Michael starting at about the time Michael's book "On the Outside Looking In" was written. There was very little mention of Patty Davis throughout the book.
Until now, I have always ranked Ronald Reagan, along with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as one of America's three greatest presidents,. After reading this book, however, I have concluded that Ronald Reagan is most likely the greatest president this nation has ever seen. I say that because it is now much easier for me to envision Reagan serving as America's first president in a much simpler time and, similarly, I think Reagan could have seen our nation through the Civil War. On the other hand: I have a great deal of trouble seeing either Washington or Lincoln being able to deal with the problems Reagan faced on almost a daily bases for eight solid years as the world's leading super power.
I highly recommend this book, although I don't think it is for everyone. I really appreciated the fact that there was no puffery and no self-aggrandizement. Reagan simply told it like it was. My only disappointment was that Reagan's diary entries were so explicit and concise that they failed to capture the tenor of his manner of speaking.
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NOVA REVIEWER (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-17 00:00>
I give this book five stars although it is not as complete as I wish. Douglas Brinkley tries to mix Reagan's personal thoughts and life with his everyday official business. Although he did a good job I felt he left a lot out that could have added more to this edited version of the President's diary.
Several things did stand out -
1. I remember how the news media did a hatchet job on his Administration but publicly he usually maintained the high road by treating his media detractors with courtesy and professionalism - almost as though he was oblivious to them. In private though, it was obvious he was aware of their animosity. But for a right wing bumpkin - as the media treated him - he usually was able to manipulate the media against itself. Not too shabby for an ignorant senile old man.
2. The shapings of the major scandal of his Administration was particularly interesting as he touched on efforts to free hostages in the Middle East. Anybody looking for a smoking gun indicating his guilt of an impeachable event will be disappointed - unless Brinkley edited that guilt out of the book.
3. For a man who preached family values - and was very devoted to his wife - he had problems with his own kids. Nothing sinister but it shows that even the most powerful person in the world can feel powerless when it comes to his own family. I remembered the flak George Bush, Jr. got when his twin daughters misbehaved and thought that if we disqualified parents from public service if they could not control their own kids there would not be many parents qualified for public service.
4. Although he was - and unfortunately still is - the icon of Republican conservativism, even he had difficulties keeping the conservative movement satisfied all the time. (I say "unfortunately" because the current crop of Republican candidates are too busy trying to portray themselves as the next Ronald Reagan when they should be themselves.) I do not think his successor, George Bush Sr, ever truly appreciated Reagan's hold on the party. The senior Bush may have been better educated and maybe even more intelligent but President Reagan was the heart and soul of the Republican Party. Reagan could hold the party together in ways his successor could not comprehend.
5. Although he had enemies most of the people he dealt with in government were either friends from his own party or friends from the other party. This was still an era where he could battle Tip O'Neil or another Democratic leader at a professional and political level and then shmooze with them in private. They left their differences at the door when it came to socializing. This was true with administrations prior to Reagan's and largely true through George Bush Sr's Administration. But it has been largely cut throat the last fifteen years and both parties share the blame.
I consider the book to be incomplete for a couple of reasons. First, in the interest of conciseness, Douglas Brinkley left a lot of stuff out and provided only a brief summary of issues the President wrote in the diary. This may have been necessary to keep the book to a readable length but sometimes I felt from the summary that there was a lot of interesting material left out and substituted with trivial.
My more immediate concern, though, was the lack of explanation. Brinkley could have footnoted this book to death and fortunately he chose not to. But so much of the book may be incomprehensible to somebody who did not live through that era so there may be much left in that would be meaningless to a casual history buff. I felt Brinkley would have better served the reader by providing a three or four page summary at the start of each year explaining the main issues that are discussed in the diary. For example, he brushed off a casual comment in one of his Saturday radiocasts when he spoke into an open microphone declaring the Soviet Union to be illegal. I remember that to be a funny event that the media and the Reagan detractors blew out of proportion. |
Skoro (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-17 00:00>
Love him or loathe him, Ronald Reagan was a President who knew how to lead. His diaries reveal how hectic, pressure-packed, and demanding serving in the office of President can be, even for a popular chief executive. Reagan's willingness to make the tough decision and then let the chips fall where they may endeared him to some, while others called him reckless. Indeed, the Iran-Contra scandal is evidence that at times he wasn't as in control of his administration as he appeared to be to the public. But through it all, one gets the indelible impression that Reagan was a man who cared deeply about America and its people, and acted in what he saw as the nation's best interest. (Totally unlike the current administration) He also makes it clear that he enjoyed his years in the White House, fully realizing that he'd be only a temporary occupant. But he was only truly comfortable in Washington when accompanied by Nancy. He makes frequent references to how lonely the White House felt when she was out of town.
This is a very informal, first-person account that history buffs, Reagan fans and political junkies will find most gratifying. |
V. Fiore (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-17 00:00>
The Reagan Diaries affords the reader a front row view of what is certainly one of America's greatest president's, Ronald Wilson Reagan. Even more so, one will gain new respect for Reagan--and any president, I think--when one realizes the dizzying and diverse amount of responsibilities that the leader of the free world must accommodate himself to daily. From meeting world leaders to Girl Scout leaders, President Reagan stepped up and carried out the duties of the presidency with a respect seldom exhibited by modern day executives.
The book is chock-full of the "real Reagan" that his acolytes have always known, and it shows how the president felt regarding a host of issues. When reading the book, one will notice a few central themes to Reagan's presidency, and his personal life: His complete disgust over communism; his belief in the free market, and his attempts at making government less intrusive in people's lives.
Lest anyone doubt, Reagan displays and defines the conservative principles that define modern day conservatism for millions today. It is, in my opinion, one of Reagan's greatest legacies.
On the personal score, one overriding sentiment Reagan expresses over and above is his love for Nancy Reagan. Reagan remarks time and again how lonely he feels when Nancy was away on personal or in keeping busy with the duties of a First Lady. The Reagan Diaries will afford the reader a glimpse into his strained relationships with some of his children, and the patience it took maintain said relationships.
From the political point of view, Reagan was a gentleman's gentleman, proving that one could be political adversaries on different sides of the aisle, yet friends after the sun went down on Washington. His friendship with House Speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neill is nearly legendary in the beltway.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to enhance ones knowledge of America's 40th president. It will also prove valuable as a fist-hand introduction to the life of Ronald Reagan for the beginner in the world of politics. A more candid and refreshing account of Reagan cannot be found, as these are the very words of America's greatest conservative president, Ronald Reagan.
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