At Reagan's Side: Insiders' Recollections from Sacramento to the White House

by Stephen F. Knott, Jeffrey L. Chidester

Overview

In At Reagan's Side, Reagan scholars Jeff Chidester and Stephen Knott compile excerpts from interviews of top Reagan officials. Through the Miller Center's Ronald Reagan Oral History Project, Chidester and Knott show readers the life of the "Great Communicator" through the eyes of both famous and lesser-known administration insiders like James Baker, Edwin Meese, Peter Hannaford, Caspar Weinberger, and Joanne Drake.

At Reagan's Side offers unique, behind-the-scenes glimpses into the candidacy and election of Ronald Reagan, chronicling his run for and subsequent election to public office as Governor of California, and later, as President of the United States.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742566255
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/16/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Stephen F. Knott is associate professor ofNational Security Studies at theUnited States Naval War College.

Jeffrey L. Chidester is Chair of the National Discussion and Debate Series for Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 1. Mr. Reagan Goes to Sacramento
Chapter 4 2. Governor Reagan
Chapter 5 3. "There is No Substitute for Victory"
Chapter 6 4. Mr. Reagan Goes to Washington
Chapter 7 5. From Evil Empire to Iran Contra
Chapter 8 6. The Man Behind the Wall
Chapter 9 7. Tearing Down the Wall
Chapter 10 8. "The Sunset of My Life"
11 Appendix A. Ronald Reagan Oral History Project Scholars
12 Appendix B. List of Interviews Conducted
13 Bibliography
14 Index

What People are Saying About This

Steven F. Hayward

The force of Reagan's character and outsized personality has made us overlook the important role and knowledge of his supporting cast. Jeffrey Chidester and Stephen Knott have performed a valuable service in synthesizing the extensive oral histories they compiled over the last decade. At Reagan's Side will become a standard reference work for future historians of Reagan.

Paul Kengor

Stephen Knott and Jeffrey Chidester have produced a balanced, insightful, rare gem of scholarship on Ronald Reagan, drawn from the people who knew the man and worked closely with him. The primary-source information in this book is a treasure trove of must-read material on President Reagan. . . . Knott and Chidester rightly appreciate the impact, importance, and influence of the Reagan person and presidency . . . in an engaging, readable style.

Charles Walcott

Drawing upon interviews with some of Ronald Reagan’s closest associates, Chidester and Knott present a fascinating political and personal portrait of our 40th president. These recollections recall the major events of Reagan's political career and elucidate the remarkable strengths—and, occasionally, the limitations—of a president whose leadership qualities were controversial in his day and still are. The authors make a strong case for Reagan’s ranking as a 'near great' president. The book is a worthy addition to the literature on Reagan and is a sheer pleasure to read.

Editorial Reviews

Stephen Knott and Jeffrey Chidester have produced a balanced, insightful, rare gem of scholarship on Ronald Reagan, drawn from the people who knew the man and worked closely with him. The primary-source information in this book is a treasure trove of must-read material on President Reagan.. .. Knott and Chidester rightly appreciate the impact, importance, and influence of the Reagan person and presidency. .. in an engaging, readable style.

Paul Kengor

The force of Reagan's character and outsized personality has made us overlook the important role and knowledge of his supporting cast. Jeffrey Chidester and Stephen Knott have performed a valuable service in synthesizing the extensive oral histories they compiled over the last decade. At Reagan's Side will become a standard reference work for future historians of Reagan.

Steven F. Hayward

Drawing upon interviews with some of Ronald Reagan’s closest associates, Chidester and Knott present a fascinating political and personal portrait of our 40th president. These recollections recall the major events of Reagan's political career and elucidate the remarkable strengths—and, occasionally, the limitations—of a president whose leadership qualities were controversial in his day and still are. The authors make a strong case for Reagan’s ranking as a 'near great' president. The book is a worthy addition to the literature on Reagan and is a sheer pleasure to read.

Charles Walcott

Beginning in 2001, scholars of the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia conducted an oral history of Ronald Reagan's political years, beginning with his first campaign for governor of California through his last public speech in 1993...Mr. Knott and Mr. Chidester...intersperse their narrative with quotations — short and long — from the oral history interviewees. These comments provide colorful, lively texture to the Reagan story. Here are insights into his thinking, his character and his management style...At Reagan's Side is good reading from cover to cover and adds positively to the Reagan library.

The Washington Times

Stephen Knott and Jeffrey Chidester have produced a balanced, insightful, rare gem of scholarship on Ronald Reagan, drawn from the people who knew the man and worked closely with him. The primary-source information in this book is a treasure trove of must-read material on President Reagan. . . . Knott and Chidester rightly appreciate the impact, importance, and influence of the Reagan person and presidency . . . in an engaging, readable style.--Paul Kengor, Grove City College, author of The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism

The force of Reagan's character and outsized personality has made us overlook the important role and knowledge of his supporting cast. Jeffrey Chidester and Stephen Knott have performed a valuable service in synthesizing the extensive oral histories they compiled over the last decade. At Reagan's Side will become a standard reference work for future historians of Reagan.--Steven F. Hayward, University of California, Berkely

Drawing upon interviews with some of Ronald Reagan's closest associates, Chidester and Knott present a fascinating political and personal portrait of our 40th president. These recollections recall the major events of Reagan's political career and elucidate the remarkable strengths--and, occasionally, the limitations--of a president whose leadership qualities were controversial in his day and still are. The authors make a strong case for Reagan's ranking as a 'near great' president. The book is a worthy addition to the literature on Reagan and is a sheer pleasure to read.--Charles Walcott, Virginia Tech

From the Publisher