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More About This Textbook
Overview
In October 1964, Ronald Reagan gave a televised speech in support of Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. "The Speech," as it has come to be known, helped launch Ronald Reagan as a leading force in the American conservative movement. However, less than twenty years earlier, Reagan was a prominent Hollywood liberal, the president of the Screen Actors Guild, and a fervent supporter of FDR and Harry Truman. While many agree that Reagan's anticommunism grew out of his experiences with the Hollywood communists of the late 1940s, the origins of his conservative ideology have remained obscure.
Based on a newly discovered collection of private papers as well as interviews and corporate documents, The Education of Ronald Reagan offers new insights into Reagan's ideological development and his political ascendancy. Thomas W. Evans links the eight years (1954-1962) in which Reagan worked for General Electric—acting as host of its television program, GE Theater, and traveling the country as the company's public-relations envoy-to his conversion to conservatism.
In particular, Evans reveals the profound influence of GE executive Lemuel Boulware, who would become Reagan's political and ideological mentor. Boulware, known for his tough stance against union officials and his innovative corporate strategies to win over workers, championed the core tenets of modern American conservatism-free-market fundamentalism, anticommunism, lower taxes, and limited government. Building on the ideas and influence of Boulware, Reagan would soon begin his rise as a national political figure and an icon of the American conservative movement.
Columbia University Press
Editorial Reviews
The Washington Times
A revelation... Definitely worth reading for those who want to know how Ronald Reagan evolved into the 'Great Communicator' of political yore.— A.G. Gancarski
Sacramento News and Review
[ The Education of Ronald Reagan] fills a hole in Reagan's biography.— Daniel Oppenheimer
Washington Lawyer
Evans's book is essential reading... a reasoned exploration of the shaping of an extraordinary political career.— Joseph C. Goulden
National Interest
The Education of Ronald Reagan admirably fills... [a] gap... One of the most illuminating books ever written about Reagan.— Jacob Heilbrunn
The Midwest Book Review
[ The Education of Ronald Reagan]provides fresh revelations on Reagan's ideological development... a 'must' for any college level collection.
Claremont Review of Books
Evans is undoubtedly correct to home in on the G.E. years as the key period in Reagan's self education.— Steven F. Hayward
Register of the Kentucky Historical Society
Evans provides useful insight into Reagan's GE years and calls attention to the influence of Boulware.— Emilie Raymond
BizVoice
I recommend strongly that you get the (book).— Newt Gingrich
Labor History
An important work that ought to be read.— Ronald W. Schatz
The Wall Street Journal - John H. Fund
An elegant history of Reagan's 'studies' with General Electric.
The Washington Times - A.G. Gancarski
A revelation... Definitely worth reading for those who want to know how Ronald Reagan evolved into the 'Great Communicator' of political yore.
Sacramento News and Review - Daniel Oppenheimer
[ The Education of Ronald Reagan] fills a hole in Reagan's biography.
Washington Lawyer - Joseph C. Goulden
Evans's book is essential reading... a reasoned exploration of the shaping of an extraordinary political career.
Nicholas Lemann
A better companion to [ The Reagan Diaries].... By focusing on the decade or so when Reagan was a traveling spokesman for General Electric—a period that he began as a Democrat and ended as a Republican—Evans does a persuasive job of explaining where Reagan's political views came from.
National Interest - Jacob Heilbrunn
The Education of Ronald Reagan admirably fills... [a] gap... One of the most illuminating books ever written about Reagan.
Claremont Review of Books - Steven F. Hayward
Evans is undoubtedly correct to home in on the G.E. years as the key period in Reagan's self education.
Register of the Kentucky Historical Society - Emilie Raymond
Evans provides useful insight into Reagan's GE years and calls attention to the influence of Boulware.
BizVoice - Newt Gingrich
I recommend strongly that you get the (book).
Labor History - Ronald W. Schatz
An important work that ought to be read.
The Wall Street Journal
An elegant history of Reagan's 'studies' with General Electric.— John H. Fund
Product Details
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Meet the Author
Thomas W. Evans, a lawyer and avocational politician, has supervised a successful New Hampshire presidential primary and established a national citizens' campaign organization. A former adjunct professor of education and administration at Columbia University's Teachers College, Evans was chair of the Reagan administration's national symposium on partnerships in education and counsel to the Points of Light Foundation under George H.W. Bush.
Columbia University Press
Table of Contents
1. A New Dealer to the Core2. Politics: War by Different MeansPart I. A Postgraduate Course in Political Science 3. Boulwarism4. The Plant Tour5. Schools, Classes, and TrainsPart II. An Apprenticeship for Public Life 6. The Campaign7. Allies8. The Speech9. Two Unions10. The Art of NegotiationPart III. To Encourage an Increasing Majority of Citizens 11. The Campaign Continues12. The Presidential Bug13. A President's VisionAppendix. Speeches of Reuther, Boulware, and Reagan Walter P. Reuther, Labor and the Community Lemuel Boulware, Salvation Is Not Free Ronald Reagan, A Time for Choosing ("The Speech")AcknowledgmentsNotesReferencesIndex
Columbia University Press