Ronald Reagan

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Ronald Reagan (eBook) Pub. Date: 12/3/2010 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
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Ronald Reagan Pub. Date: 12/31/2010 Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

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Overview

In this short biography, Michael Schaller, acclaimed historian of the American political right, offers readers a poignant account of Ronald Reagan's life and achievements, from his small-town upbringing in rural Illinois to his cinematic success in Hollywood, entry into politics as governor of California, and meteoric rise to the White House, where he served for eight years. The polarizing Great Communicator oversaw many developments that changed the face of American politics and life-the Iran-Contra Affair, the establishment of "Reaganomics," the largest military buildup in peacetime US history--and as such remains a figure about whom much is written and much has yet to be discovered. Schaller revisits each of these episodes during and leading up to the Reagan presidency, taking into account the latest scholarship and research. In doing so, he makes clear their significance at the time and in later years.

While most presidential biographies approach 1,000 pages, this succinct narrative comes in at just over 100 pages, continuing the tradition of excellence in brevity established by James McPherson's New York Times bestseller Abraham Lincoln and Alan Brinkley's recent short biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Schaller's biography of Ronald Reagan will be available in time to commemorate the centennial of Reagan's birth, an opportune time to reflect on the accomplishments of America's fortieth president.

Editorial Reviews

Library Journal

Schaller (history, Univ. of Arizona; The Republican Ascendancy) offers a short biography of the 40th President, concentrating mostly on Reagan's two presidential terms and drawing on his own previous works. Schaller maintains that Reagan's two terms ushered in a "Reagan evolution," rather than a "Reagan Revolution," with ambitious goals that were often not accomplished: federal budgets always ran a deficit, government did not shrink, and the Soviet "evil empire" collapsed more from President Mikhail Gorbachev's realization that the USSR would have to change to survive than from veiled threats of annihilation by the U.S. "Star Wars" missile system. Reagan is credited with broadening the conservative base and tilting the country to the right through his appointments to the Supreme Court and over 400 federal judgeships, as well as connecting to the public through his soaring speeches. His influence on conservatism, Schaller concludes, was gradual but lasting. VERDICT This book, as with the other recent addition to Oxford's short presidential biographies, Robert Dallek's John F. Kennedy, is recommended for students and general readers seeking brief but authoritative introductions to the Presidents.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780199751747
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date: 12/31/2010
Pages: 128
Sales rank: 452,485
Product dimensions: 5.30 (w) x 8.10 (h) x 0.80 (d)

Meet the Author

Michael Schaller is the Regents Professor of History at the University of Arizona. He has published numerous books about 20th-century American political history and foreign policy, including The Republican Ascendancy and Right Turn: American Life in the Reagan-Bush Era.

Preface Chapter 1: From Dixon to Tinseltown, 1911-1966
Chapter 2: Governor of California and Presidential Candidate, 1966-1980
Chapter 3: The Reagan Presidency, 1981-1989
Chapter 4: Confronting the Soviet Union/Ending the Cold War Chapter 5: Legacies Notes Bibliography

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Anonymous

Posted May 21, 2011

Dont waste your money - not even worth one star

Extremely dissappinting. This author clearly does not like Reagan. Although he did write factual accounts, he skimmed quickly over any of Reagans accomplishements and then highligted every failure, mistake and error. This author may be a famed historian, but he clearly cannot seperate his personaloppinions from his writings. This book does not belong in the biography section as it has little to do with the story of a persons life. Instead it belongs under political commentary. We can all accept that Ronald Reagan was far from perfect, but he was an influencial leader who covered much in his life. This book, at less than 100 pages, focuses only on the negative aspects. If this author had worked to tell the entire story, as any good biographer should, then this book would be a few hundred pages. Do yourself a favor. If you are looking for a good biography, then avoid this one.
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