Nofziger [Hardcover]

Lyn Nofziger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1992

One of the most revealing documents of the Reagan years. --The Wall Street Journal

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Addressed as Lynwood by Ronald Reagan, called a myriad of sometimes unprintable names by the media and certain members of the Reagan inner circle--or not called anything by Nancy Reagan, who instead gave him the silent treatment whenever she was angry at him--Nofziger is a Reagan loyalist of some vintage: press secretary in Reagan's California gubernatorial campaign and administration during the mid-1960s; press secretary in the Reagan presidential campaigns, and holder of various posts in the Reagan White House. And although he served time in the Nixon White House and provides delicious gossip about its dramatis personae, the star turn in Nofziger's memoir belongs to the former actor, who, in this devotee's opinion, is an estimable man. Nofziger's facility as an expert propagandist is much in evidence here as he practices an art he is proud to have mastered, that of confusing them with the truth. He shows us politics in the back room and singles out those he considers masters of their craft: James Baker III, for one, is an operator who has slicked his way up to the most prestigious cabinet job going. As for the lazy and self-important Washington press corps, any member of the media who talks 'right to know' is talking absolute crap. But the sourest note in this otherwise comical journal is sounded when Nofziger recaps his 1988 conviction on three counts of violating the Ethics in Government Act, a sentence voided on appeal at a bitter cost to him of $1.8 million in legal fees.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The former political adviser to presidents Nixon and Reagan has written a rambling, anecdote-filled account of his professional life. Little time (one chapter) is devoted to his early years--1950 to 1965--as a correspondent for Copley News Service, but Nofziger manages to critique contemporary political reporters, their methods, and their ethics. The remainder of the book concerns Nofziger's adventures within the political system, first with Reagan as governor in California, then with presidents Nixon and Reagan, and finally as a lobbyist. Crammed with bits of political trivia and far too many short, unsubstantiated personal assessments of the major political figures in Washington, the book becomes repetitive and actually boring at times. The book fittingly ends with Nofziger's account of his trial and acquittal (on appeal) of violating the federal Ethics in Government Act, but not until the reader is forced to endure a selection of the limericks/poems he penned during the course of the trial. For a more objective and full account of the Reagan years, libraries should have Lou Cannon's President Reagan: Role of a Lifetime ( LJ 4/15/91).
- Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 370 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing, Inc. (September 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895265133
• ISBN-13: 978-0895265135
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,192,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly entertaining, July 2, 2000

By 

secondadd "secondadd" (Dublin, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nofziger (Hardcover)

Nofziger is not the hilarious donnybrook that Ed Rollins' book covering the same eras is, but it's more circumspect, more low-key, and less emotional. But it's emotional enough, and it's occasionally very funny too. Especially valuable is the inside information on Reagan's unsuccessful 1976 run. Like Rollins, Nofziger believes that Reagan's executive style of management (i.e. knowing his place) was a great strength, but his remoteness and inattention to detail also led to the appointment of the people (Baker in particular) who undermined his conservative philosophy and shunted his key advisers (e.g. Meese). This directly led to the ineffective second term and the Bush years. Thus the "revolution" was largely DOA. Nofziger is one of the good guys in politics. Honest and not self-aggrandizing. If only there were more of him in Washington. He maintains a site out at lynnofziger.com.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, Informative and Insightful, January 25, 2001

By 

Agatha Nostic "AgNostic" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nofziger (Hardcover)

Lyn Nofziger was part of Ronald Reagan's hard-core conservative inner-circle since before the time Reagan was governor of California. In this book, Nofziger provides historical insights that help us understand the Reagan we knew; as well as to reveal to us a side of Reagan we never knew. Nofziger writes about the good times as well as the bad and shows how the Reagan Team bonded and evolved over the years. It's a fascinating recollection from a man who not only was there, but who knew Reagan intimately. Nofziger's memoirs provide the reader with a greater insight and appreciation for the man we called The Gipper. The end of the book is somewhat disheartening as it reveals the demise of the inner-circle during Reagan's second term as President. As someone with a romantic view of the Reagan Era, it was eye-opening to discover how badly the Reagan Revolution was undermined from within. But, you have to be willing to accept the good with the bad. And this book will most definitely give you both. A must read for all Reagan fans. Oh, and Nofziger is as funny as hell.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book by a Great Man!, March 17, 2005

By 

Matt Lewis "Matt Lewis" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nofziger (Hardcover)

This is a behind the scenes look at politics during the Nixon and Reagan administrations. Serving President Reagan since 1966, Mr. Nofziger's account is unique. (Most Reagan authors never knew the President before his days as California's governor). In addition to giving you lots of Reagan info, this book is loaded with tips that campaign professionals ought to know. He talks a lot about "handling" the candidate. For example, anyone who has run a campaign knows it's difficult to convince the candidate to stay on message and "spin" their way out of tough interviews. Nofziger addresses this common lament: "Most candidates have a compulsive urge to answer a question. It was my job...to keep the candidate and the campaign on track. Otherwise, the other guy wins."