RENDEZVOUS WITH DESTINY: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America [Paperback]

Craig Shirley (Author), Newt Gingrich (Afterword), George F. Will (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2011

As late as Election Day, headlines across the country blared that the race was “too close to call.”

Even on the verge of his historic triumph in the 1980 presidential election, political observers continued to underestimate Ronald Wilson Reagan.

In Rendezvous with Destiny, the long-awaited follow-up to his widely praised account of Reagan’s insurgent 1976 presidential campaign, Craig Shirley tells the incredible behind-the-scenes story of Reagan’s improbable run to the White House in 1980—of how the “too close to call” election became a landslide victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter and independent candidate John Anderson.

And this, Shirley shows, was no ordinary election. It dramatically altered the course of American—and world—history. Reagan’s victory gave rise to a new generation of conservatism, ended liberalism’s half-century reign of dominance, reversed the second-worst economic crisis in American history, and led to the demise of the mighty Soviet Union.

To write Rendezvous with Destiny, Shirley gained unprecedented access to 1980 campaign files and interviewed more than 150 insiders—from Reagan’s closest advisers and family members to Jimmy Carter himself. The result is the first comprehensive history of the hard-fought 1980 campaign, a gripping account that follows Reagan’s unlikely path from his bitter defeat on the floor of the 1976 Republican convention, through his underreported “wilderness years,” through grueling primary fights in which he knocked out several Republican heavyweights, through an often-nasty general election campaign complicated by the presence of a third-party candidate (not to mention the looming shadow of Ted Kennedy), to Reagan’s astounding victory on Election Night in 1980. Shirley’s years of intensive research have enabled him to relate countless untold stories—including, at long last, the solution to one of the most enduring mysteries in politics: just how Reagan’s campaign got hold of Carter’s debate briefing books.

Rendezvous with Destiny reveals how Reagan successfully battled the headwinds of the national media, the Republican Party establishment, and even his own campaign team to become one of America’s greatest chief executives.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An unbelievable book . . . I was part of the Reagan Revolution and I

didn't know 80 percent of this stuff! . . . It's worth reading, and

reading right now."

 

—Mark Levin, bestselling author of Liberty and Tyranny

 

 

 "Anyone who would understand the Reagan victory of 1980 and the

movement that eliminated the Soviet Union and revitalized America must

read—indeed must study—Craig Shirley's brilliant, comprehensive work."

 

—Newt Gingrich

 

 

  "Shirley has done extensive interviewing and research for Rendezvous

with Destiny, and it's a terrific read—for political junkies of all

ideological stripes."

 

—Michael Barone

 

 

 "This exhilarating history . . . arrives, serendipitously, at a moment

when conservatives are much in need of an inspiriting examination of

their finest hour."

 

—George F. Will, from the Foreword

 

 

"This story has been told before by journalists and historians,

including myself, but Shirley's account brings an inside dimension to

the campaign's travails. 'Rendezvous with Destiny' is prodigiously

researched and well noted. When future historians re—examine the 1980

campaign, one of their first stops is likely to be 'Rendezvous With

Destiny.'"

 

—Lou Cannon

 

 

"This is consequential history at every step. . . a first—rate work of

insider history. The book reads like Bob Woodward at his very best: a

probing, insightful, behind—the—scenes examination of events that had

profound implications for the trajectory of American politics. Shirley

has accomplished a great feat of scholarship and research, and it could

not have come at a better time. The current political climate is highly

reminiscent of that of the late 1970s. These historical similarities add

special value to Shirley's work. It is an important, timely book that

conservatives, Reagan admirers, and students of electoral politics will

cherish and enjoy for years. Credit is due to Shirley for a monumental

accomplishment."

 

—National Review

 

 

"...New book Rendezvous with Destiny, which I am almost finished with. .

. .What a hell of a good book!"

 

—Larry Kudlow, CNBC

 

 

"There have been hundreds of books written about Ronald Reagan and this

is the question that always irritates an author, why do we need another

one? Well, we don't have to get very far in Craig Shirley's new book

about Reagan to know that, yes, there is still a lot we didn't know

about Reagan and how he came to the White House. . . . It is a

fascinating book!"

 

—Bob Schieffer, CBS

 

 

 

"Author's tale of that multi—month campaign. . . has a you—are—there

quality. His intention is to provide the reader with a definitive

history of the 1980 campaign, and he succeeds almost too well. Lest your

head spin by the details of ever—shifting polls, maneuvers, and news

coverage of every step in every primary election campaign—keep going,

for the reward will be a clear understanding of how Ronald Reagan's

appeal to 'Main Street' Americans, including many blue—collar Democrats,

coincided with his own determination to win."

 

—Weekly Standard

 

 

"It is an exhaustive study that will be at the very core of the Reagan

bibliography for future generations, and will not anytime soon—if

ever—be surpassed."

 

—American Spectator

 

 

"As conservatives continue to try to reinvent themselves in the image of

RR, it is helpful to have at our disposal this meticulously researched

tome detailing how 'The Great Communicator' overcame the Republican

establishment to oust an incumbent president —— and ultimately, to

change the world."

 

—Politics Daily

 

 

 "I believe "Rendezvous" is a compellingly written, thoroughly

documented treatise that is essential reading for anybody who seeks to

understand what happened and why on Reagan's third try for the White

House. . . ."Rendezvous" is a chronicle, not an investigation, and ought

to be judged as such. And a wonderfully detailed chronicle it is."

 

—Mark Tapscott, Washington Examiner

 

 

"It's well—written, filled with information, and a pleasure to read.

Anyone interested in how Reagan defeated several well—respected

Republican contenders after blowing the Iowa caucuses, and then knocked

off the incumbent Democrat, will enjoy the book."

 

—Doug Bandow

 

 

 "Best. Reagan. Book. Evah!"

 

—Robert Stacy McCain

 

 

 "A scandal that once looked like it could take down a president, but

soon fizzled for lack of hard evidence, gets a closer look in a new

book, Rendezvous with Destiny. . . . Shirley's new book sheds new light

on the scandal. . . . The web of evidence Shirley weaves all leads to

one man."

 

—Chuck Todd, MSNBC

 

 

"'Rendezvous with Destiny' offers a series of important practical

lessons on how to run a presidential campaign, including coherent

ideology and strategic nimbleness when circumstances change. Whether the

reader is a Reagan fan or not, that takeaway alone makes Craig Shirley's

book a top political read."

 

—David Mark, Politico

 

 

 "A superb insider's account . . . Full of anecdotes that have never

been published before."

 

—Houston Chronicle

 

 

 "Conservatives will love this book, and political junkies of all

stripes will find it fascinating. Readers looking for high drama will

eagerly absorb its more than 600 pages. . . . It is the

behind—the—scenes drama that lends real suspense to the narrative."

 

—Washington Times

 

 

 "Craig Shirley has done a masterful job. . . Shirley's books will be

the definitive works on both Reagan elections. It will be impossible to

top his extensive journalistic research and, especially, his 150

interviews with and access to all of the movers and shakers of the

campaigns."

 

—Human Events

 

 

"Craig Shirley's new book on Reagan has a powerful message:  we combined

conservatives, libertarians, and independents, all inside a big

Republican tent before ——and we can do it again. It's is an illuminating

look back at the watershed 1980 election. For those more interested in

the politics of today, Shirley's book has much to offer."

 

—FOXNews.com

 

 

"A much broader look at the campaign that elected Reagan . . . Shirley

has gathered a wealth of evidence."

 

—Politico

 

 

"The book covers every aspect of the 1980 campaign: from Reagan's

comeback after losing the Iowa caucuses to the behind—the—scenes staff

battles and the mystery of who stole President Jimmy Carter's debate

briefing books."

 

—The Hill

 

 

"The genius of Shirley's work is to take stories we already know about,

and fill in the details that take you, the reader, right into the room

with the principals."

 

—CQ Politics

 

 

"Shirley's book is well—researched and well—written, and it gives

insight into Reagan's journey to the Oval Office. The opening lines of

the prologue are sure to bring tears to many a conservative's eye, as

Shirley sets the scene at the 1980 GOP convention in Detroit as Reagan

accepts the party's nomination for president."

 

—Roll Call

 

 

 

 "Shirley's book is less of a paean to the Hollywood B—bit—actor—turned

politico's looming presidency as it is a gritty, behind—the—scenes

account of the Reagan Revolution. Shirley goes easy on the froth,

digging deep over 37 chapters, which includes the fateful events of the

Republican presidential debate held at Nashua High School on Feb. 23,

1980."

 

—Nashua Telegraph

 

 

  "Shirley puts to rest one of the great political mysteries: who stole

Carter's debate briefing books? . . . Shirley also reveals that the

Kennedy family had a long memory on Election Day. . . .when it came time

for the election, virtually all of them voted for Ronald Reagan."

 

—NewsMax

 

 

"A new book by Craig Shirley tells the exhilarating story of how Reagan

triumphed and made us believe it was morning in America again."

 

—Eagle Forum

 

 

"Provides the first inside look at the historic 1980 election . . .

Shi...

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Book Description

A landmark history, updated for the centennial of Reagan’s birth

 

A revised and updated paperback edition of Craig Shirley’s gripping, insider history of the pivotal 1980 presidential election, published to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birth (February 2011) with Newt Gingrich contributing a new afterword to the paperback.

As late as Election Day, headlines across the country blared that the race was "TOO CLOSE TO CALL."

Even on the verge of his historic triumph in the 1980 presidential election, political observers continued to underestimate Ronald Wilson Reagan.

In Rendezvous with Destiny, the long-awaited follow-up to his widely praised account of Reagan’s insurgent 1976 presidential campaign, Craig Shirley tells the incredible behind-the-scenes story of Reagan’s improbable run to the White House in 1980—of how the "too close to call" election became a landslide victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter and independent candidate John Anderson.

And this, Shirley shows, was no ordinary election. It dramatically altered the course of American—and world—history. Reagan’s victory gave rise to a new generation of conservatism, ended liberalism’s half-century reign of dominance, reversed the second-worst economic crisis in American history, and led to the demise of the mighty Soviet Union.

To write Rendezvous with Destiny, Shirley gained unprecedented access to 1980 campaign files and interviewed more than 150 insiders—from Reagan’s closest advisers and family members to Jimmy Carter himself. The result is the first comprehensive history of the hard-fought 1980 campaign, a gripping account that follows Reagan’s unlikely path from his bitter defeat on the floor of the 1976 Republican convention, through his underreported "wilderness years, " through grueling primary fights in which he knocked out several Republican heavyweights, through an often-nasty general election campaign complicated by the presence of a third-party candidate (not to mention the looming shadow of Ted Kennedy), to Reagan’s astounding victory on Election Night in 1980. Shirley’s years of intensive research have enabled him to relate countless untold stories—including, at long last, the solution to one of the most enduring mysteries in politics: just how Reagan’s campaign got hold of Carter’s debate briefing books.

Rendezvous with Destiny reveals how Reagan successfully battled the headwinds of the national media, the Republican Party establishment, and even his own campaign team to become one of America’s greatest chief executives.

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 752 pages
• Publisher: Intercollegiate Studies Institute; 2 edition (January 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935191934
• ISBN-13: 978-1935191933
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Craig Shirley is the author of two critically praised bestselling books on President Reagan, :Rendezvous with Destiny:Ronald Reagan and the Campaign that Changed America" and "Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All." He is the president of Shirley & Banister Public Affairs, was chosen in 2005 by Springfield College as their Outstanding Alumnus and has been named the First Reagan Scholar at Eureka College, Ronald Reagan's alma mater.
Shirley has written extensively for the Washington Post, the Washington Examiner, the Washington Times, the Los Angeles Times, Town Hall, the Weekly Standard and many other publications.

Shirley and his wife, Zorine, are the parents of four children. They reside at "Trickle Down Point" on the Rappahannock River in Lancaster, Virginia. He is now working on three more books on Reagan.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story of an Epic Election Year November 5, 2009

By Eric Mayforth

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The 1980 presidential election ranks with the elections of 1800, 1828, 1860, and 1932 as one of the most important in American history, and this book by Craig Shirley provides a comprehensive look at this pivotal contest--the author was able to gain interviews with many important figures in the campaign and unearth previously unknown facts.

Shirley outlines the social and economic conditions at the end of the 1970s that led to Reagan's election, and gives details on Reagan's activities in the years leading up to the 1980 nomination fight.

The descriptions of the long nomination fights for both parties are excellent. The author provides inside information on some of the conflicts among the Reagan staffers, recounts the famous "I am paying for this microphone" Nashua debate, and remembers the times when it looked as though Ronald Reagan's campaign and political career were over. Many do not know or remember that Gerald Ford gave serious thought to running in 1980--Shirley recalls the points in the campaign at which the former president was tempted to jump in.

The Reagan-Ford "Dream Ticket" saga, the Reagan acceptance speech, and the selection of George Bush as the vice-presidential nominee at the Detroit convention are thoroughly covered.

Even though the election ended in a landslide, the fall campaign of 1980 was one of the most suspenseful of all time, as the race looked close right up until Election Day. The author chronicles the ups and downs for both Carter and Reagan, including the all-important Cleveland debate, and even solves the mystery of the missing Carter debate briefing books.

Those of us old enough to remember Election Day 1980 will have their memories jogged by Shirley's look back at the networks' coverage of the election. My parents were going to allow me, a ten-year-old Reagan supporter, to stay up as late as necessary to see the outcome, but, as the book remembers, the result was settled VERY early (and I didn't get to stay up nearly as late as I thought I might get to stay up).

The foreword by George Will and the epilogue examining the Gipper's place in history round out this volume that would be enjoyed by all conservative political junkies.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars There He Goes Again... October 25, 2009

By Christian Josi

Format:Hardcover

Landing a role as a key Reagan historian with his last book on the 1976 campaign, Craig Shirley has secured it for the ages in this meticulous run down on Ronald Reagan's second earnest go at the presidency in 1980. Come for the history, stay for the fascinating and at times hysterically funny factoids and anecdotes about the 'Campaign that Changed America'.....

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars There is hope! October 22, 2009

By Gerald Eckert

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

What better time for a reminder that conservatives have been there before and managed to return the GOP to the people.
Craig Shirley, in exacting detail, points put that the party was once far out of touch and yet returned to its base.
A MUST for the historian, political junkie, or combination thereof. An excellent Christmas gift for your friend who
shares your interests (after all, you've read this...)