Revolution: The Reagan Legacy (HOOVER INST PRESS PUBLICATION) [Paperback]

Martin Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Series: HOOVER INST PRESS PUBLICATION | Publication Date: October 1, 1990

Revolution gives a vivid account of how Reagan came to power, the way he governed, and the people around him—Bush, Haig, Deaver, Weinberger, Shultz, Stockman, Jim Baker, Don Regan, Casey, North —right through a detailed analysis of the Iran-Contra affair. Anderson, called the "intellectual powerhouse behind policy" and "the invisible man" in Reagan's White House," presents a clear and thought-provoking assessment of Ronald Reagan's legacy to the United States and the world. In a new chapter written especially for this edition, based on an exclusive interview with President Reagan after he left office, Martin Anderson reveals Reagan's thinking about issues that were controversial during his presidency:

What he meant when he called the Soviet Union an "evil empire"—and why he did it.

Reagan's role as prime mover behind Star Wars —how he decided to give the order to begin developing a nuclear missile defense

The secret Reagan/Andropov correspondence in 1983—including a copy of Reagan's handwritten letter to Andropov and its consequences for nuclear disarmament negotiations

Product Details

• Paperback: 486 pages
• Publisher: Hoover Institution Press; 2nd edition (October 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817989927
• ISBN-13: 978-0817989927
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,170,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!! What a great book, January 9, 2006

By 

Marvin D. Pipher (Houston, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Revolution: The Reagan Legacy (HOOVER INST PRESS PUBLICATION) (Paperback)

Martin Anderson is obviously a scholar and a brilliant intellectual; yet he writes so fluidly and with such simplicity that you'd never even know it. In this book, he puts his knowledge and skills to work to set the record straight about Ronald Reagan's presidency. In the process, and with an unmatched grasp of the facts, he dispatches virtually all the liberal myths about Ronald Reagan. And he does it with such intellectual honesty that if much of the book wasn't based on his personal experiences you'd swear he was a 22nd Century historian far removed from the prejudices of today's world.

In reading his book, "Revolution . . .," I sensed that for the first time I was seeing the entire iceberg, not just the one-eighth which has been exposed by other authors -- usually with only their own self interests, biases, or grudges in mind. In the book's outstanding forward, for example, the author puts many other works concerning Reagan in proper perspective and explains why they were written or written the way they were; puts Ronald Reagan's thinking in the perspective of his time in American and world history; and basically sets the stage for discussing Reagan's presidency. Then, in the main body, he tells it like it really was with a depth of understanding of the inner workings of the White House which is truly remarkable and which isn't found in any other book of which I am aware. What a great book!

After reading it, I now have a more complete understanding of how Ronald Reagan operated; his strengths and weaknesses; how he developed and implemented the policies upon which his presidency was based; the true depth of his understanding of world affairs, economics, politics, and government in general; and why he is generally regarded as one of America's greatest presidents. As this book reveals, he didn't do it all by himself, and he made a few mistakes, but his was a truly great presidency and a turning point in world history. So, if you intend to read just one book about Ronald Reagan's presidency, READ THIS ONE. I say that because this book is so far above all the others which I have read that there is no comparison. This book is in a class by itself.