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Ronald Reagan in Private: A Memoir of My Years in the White House

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Jim Kuhn is an honorable, self-effacing man who tells an insightful story in this memoir of his years of service to Ronald Reagan. I had the great opportunity to work with Jim in the White House and am happy to call him a friend. I have admired him for years -- more importantly, I revere Jim's humility, and his ability to see his time with President Reagan and other players on history's stage as not about him, but about being able to serve a larger purpose in a quiet yet meaningful way. If you are interested in what actually happens day to day as history is made in the West Wing, I recommend you read this book.

One would think that after reading twenty-nine books about Ronald Reagan, his life, his administration, and his family you would know just about everything there is to know about him. Not so. Reagan, like Abraham Lincoln, has so many facets to his life and character that everyone who knew him seems to view him and the events of his life in a somewhat different light. So, with each succeeding book you learn something new about him or at least get a new slant on something you thought you already knew. And that is particularly true of this book.

James Kuhn worked as an advance man in Ohio during Reagan's failed attempt to gain the Republican nomination for president in 1976. He followed that up by serving as an advance man for Reagan throughout the nation as Reagan first won the nomination and then was elected president in 1980. During Reagan's first term, he worked in advance operations for the White House and later, during Reagan's second term, was the president's executive assistant. This brought him into close personal contact with the president on a daily basis. As Kuhn described it; he was "the one constant in a churning sea of faces, issues and policies."

In his unique position Kuhn was able to observe Ronald Reagan as he performed his duties as president of the United States without necessarily becoming part of the action. He was with Reagan constantly but not in a political capacity. Instead, he dealt with the president more on a personal level while traveling with him and being responsible for the details of his schedule, and his various trips and meetings. Over time, Kuhn was able to draw some interesting and insightful conclusions regarding Ronald Reagan's character, his personality, and his effectiveness as a leader and as the leader of the free world. And during Reagan's eight years in office, he was also able to observe the close and loving relationship between Nancy and Ronald Reagan up close and personal.

Jim Kuhn's memoirs, then, are especially valuable, for through them we can see Ronald Reagan as he really was and gain new insight into the people and events of his time in office.

We who were privileged to be alive during his lifetime, and experienced the man Ronald Reagan, will never forget him. He was an actor--and a successful one--elected by his peers to represent them as their president in the screen actors guild, Governor of the State of California which, if it were a nation would be the sixth largest in the world, and was elected by his countrymen twice to be President of the United States during a period when it faced its most dangerous adversary perhaps in its history, but certainly since the Second World War: the communist dominated Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Since the end of World War II, every president of the United States in turn was faced with the Soviet effort to destroy us and our free enterprise way of life, both from the inside and out. Only Ronald Reagan was successful in freeing us from that threat. Attempts were made by various earlier administrations to befriend them, to appease them, to achieve detent, to contain the threat of the Soviets in their attempt to achieve hegemony over the entire globe, one piece of real estate at a time, by force whenever necessary. There was no secret to it. They proclaimed their goal while pounding their shoe on the desk.

Ronald Reagan called them 'the Evil Empire,' to the dismay of his faint-hearted detractors, who were afraid of antagonizing them. He insisted that the only way to defeat them--which he proclaimed as HIS goal--was through strength.

We have long named George Washington and Abraham Lincoln among the small handful of men we call 'our greatest presidents.' There can be little doubt that Ronald Reagan is now among that honored group.

Not that he didn't have detractors: throughout his presidency he was vilified by his opposition, much as was Lincoln in his time. Many people alive today who are ardent political partisans of the more liberal variety and believe that socialism is preferable to free unfettered enterprise, do not want even to hear Ronald Reagan's name mentioned. It is anathema to them. For, he was one of the men who truly believed that less government, rather than more, is better for free men. That paternalistic rule, while necessary for children, is not appropriate for free men in a free society.

So, this is the Ronald Reagan described here by Jim Kuhn, who worked closely with Reagan for thirteen years, and saw him as a private, but still dedicated, man. Here is what he says: '-he was bigger than life as the president of the United States. He looked, spoke and breathed the part. But when you were alone with him, he was the nicest, most regular guy in the world.' Intelligent, focused, unswerving, dedicated, and true to his wife and family, his country, and his ideals. Look back. How many presidents have we had that have failed utterly to fill that description in the recent past?

Some say that honor and integrity are not important, as long as a man 'does his job.' Ronald Reagan grew up in a world where it was more, not less, important. Where the means was important, as well as the end.

I suggest you buy this book, and read it, and get to know the man a little better. Although he has passed from us, his legacy is that the world has gained immensely from his having been in it.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre, USN (Ret)

This truly enjoyable book about Ronald Reagan is of the type, and should be considered a companion to, the late Mike Deaver's book, A Different Drummer (for which see my review). These books complement the scholarly tomes--important as those are--with honest appraisals of the humanity of our 40th president. Along the way, they also confirm what recent scholarship has discovered--that despite unfair portrayals by his enemies and the media, Reagan worked hard, hardly ever napped, was widely read, and was brilliant at processing and distilling information. Kuhn's book adds necessary color about the personalities in the Reagan White House, for which historians will be grateful. Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is a fair portrait of President Ronald Reagan as he was outside the public view. Written by Reagan's executive assistant, this book gives insight into behind the scenes at the White House, especially focusing on his interactions with staff, his wife and the American public. If you are a fan of Reagan the man and enjoy anecdotes about his time as president--this is the book for you. If you are looking for a strictly political or strictly biographical book, then it is not.

HE WAS THE ONLY REAL AMERICAN PRESIDENT IN MY LIFETIME AND I AND THE WHOLE WORLD OWE HIM A DEBT THAT WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REPAY.

This is an interesting personal perspective of the presidency of Ronald Reagan. What a great read! Love the "Coats on, coats off" story.

I loved this book. I almost could not put it down once I started. No spin in this book. No touting conservatism, or bashing liberals. What a remarkable insight into America's finest president.

I've read many book on Reagan and this is one of the best in showing the man. The author had a jumpseat view of history, and you'll finish the book being slightly envious of him for having one of the coolest possible jobs!

It's clear that Mr. Kuhn has a deep admiration for the Reagans but the book comes off as objective.

This book is well-written and gives a lot of insight on Reagan's campaigns for the presidency.
Mr.Kuhn was involved in those campaigns dating back to the 1970's.
The author covers Ronald Reagan's two terms in the White House very well.
He also details the President's travels and some of the political strategies that came into play with Gorbachev in particular.
If you are a Reagan fan this book is a great read.
I would recommend this book over Peter Wallison's book.Mr.Kuhn was around Ronald Reagan a lot longer and covers a longer time period.