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Thomas W. Evans

The Education of Ronald Reagan: The General Electric Years and the Untold Story of his Conversion to Conservatism Hardcover – December 5, 2006

by Thomas Evans (Author)

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In October 1964, Ronald Reagan gave a televised speech in support of Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. "The Speech," as it has come to be known, helped launch Ronald Reagan as a leading force in the American conservative movement. However, less than twenty years earlier, Reagan was a prominent Hollywood liberal, the president of the Screen Actors Guild, and a fervent supporter of FDR and Harry Truman. While many agree that Reagan's anticommunism grew out of his experiences with the Hollywood communists of the late 1940s, the origins of his conservative ideology have remained obscure.

Based on a newly discovered collection of private papers as well as interviews and corporate documents, The Education of Ronald Reagan offers new insights into Reagan's ideological development and his political ascendancy. Thomas W. Evans links the eight years (1954-1962) in which Reagan worked for General Electric―acting as host of its television program, GE Theater, and traveling the country as the company's public-relations envoy-to his conversion to conservatism.

In particular, Evans reveals the profound influence of GE executive Lemuel Boulware, who would become Reagan's political and ideological mentor. Boulware, known for his tough stance against union officials and his innovative corporate strategies to win over workers, championed the core tenets of modern American conservatism-free-market fundamentalism, anticommunism, lower taxes, and limited government. Building on the ideas and influence of Boulware, Reagan would soon begin his rise as a national political figure and an icon of the American conservative movement.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Columbia University Press
Publication date

December 5, 2006
Dimensions

6 x 0.88 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0231138601
ISBN-13

978-0231138604
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Evans respectfully traces Reagan's change from New Deal liberal to economic conservative to his eight-year stint (1954–1962) as spokesman for General Electric, when he hosted GE's Saturday night television show, General Electric Theater, and toured GE plants nationwide. It was on tour that Reagan delivered early drafts of the 1964 pro-Goldwater "time for choosing" speech that would eventually thrust him onto the national political scene. As the mouthpiece for GE policy, Reagan was immersed in a free market ideology that stressed limited government and low taxes, explains Evans, an attorney who chaired the Reagan administration's national symposium on partnerships in education. The most intriguing chapters explore the tensions between Reagan's leadership of the Screen Actors' Guild—which went on strike in 1960—and his role as the public face of a company determined to prevent its unionized employees from striking. In the last chapter, Evans explicitly connects some of Reagan's presidential decisions—his insistence on restructuring taxes without cutting military spending, for example, and his oversight of the National Labor Relations Board—with his GE education. This fascinating study sheds new light on Reagan's ideological evolution. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

An elegant history of Reagan's 'studies' with General Electric. -- John H. Fund ― The Wall Street Journal

A revelation... Definitely worth reading for those who want to know how Ronald Reagan evolved into the 'Great Communicator' of political yore. -- A.G. Gancarski ― The Washington Times

[The Education of Ronald Reagan] fills a hole in Reagan's biography. -- Daniel Oppenheimer ― Sacramento News and Review

Evans's book is essential reading... a reasoned exploration of the shaping of an extraordinary political career. -- Joseph C. Goulden ― Washington Lawyer

This fascinating study sheds new light on Reagan's ideological evolution. ― Publishers Weekly

A better companion to [The Reagan Diaries].... By focusing on the decade or so when Reagan was a traveling spokesman for General Electrica period that he began as a Democrat and ended as a RepublicanEvans does a persuasive job of explaining where Reagan's political views came from. -- Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker

The Education of Ronald Reagan admirably fills... [a] gap... One of the most illuminating books ever written about Reagan. -- Jacob Heilbrunn ― National Interest

[The Education of Ronald Reagan]provides fresh revelations on Reagan's ideological development... a 'must' for any college level collection. ― The Midwest Book Review

Evans is undoubtedly correct to home in on the G.E. years as the key period in Reagan's self education. -- Steven F. Hayward ― Claremont Review of Books

Evans provides useful insight into Reagan's GE years and calls attention to the influence of Boulware. -- Emilie Raymond ― Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

I recommend strongly that you get the (book). -- Newt Gingrich ― BizVoice

An important work that ought to be read. -- Ronald W. Schatz ― Labor History

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Columbia University Press; Annotated edition (December 5, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0231138601
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0231138604
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.24 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.88 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,033,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,932 in United States National Government
- #2,943 in US Presidents
- #9,150 in Political Science (Books)

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Thomas W. Evans

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Thomas W. Evans, a lawyer and avocational politician, has supervised a successful New Hampshire presidential primary and established a national citizens' campaign organization. He has served as adjunct professor of educational administration and board chairman at Columbia University's Teachers College. He was chair of the Reagan administration's national symposium on partnerships in education and counsel to the Points of Light Foundation under George H. W. Bush. His previous books in the field of education include The School in the Home and Mentors: Making a Difference in Our Public Schools.

Evans's skills as a Wall Street litigator equipped him to wade through hundreds of pages of court, senate, and federal agency documents, penetrating the opaque curtain that General Electric drew over much of its operations. Evans's subsequent interviews with former GE employees led him to a cache of key private papers that had never been published and to archives of GE documents (housed not at the company but at a museum) that had not been seen for over half a century. His background in education and politics enabled him to review the evidence, revealing how GE created a conservative political force and the unique manner in which Ronald Reagan was able to master the huge volume of material produced, and to write and deliver his speeches, in the course of GE's efforts to win the hearts and minds of its blue collar workers and their neighbors.

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Top reviews from the United States

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QWERTY

OK Book - Not Really About Ronald Reagan

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is an OK book, but it's not so much about Ronald Reagan as it is about Ralph Cordiner and Lemuel Boulware. They were two men who worked for General Electric. Their purpose in life was to, in a non-partisan way, educate their employees on matters of the economy and politics. Their focus in that realm was on how does GE compete against the unions who had so many DC politicians in their back pocket.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Phill

Charmin has better paper quality than the pages in this book?

Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2020

Verified Purchase

I just finished an in depth book on the 2nd world wars and "The Education of Ronald Reagan" has added a sliver of understanding the transition my parents went through in the post war era in the U.S.
The quality of paper was terrible......felt as if I was turning pages of a dead sea scroll. :)

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mary b lancaster

Excellent contemporary history lesson.

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2015

Verified Purchase

Excellent account of Reagan's transformation from raging liberal to most respected conservative leader. Wish more people understood this story of how reality set in on this man and should on others. Also excellent account of the importance of Lemuel Boulware.

3 people found this helpful

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C'ville reader

Classic political source.... recently heard Newt ...

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2017

Verified Purchase

Classic political source. .. . recently heard Newt Gingrich mention this older source.

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A&J

Politics, history, Reagan...

Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2012

Verified Purchase

Very interesting and full of history. Not a beach read, but not a cumbersome one either. If you like politics and history, buy this book.

2 people found this helpful

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Nancy MAyor

"A time for choosing."

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2013

Verified Purchase

Thanks to GE vice president Lemuel Boulware, and others, for mentoring Ronald Reagan. They were not antiunion as some may say. Reagan was GE's traveling ambassador from Hollywood. They wanted the best for America. Everything in Ronald Reagan's life prepared him for being one of our greatest Presidents.

3 people found this helpful

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James Lohmeyer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2017

Verified Purchase

Book on time and as represented.

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

As expected.

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Top reviews from other countries

Save the Planet. Stop Climate Change!

Informative, but a hard read

Reviewed in Germany on June 30, 2011

Verified Purchase

Unless you are very interested in General Electric's labor relations management in the 1950s, the first 150 pages of the book are likely to be a quite tedious read as the bulk of the book describes GE vice president Boulware's strategy for dealing with trade unions and Reagan's part in the implementation of that strategy. Nevertheless the book explains how Reagan turned from liberal to conservative and how Reagan learned a lot about political strategy and economics during his time with GE. Much of Reagan's presidential conduct can be attributed to his "studies" during his GE years as the last part of the book which gives an account of Reagan's political career clearly demonstrates.
Although the book is relatively short, it might be one of the most informative books ever written about Ronald Reagan, but reading it requires some patience and endurance.

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