Product Description

Historic and deeply revealing, these are the personal diaries kept by Ronald Reagan during his time in the White House (1981-89). During his eight years as the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan kept a daily diary, in which he recorded his innermost thoughts and observations. The handwritten diaries have been seen by only a few people to date, and they share Reagan's personal insights into the extraordinary, the historic, and the routine day-to-day events of his Presidency. 'When we left Sacramento, we felt the time passed so quickly, we could hardly remember the eight years,' said Nancy Reagan. 'When Ronnie became president, he wanted to write it all down so we could remember these special times.' From his first inauguration to weekends at Camp David to the end of the Cold War, these Presidential diaries are the most detailed in American history, filled with Reagan's trademark wit, sharp intelligence, and humour. They offer the deep warmth of his voice, while shedding new light on the character of a true American leader. To read these diaries is to gain a unique understanding of the Oval Office and one of the greatest presidents in American history. Reagan describes meetings with heads of state and international statesmen (including the Queen, Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher and Fidel Castro). His geniality shines through, while his marriage to Nancy and his strong relationship with God emerge clearly as the cornerstones of his life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45307 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 784 pages

Review
'Amusing and enlightening!I quite simply couldn't put them down.' Sunday Times 'What emerges from these pages is the remarkable character of Ronald Reagan himself. He was what he seemed to be, so fundamentally decent and sunny that it is hard to figure how the American political system could have produced such a genial leader.' Sunday Telegraph 'Reagan's handwritten summary of almost every day of his 1981-89 presidency shows more clearly than ever before the way his mind worked!On the whole, it worked pretty well -- especially in his cold-war policy.' The Economist 'Read his diaries!Reagan was no Pepys, or even Alan Clark!but his daily entries provide a fascinating insight into a presidency that saw the end of the Cold War and a resurgent belief in the power of the individual.' The Spectator 'His gift for simple, direct, unerringly right decision-making remained intact until the end of his presidency in 1989. Because of that genius gift, this journal remains a crucial document.' Daily Telegraph

Newsweek
"a more complicated and more interesting man than either caricature would
suggest. The journals, which Reagan kept throughout his White House years,
are more record than reflection...A performer, a public man--he was a
lifeguard, a sportscaster, an actor and a politician--he seems to have
always had an eye on his audience, and these journals are no exception.
Taken all in all, however, they paint a portrait of a president who was
engaged by his job and had a healthy perspective on power."

Sunday Times
'Amusing and enlightening...I quite simply couldn't put them
down.'

Customer Reviews

The Real Ronald Reagan
Taken from the Presidents personal diary, this book contains a compilation of our late president's daily thoughts while he served his two terms in office. It shows you the man behind the office. We can see his traditional values, his strength of character, his thought process and his core beliefs. He wrote about everything from the normally every day thoughts we all have to how he would make the planet a safer place. We can see how Ronald Reagan did not switch from being a Democrat to a Republican, but his party left him. He was still an FDR Democrat in his thoughts and values. What was important was right and wrong, not left or right. You can tell he truly loved his country and would do what he could make it safe. This book is a must read for everyone, especially now when the USA seems to be tearing itself apart. Everyone running for office loves to invoke the man's name, but so far no one in any party lives up to his values.

From the horse's mouth
These diaries represent a fascinating insight into one of the more important presidencies. Reagan's character and integrity shine through in these frank and open accounts of events both mundane and momentous.

Like most Brits, I imagine, I had little time for Reagan when he was president, and having read these diaries I feel I did him a disservice.

Modern history at it's best
A fascinating book which has been well edited - I couldn't put it down. It is an interesting insight into the power and influence of the American Presidency. It ends all too abruptly when he leaves the White House and you're left wondering 'what happened next'. I guess I'll have to buy another book to cover that period!