Product Description

"The Essential Ronald Reagan" recounts the extraordinary life and career of a great American president from his small-town Midwestern roots through his Hollywood film star days to his presidential role as redeemer of the American dream and victorious leader in the Cold War. Fifteen years after leaving the White House, Ronald Reagan is already ranked among our greatest presidents by the American people and an increasing number of historians and political scientists. In "The Essential Ronald Reagan", Edwards analyzes the four essential qualities of leadership that enabled President Reagan to meet every challenge and crisis and to make him an American for the ages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1552849 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Customer Reviews

Brilliant political biography
Brief as it is, this compelling political biography manages to capture the gist of Ronald Reagan in a clear and engaging manner. Edwards investigates Reagan's childhood, his leadership qualities and his accomplishments with keen insight and understanding.

The narrative concentrates on those people, events and circumstances that shaped the great man's character and career path, from his childhood and student days through his movie career, his two stints as governor of California and his presidency.

Both the failures and the great and enduring successes of the Reagan administration are covered. For example, Edwards looks at the Iran-Contra debacle as well as the economic miracle, the benefits of deregulation and the West's victory in the Cold War.

A highlight of the book is Edwards' analyses of the four essential qualities of leadership that Reagan possessed: courage, justice, prudence and wisdom. The author points out how these qualities came into play at various occasions in Reagan's life and career.

He discusses the books that helped persuade Reagan to change his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and in the bibliographical essay at the end, he reviews the best and the worst books on the 40th President. The Essential Ronald Reagan concludes with copious notes and a thorough index.

I also recommend the books When Character Was King by Peggy Noonan, Ronald Reagan by Dinesh D'Souza and Ronald Reagan: An American Hero, with an introduction by William F Buckley. The CD set Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches With Personal Reflections, is a most inspiring collection of speeches and observations by the great man himself. God bless Ronald Reagan.

Brilliant political biography
Brief as it is, this compelling political biography manages to capture the gist of Ronald Reagan in a clear and engaging manner. Edwards investigates Reagan's childhood, his leadership qualities and his accomplishments with keen insight and understanding.

The narrative concentrates on those people, events and circumstances that shaped the great man's character and career path, from his childhood and student days through his movie career, his two stints as governor of California and his presidency.

Both the failures and the great and enduring successes of the Reagan administration are covered. For example, Edwards looks at the Iran-Contra debacle as well as the economic miracle, the benefits of deregulation and the West's victory in the Cold War.

A highlight of the book is Edwards' analyses of the four essential qualities of leadership that Reagan possessed: courage, justice, prudence and wisdom. The author points out how these qualities came into play at various occasions in Reagan's life and career.

He discusses the books that helped persuade Reagan to change his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and in the bibliographical essay at the end, he reviews the best and the worst books on the 40th President. The Essential Ronald Reagan concludes with copious notes and a thorough index.

I also recommend the books When Character Was King by Peggy Noonan, Ronald Reagan by Dinesh D'Souza and Ronald Reagan: An American Hero, with an introduction by William F Buckley. The CD set Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches With Personal Reflections, is a most inspiring collection of speeches and observations by the great man himself. God bless Ronald Reagan.