Reagan's Reign of Error: The Instant Nostalgia Edition

by Mark Green, Gail MacColl

After over 30 years when he was first elected, Reagan has been mythologized to the point where his own son does not recognize him. This book recounts many of his profound and twisted misunderstandings which in some cases became wrong-headed public policy and accepted truth. While humorous, it is astounding to realize how much he managed to charm and cow the press into going along with his fantasy world. If this book appears too stridently anti-Reagan, see Lou Cannon's superb Reagan biography President Reagan: The Role Of A Lifetime which takes a measured view but nonetheless calls attention to the fantasy aspect of Reagan's take on the U.S. and the world.

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 1983

Reviews

[Igolder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess this is a forgotten book, which is too bad because it's an early example of the political fact-checking that we now take for granted.
My grandparents were both Republicans, and I used to watch them argue with their son about Nixon and Reagan. Neither side ever convinced the other. BUT, when my grandparents saw that I had this book, and got ready to tell me how wonderful Ronald Reagan was, I simply said, "no matter what one's opinion is of him, I don't think there is any other politician, Democrat or Republican, who has made so any false statements that you could print a full book citing them all." They pondered that a bit, and said they guessed that was true.
Postscript: Decades later, they felt bad about their support of Nixon. It's always easier to feel bad about something decades after it might matter! I still feel GREAT about my childhood dislike of Nixon. I have grown to learn that Reagan was crafty as well as a liar, so I guess that's a left-handed compliment? Better than just being dumb I guess. He will go down in history as someone who answered a nation's call for willful denial. And how!

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

misinformation exposed