Thirteenth Man: A Reagan Cabinet Memoir

by Terrel H. Bell

Bell, former Secretary of Education, recounts his efforts to strengthen federal leadership in education and offers an inside look at the Reagan administration

195 pages, Hardcover

First published January 4, 1988

Reviews

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about education (on all levels of government), presidential politics, White House/West Wing/Cabinet-level politics, and how to lead. The author, the late Secretary, weaves a great story about his tenure as President Reagan's Education Secretary with his own personal story and his analysis of the state of education policy. The fundamental conflict of his time was being named head of a federal agency that the administration wanted to destroy. Bell provides an example of how he walked that tight rope between loyalty and personal belief, his battles with White House staff, and how to advance policy in the face of roadblocks. So many leadership lessons for anyone in public administration, of course especially for those in the education field.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of the Reagan infighting stuff is interesting. The cabinet life stuff is OK. The recommendations for a better education system are very dry and not clearly supported.