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A Pope and a President: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century
Even as historians credit Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II with hastening the end of the Cold War, they have failed to recognize the depth or significance of the bond that developed between the two leaders.
Acclaimed scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor changes that.
In this fascinating book, he reveals a singular bond—which included a spiritual connection between the Catholic pope and the Protestant president—that drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the twentieth Soviet communism.
Reagan and John Paul II almost didn't have the opportunity to forge this just six weeks apart in the spring of 1981, they took bullets from would-be assassins. But their strikingly similar near-death experiences brought them close together—to Moscow's dismay.Based on Kengor's tireless archival digging and his unique access to Reagan insiders, A Pope and a President is full of revelations. It takes you inside private meetings between Reagan and John Paul II and into the Oval Office, the Vatican, the CIA, the Kremlin, and many points beyond.
Nancy Reagan called John Paul II her husband's "closest friend"; Reagan himself told Polish visitors that the pope was his "best friend." When you read this book, you will understand why. As kindred spirits, Ronald Reagan and John Paul II united in pursuit of a supreme objective—and in doing so they changed history.
Acclaimed scholar and bestselling author Paul Kengor changes that.
In this fascinating book, he reveals a singular bond—which included a spiritual connection between the Catholic pope and the Protestant president—that drove the two men to confront what they knew to be the great evil of the twentieth Soviet communism.
Reagan and John Paul II almost didn't have the opportunity to forge this just six weeks apart in the spring of 1981, they took bullets from would-be assassins. But their strikingly similar near-death experiences brought them close together—to Moscow's dismay.Based on Kengor's tireless archival digging and his unique access to Reagan insiders, A Pope and a President is full of revelations. It takes you inside private meetings between Reagan and John Paul II and into the Oval Office, the Vatican, the CIA, the Kremlin, and many points beyond.
Nancy Reagan called John Paul II her husband's "closest friend"; Reagan himself told Polish visitors that the pope was his "best friend." When you read this book, you will understand why. As kindred spirits, Ronald Reagan and John Paul II united in pursuit of a supreme objective—and in doing so they changed history.
656 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
453 people are currently reading
1356 people want to read
About the author
Paul Kengor
35 books144 followersPaul G. Kengor is an author and professor of political science at Grove City College and the senior director of the Institute for Faith and Freedom, a Grove City College think tank. He is a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace. Kengor has focused much of his work on Ronald Reagan, faith and the presidency, conservative politics, the Cold War, Communism, and Catholicism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 15, 2018
Paul Kengor’s exhaustive Cold War chronicle focuses mainly on the Pope and President in the title, Pope St. John Paul II and US President Ronald Reagan. But larger than life though these two are, the story Kengor here tells is bigger even than them. Other key roles go to FDR, Pope Pius XII (previously Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli), Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, the Kennedys, Reagan Administration members including Bill Casey and Frank Shakespeare, and USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev. It is the story of the bloody upheaval of the twentieth century, which Kengor presents as a narrative, beginning with WWI and concluding with the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
The book contains reams of information—both about JPII and Reagan as individuals, and about their efforts, alone and combined, to draw back the Iron Curtain and reunite East and West. Kengor manages to balance hundreds of threads in this tapestry of an account. While the book focuses more on its Pope and President as geopolitical giants than as men, I still feel like I got to know these two quite a bit better from reading it. Likewise, I came away with a much clearer understanding of the Cold War.
The only problem with this book is that Kengor assumes the reader is either Catholic or well-versed in, and friendly to, Catholic lore of the last century, especially regarding Marian apparitions. He uses the appearance of Our Lady of Fátima and the solar phenomena that occurred there in 1918 as the lynchpin of his story. I’m Catholic myself, with a special devotion to Our Lady of Fátima, so I’m quite inclined to agree with him—I just worry that leading off with that incident might greatly confuse non-Catholic readers. That said, I would suggest the non-Catholic reader do a little reading on Marian apparitions before starting this book. It would be impossible to understand Kengor’s perspective here unless one is absolutely clear on what Catholics (and others including Reagan) believe did and did not happen at Fátima in 1917.
The book contains reams of information—both about JPII and Reagan as individuals, and about their efforts, alone and combined, to draw back the Iron Curtain and reunite East and West. Kengor manages to balance hundreds of threads in this tapestry of an account. While the book focuses more on its Pope and President as geopolitical giants than as men, I still feel like I got to know these two quite a bit better from reading it. Likewise, I came away with a much clearer understanding of the Cold War.
The only problem with this book is that Kengor assumes the reader is either Catholic or well-versed in, and friendly to, Catholic lore of the last century, especially regarding Marian apparitions. He uses the appearance of Our Lady of Fátima and the solar phenomena that occurred there in 1918 as the lynchpin of his story. I’m Catholic myself, with a special devotion to Our Lady of Fátima, so I’m quite inclined to agree with him—I just worry that leading off with that incident might greatly confuse non-Catholic readers. That said, I would suggest the non-Catholic reader do a little reading on Marian apparitions before starting this book. It would be impossible to understand Kengor’s perspective here unless one is absolutely clear on what Catholics (and others including Reagan) believe did and did not happen at Fátima in 1917.
July 31, 2017
I'd always assumed the Cold War would be less interesting than, say, WWI or WWII... but this "war that wasn't" had just as much plotting and maneuvering as any war with an official declaration.
This book was absolutely fascinating. I only wish I could have finished it more quickly! JPII and RR are unsung heroes in most of the world with regard to their roles in the collapse of communism. I was enthralled to learn of their strategies and influence in dismantling such a devious regime. They are both fascinating people and I loved discovering more about their histories.
Not to mention: Given today's political climate, this couldn't be a more interesting read. I really recommend this to anyone with an interest in Fatima, JPII or international history/politics.
This book was absolutely fascinating. I only wish I could have finished it more quickly! JPII and RR are unsung heroes in most of the world with regard to their roles in the collapse of communism. I was enthralled to learn of their strategies and influence in dismantling such a devious regime. They are both fascinating people and I loved discovering more about their histories.
Not to mention: Given today's political climate, this couldn't be a more interesting read. I really recommend this to anyone with an interest in Fatima, JPII or international history/politics.
October 18, 2024
The fall of communism did not occur overnight, as many historians will confess. It was a long and drawn-out affair with many actors playing key roles. Paul Kengor uses the bulk of this book not only to illustrate two such actors—US President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II—but also the actions they took in harmony to bring down the ideological sentiments headed in the USSR. Through many key themes and ideas, Kengor shows how these two men were bound not only by a fight to end communism, but also found parallels in other ways that united them. Stunning in its detail and educational moments, Paul Kengor impresses the attentive and curious reader.
Communism held a significant grip over the world long before the selection of John Paul II as pontiff and the election of Ronald Regan as US president. While the controlling, ideological mindset had been in place for decades in the USSR, spreading throughout its satellite countries and exerting a controlling hold, the outside world did not agree to this geopolitical approach. Communist officials sought to dispel any opposition, while vilifying any who would dare speak out against it, targeting the Cold War enemy as the greatest critic.
With the rise to prominence of Reagan and Pope John Paul II, the threat to communism became real and these two men fought diligently to dilute its control over the citizens under its oppressive yoke. Paul Kengor argues effectively that Reagan and the Pope were central to the destruction of communism across the Soviet sphere and made inroads to ensure freedom would return to the region. This created a major target on their backs by the apparatchik in Moscow.
As Kengor argues from the outset, these two men were tied by more than simply a desire to destroy communism. Both held the revelations in Fatima—a 1917 miracle, whereby three young girls saw the Virgin Mary and were given multiple proclamations that foretold significant world events—as a roadmap to leadership. Deeply devoted in their own ways, Reagan and John Paul II sought to use what they knew to strive towards a needed change in the world. Throughout the book, Kengor offers up countless examples of how Fatima and the secrets fuelled the desire to make changes and enact some of the statements’ prophetic ways, which would only help create a sense of inevitability. Kengor provides countless examples of this and how both men sought to push for change to better the world through their various pulpits while promoting their own form of religious connection to the battle at hand.
There is another parallel that cannot be dismissed here; something that drew the men together. Both dodged assassination attempts in 1981, mere months apart. While Reagan’s was by a deranged individual, the pontiff’s attack was planned and completed by a Turkish hitman. Kengor argues that the assassination can clearly be traced back to the Bulgarian KGB and Moscow. This similarity, albeit tangential for many, helped to connect the men and proved useful to help illustrated their interconnectedness.
The book explores each man’s fight against communism from their respective roles. Reagan sought to dilute the power of Moscow through numerous speeches and support for countries who sought to free themselves, not the least of which was Poland. The Pope did the same on his trips around the world and repeated journeys back to his Polish homeland. Both men were targets of hatred and disinformation by the Soviets, but neither would tamp down their messages, choosing instead to ramp them up and create more headlines. As Kengor effectively argues, communism had no chance with these two men battling it. When the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union disintegrated, many could look to Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II as key players in its demise, ending the grip the communism had over part of the world.
While Paul Kengor takes his time elucidating his points, he does so effectively throughout the book. There is a great deal for the reader to synthesise and they are given much time and proof to aid in that effort. Kengor provides detailed chapters to offer evidence and sometime provide new insights that have yet to be publicly revealed. All the while, the writing is clear an easy to digest, even for the layperson whose interest wanders into this area. The flow of the text makes understanding and curiosity high, as Kengor delivers a number of salient arguments that build on much of his research. I have a great interest in learning more about some of the topics covered and will use this book as a launching point to delve deeper. Kengor delivers an impactful story and fills it with interviews, document revelations, and key mentions of speeches that helped flavour the narrative of the time. This is a book that had it all and Paul Kengor delivered.
Kudos, Mr. Kengor, for this masterful tome!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Communism held a significant grip over the world long before the selection of John Paul II as pontiff and the election of Ronald Regan as US president. While the controlling, ideological mindset had been in place for decades in the USSR, spreading throughout its satellite countries and exerting a controlling hold, the outside world did not agree to this geopolitical approach. Communist officials sought to dispel any opposition, while vilifying any who would dare speak out against it, targeting the Cold War enemy as the greatest critic.
With the rise to prominence of Reagan and Pope John Paul II, the threat to communism became real and these two men fought diligently to dilute its control over the citizens under its oppressive yoke. Paul Kengor argues effectively that Reagan and the Pope were central to the destruction of communism across the Soviet sphere and made inroads to ensure freedom would return to the region. This created a major target on their backs by the apparatchik in Moscow.
As Kengor argues from the outset, these two men were tied by more than simply a desire to destroy communism. Both held the revelations in Fatima—a 1917 miracle, whereby three young girls saw the Virgin Mary and were given multiple proclamations that foretold significant world events—as a roadmap to leadership. Deeply devoted in their own ways, Reagan and John Paul II sought to use what they knew to strive towards a needed change in the world. Throughout the book, Kengor offers up countless examples of how Fatima and the secrets fuelled the desire to make changes and enact some of the statements’ prophetic ways, which would only help create a sense of inevitability. Kengor provides countless examples of this and how both men sought to push for change to better the world through their various pulpits while promoting their own form of religious connection to the battle at hand.
There is another parallel that cannot be dismissed here; something that drew the men together. Both dodged assassination attempts in 1981, mere months apart. While Reagan’s was by a deranged individual, the pontiff’s attack was planned and completed by a Turkish hitman. Kengor argues that the assassination can clearly be traced back to the Bulgarian KGB and Moscow. This similarity, albeit tangential for many, helped to connect the men and proved useful to help illustrated their interconnectedness.
The book explores each man’s fight against communism from their respective roles. Reagan sought to dilute the power of Moscow through numerous speeches and support for countries who sought to free themselves, not the least of which was Poland. The Pope did the same on his trips around the world and repeated journeys back to his Polish homeland. Both men were targets of hatred and disinformation by the Soviets, but neither would tamp down their messages, choosing instead to ramp them up and create more headlines. As Kengor effectively argues, communism had no chance with these two men battling it. When the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union disintegrated, many could look to Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II as key players in its demise, ending the grip the communism had over part of the world.
While Paul Kengor takes his time elucidating his points, he does so effectively throughout the book. There is a great deal for the reader to synthesise and they are given much time and proof to aid in that effort. Kengor provides detailed chapters to offer evidence and sometime provide new insights that have yet to be publicly revealed. All the while, the writing is clear an easy to digest, even for the layperson whose interest wanders into this area. The flow of the text makes understanding and curiosity high, as Kengor delivers a number of salient arguments that build on much of his research. I have a great interest in learning more about some of the topics covered and will use this book as a launching point to delve deeper. Kengor delivers an impactful story and fills it with interviews, document revelations, and key mentions of speeches that helped flavour the narrative of the time. This is a book that had it all and Paul Kengor delivered.
Kudos, Mr. Kengor, for this masterful tome!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 1, 2017
Anyone remotely interested in the Cold War would love this well researched book. John Paul II and Reagan were the primary reasons for the fall of Communism. This book will let you in on every detail - sometimes repeating itself- but it was fascinating. If you are a student of modern history this book is for you.
July 2, 2017
Very repetitive book. The book should have been cut in half. Not that it wasn't an interesting premise - that together President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II were instrumental in bringing about the demise of the Soviet Union and Communism. This is common knowledge and you could make a good case that Margaret Thatcher could be included with the other two. But I think Kengor oversells his analysis by using circumstantial evidence that Reagan was a borderline Catholic with a special reverence for the Blessed Mother. While this might be true I think Reagan is a tough nut to crack as to what made him tick. Other authors have had a difficult time trying to get to know him - Edmund Morris ruined his credibility as a writer by writing a Reagan biography - and a 500 page book about two men who met only five times does not qualify President Reagan for canonization as a Catholic saint. The Gipper would probably read this, give that grin of his and say, "Well, there they go again." That's why he was so great. That one definitive book about Reagan has yet to be written and I think he's having a good chuckle (in Heaven) watching writers try.
December 23, 2017
This is very well researched and offers a lot of new insights on the relationship between these two incredible men of history. What I learned was very insightful and inspiring, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars. The writing style (repetitive and verbose at times, with a tendency to elevate the author's personal opinions to an excessive degree) was a bit tiring by the end. But the insights are extremely valuable. Certainly worth the read.
September 23, 2017
Mr. Kengor tells the story of the unreported relationship between Ronald Reagan and St. John Paul II. Though they met in person only 5 times their "kindred souls" worked together to bring the downfall of the "Evil Empire"- communism in the Soviet Union. The author spent over 10 years researching the book. This is definitely a Catholic perspective on the relationship and it helps if you are familiar with the Catholic faith. (I'm Catholic).
One fascinating story is the involvement of the Soviet government in the assassination attempt on St. JP II. Anecdotally, I asked a number of my friends if they knew the Communist government was involved in the assassination attempt of Pope JP II. Not one of them knew. One reason, which Mr. Kengor spends time on throughout the book, is the infiltration of Soviet agents in Western media, particularly in the US. We know of this now through the dossiers and records absconded by Communist defectors from the KGB and Eastern bloc countries. One such agent was able to get a Fulbright scholarship at Columbia and find himself on the editorial staff at the NY Times. The US media was more than willing to regurgitate Communist storylines that implicated everyone else, including the CIA.
Mr. Kengor parallels the lives of both Reagan and St. JP II and the similarities that brought them together to fulfill as Reagan called it the DP - Divine Plan. Reagan realized as early as 1979 that the newly elected Polish Pope could be instrumental in ending communism. But, the author ties the demise to an even more unexpected event - the miracles and secrets of Fatima. Even if you're not a person of faith, you would have to agree the circumstances and coincidences of the demise of Communism as retold by Mr. Kengor defy pure chance.
I thought I knew a lot about Ronaldus Maximus and St. John Paul II. Mr Kengor, in this very readable book, brings untold stories about perhaps the true reason for the ending of Communism - the Divine Plan.
One fascinating story is the involvement of the Soviet government in the assassination attempt on St. JP II. Anecdotally, I asked a number of my friends if they knew the Communist government was involved in the assassination attempt of Pope JP II. Not one of them knew. One reason, which Mr. Kengor spends time on throughout the book, is the infiltration of Soviet agents in Western media, particularly in the US. We know of this now through the dossiers and records absconded by Communist defectors from the KGB and Eastern bloc countries. One such agent was able to get a Fulbright scholarship at Columbia and find himself on the editorial staff at the NY Times. The US media was more than willing to regurgitate Communist storylines that implicated everyone else, including the CIA.
Mr. Kengor parallels the lives of both Reagan and St. JP II and the similarities that brought them together to fulfill as Reagan called it the DP - Divine Plan. Reagan realized as early as 1979 that the newly elected Polish Pope could be instrumental in ending communism. But, the author ties the demise to an even more unexpected event - the miracles and secrets of Fatima. Even if you're not a person of faith, you would have to agree the circumstances and coincidences of the demise of Communism as retold by Mr. Kengor defy pure chance.
I thought I knew a lot about Ronaldus Maximus and St. John Paul II. Mr Kengor, in this very readable book, brings untold stories about perhaps the true reason for the ending of Communism - the Divine Plan.
October 11, 2020
“If you are good at disinformation, you can get away with anything.”
Three stars is a gift, based on the good story hidden among the twaddle. As published, this text was written by a Roman Catholic for Roman Catholics, not a dispassionate pursuit of the facts. Non-Roman Catholics will have to sort through a lot of religious detail.
“This book is a work of historical investigation, not a religious apologetic.”
Not an apologetic; propaganda. His Marian hagiography may be well received by Roman Catholics but strike other Christians as blasphemous idolatry. Often interrupts the narrative to note which day of the Catholic calendar each event happens on and give its history.
“The point is you must understand the role of the ‘secrets of Fatima’ to gain a full understanding of how the relationship between the pope and the president changed the world.”
Glacial pace; no rabbit trail too small to be pursued. Quotes are often preceded and followed by explanatory text, as if Kengor doesn’t trust the reader to understand. Three books are interleaved: how Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan won the Cold War; how the Soviets tried to kill the pope and did kill many other clerics; and how Catholics believe the Virgin Mary guided and empowered the process. Wanted to like this more but couldn’t.
“‘This book needs to be short; no more than 100-200 pages.’ … I handed [his editor] a manuscript well over a thousand pages.”
Should have been 200 pages. Fast and loose with citations, disguising opinions and quoting himself. There’s lots of good material among the religious musings and opinion, but its not well presented. Documents role of Franklin D Roosevelt causing the Cold War and the New York Times complicity in covering up the Soviet role in the pope’s shooting.
“’Atheist education is an inalienable constituent part’ of the ‘transforming force’ of Marxist-Leninist ideology.” (Pravda)
Three stars is a gift, based on the good story hidden among the twaddle. As published, this text was written by a Roman Catholic for Roman Catholics, not a dispassionate pursuit of the facts. Non-Roman Catholics will have to sort through a lot of religious detail.
“This book is a work of historical investigation, not a religious apologetic.”
Not an apologetic; propaganda. His Marian hagiography may be well received by Roman Catholics but strike other Christians as blasphemous idolatry. Often interrupts the narrative to note which day of the Catholic calendar each event happens on and give its history.
“The point is you must understand the role of the ‘secrets of Fatima’ to gain a full understanding of how the relationship between the pope and the president changed the world.”
Glacial pace; no rabbit trail too small to be pursued. Quotes are often preceded and followed by explanatory text, as if Kengor doesn’t trust the reader to understand. Three books are interleaved: how Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan won the Cold War; how the Soviets tried to kill the pope and did kill many other clerics; and how Catholics believe the Virgin Mary guided and empowered the process. Wanted to like this more but couldn’t.
“‘This book needs to be short; no more than 100-200 pages.’ … I handed [his editor] a manuscript well over a thousand pages.”
Should have been 200 pages. Fast and loose with citations, disguising opinions and quoting himself. There’s lots of good material among the religious musings and opinion, but its not well presented. Documents role of Franklin D Roosevelt causing the Cold War and the New York Times complicity in covering up the Soviet role in the pope’s shooting.
“’Atheist education is an inalienable constituent part’ of the ‘transforming force’ of Marxist-Leninist ideology.” (Pravda)
June 5, 2017
Wonderful history
A very carefully researched scholarly history of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II, and how their relationship brought an end to the USSR. Which I consider a miracle; and if anyone, besides these two men, say they knew the USSR would collapse they are full of baloney. President Reagan and Saint Pope John Paul II, and many many others prayed for this to happen, but even they did not know it would occur in the amazing way it did.
A very carefully researched scholarly history of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II, and how their relationship brought an end to the USSR. Which I consider a miracle; and if anyone, besides these two men, say they knew the USSR would collapse they are full of baloney. President Reagan and Saint Pope John Paul II, and many many others prayed for this to happen, but even they did not know it would occur in the amazing way it did.
January 28, 2022
Awesome book of the fall of communism and how two great leaders made it happen.
September 6, 2017
Amazing account of the little know bond between Pope John Paul II and President Ronald. Their lives had many similarities, including attempts on both of their lives just days apart which forged in them an even closer bond. Many "goosebump" moments in this book.
July 29, 2020
An epic that lays a foundation for future generations to research the diplomacy and worldviews shared between Saint Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan.
This book gives a thorough explanation of how the events at Fatima inspired the Pope, and played a central theme in Papal assassination attempt and the consecration of Russia. The effect the Polish pope had on Catholicism in Poland (which was severely repressed due to atheistic Communism being in control).
The religious side of Reagan (often unreported or severely under reported) and how it all came together in his support for freedom of religion inside of the Iron Curtain, and worldwide.
Of course other topics are covered such as Gorbachev being a closet Christian and the effects that may have had on religious freedom in the Soviet Union and its ultimate dissolution.
This book is more than just an excellent biography of two great leaders, it's about their friendship with one another and how it shaped the world. This thoroughly researched book is absolutely recommended for anyone interested in Cold War diplomacy, President Reagan, or Pope Saint JP2.
This book gives a thorough explanation of how the events at Fatima inspired the Pope, and played a central theme in Papal assassination attempt and the consecration of Russia. The effect the Polish pope had on Catholicism in Poland (which was severely repressed due to atheistic Communism being in control).
The religious side of Reagan (often unreported or severely under reported) and how it all came together in his support for freedom of religion inside of the Iron Curtain, and worldwide.
Of course other topics are covered such as Gorbachev being a closet Christian and the effects that may have had on religious freedom in the Soviet Union and its ultimate dissolution.
This book is more than just an excellent biography of two great leaders, it's about their friendship with one another and how it shaped the world. This thoroughly researched book is absolutely recommended for anyone interested in Cold War diplomacy, President Reagan, or Pope Saint JP2.
March 21, 2025
Fighting Intrinsic Evils in the World
A Pope and a President is a compelling account of the shared vision and collaboration between a Protestant U.S. president and a Catholic pope in their fight against the global threat of Leninist and Marxist communism. Paul Kengor masterfully unveils the depth of respect and cooperation between Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, highlighting their united efforts to make the world a freer and more just place. While much of their work was documented in public forums, the full extent of their partnership remained largely undisclosed at the time. Only in retrospect, after their passing, do we truly grasp the profound impact of their alliance on world history.
A Pope and a President is a compelling account of the shared vision and collaboration between a Protestant U.S. president and a Catholic pope in their fight against the global threat of Leninist and Marxist communism. Paul Kengor masterfully unveils the depth of respect and cooperation between Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, highlighting their united efforts to make the world a freer and more just place. While much of their work was documented in public forums, the full extent of their partnership remained largely undisclosed at the time. Only in retrospect, after their passing, do we truly grasp the profound impact of their alliance on world history.
January 12, 2020
Wonderful book that describes the important roles that these two great men played in bringing down communism. I especially enjoyed the similarities that Paul Kengor displays in the lives of Reagan and St. John Paul II.
March 4, 2024
What a wonderful story! My only quibble is, I think the arguments would be stronger if the narrative were a little less emotional. But I learned so much about communism, Ronald Reagan, and my beloved JPII.
January 13, 2020
Leadership at its finest.
Read
August 28, 2020Very interesting and detailed account.
March 19, 2025
Paul Kengor has written a fascinating book about the relationship between 2 men of great power and enormous charisma. Their relationship which nobody would have predicted was forged when assassination attempts, just 6 weeks apart, nearly ended each of their lives.
Surprisingly, I was very inspired by their spiritual unity and the admiration of Kengor for their friendship and religious devotion. He provides a [[ very believable additional explanation for the collapse of the "evil emmpire."
Surprisingly, I was very inspired by their spiritual unity and the admiration of Kengor for their friendship and religious devotion. He provides a [[ very believable additional explanation for the collapse of the "evil emmpire."
March 20, 2024
Great book. I miss St JP II and Ronald Reagan! Most of all i miss a country that elected him.
November 23, 2025
Fascinating history of two great men who changed the world.Everyone should read this book, and pay attention to the world we live in, so we are prepared to stand against evil.
April 14, 2022
I enjoyed parts of this, but found the author's writing style to be overly sensational at times.
August 24, 2020
This book started out very interesting. Then it bogged down with lots of repetition and stories about tracking down sources. It presents a very Catholic view on Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II. The prophesies at Fatima and the Madonna front and center in this story. It could have been 1/3 to 1/2 as long and been very interesting. I did like getting this unique perspective on history.
March 13, 2019
A fascinating book. And an excellent reminder that a few men acting on principle and with determination can change the world. But it takes uncommon courage to recognize true evil and to act with dedication and purpose. This non- Christian is grateful that John Paul II and President Reagan found common ground and strength of conviction to confront what truly was an Evil Empire.
While Kenzie strikes me as more of an awestruck commentator than a historian, he does present a good case for his protagonists.
While Kenzie strikes me as more of an awestruck commentator than a historian, he does present a good case for his protagonists.
June 18, 2017
If you believe that Ronald Reagan was a good and honorable President, you ain't seen nothing yet. This book lays out how he and Pope John Paul II worked together -- along with the Divine Plan -- to bring down the USSR and communism throughout Eastern Europe. My respect for both men is now greater and more definable after reading about their mission, as learned from the latest discovered documents and interviews. What a great story.
May 22, 2022
A fantastic narrative of the deep bond between President Reagan and JPII. Our world is much better off thanks to these two men. Paul Kengor does a superb job at exposing the heinous behavior of the Soviets (directed at Catholics) and keeps to his theme of showing how Regean and JPII expelled that evil from Poland.
June 8, 2022
Kengor professionally weaves the lives of John Paul II and Reagan together and stresses the importance of their relationship, the miracles surrounding their lives, the secret combinations behind the assassination attempt on the Pope, and their combined efforts in defeating Soviet communism. Carefully researched and cited. (Audio version)
Some standout quotes and notes:
- "Every human being is unique and unrepeatable." JPII, Christmas Day, 1978. Prologue.
- Reasons why the Mary apparition appeared in Portugal (a place dear to my heart) at Fatima, of all places: see Ch. 1.
- In June 1913, Lenin secured an unconditional annulment of all laws against abortions and by 1920, abortion was free and legal to Russian women, which caused a skyrocketing of abortions throughout Russia. Ch. 2.
- Of the 657 churches in Moscow that existed on the eve of the 1917 Revolution, only 100-150 remained by 1976, and only 46 still held services. Ch. 2.
- The Bolsheviks stole from Russian Moscow churches (prior to 11/21/1922) 1,220 lbs of gold, 828,275 lbs of silver, 35,670 diamonds, 536 lbs of gemstones, 3,115 gold rubles, 19,155 silver rubles, 1,902 various precious objects, and 71,762 unspecified valuables, and completely destroyed the Catholic Church in the Soviet Union. Ch. 2.
- American members of the Communist Party saw themselves as subservient to Moscow and Soviet control and swore a loyalty oath to Moscow. Ch. 2.
- Were it not for the Polish victory against the early Russian Soviets after WWI, the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe might have occurred 25 years earlier. Ch. 3.
- In a near-death experience around 15 years old, a friend pointed what he thought was an unloaded gun at JPII and narrowly missed hitting the future Pope. Ch. 3.
- JPII believed that God allows bad things to happen so good things can come from them. Ch. 3.
- During his 7 years as a lifeguard, Reagan saved the lives of 77 individuals, all for $15-16 per week! Ch. 3.
- Pope Pius XI coined several phrases against communism and socialism:
- "Socialism is irreconcilable with Christianity."
- "'Religious socialism' or 'Christian socialism' are contradictory terms."
- In 1937, the Vatican officially called communism as a "collectivistic terrorism..." and a
"pernicious plaque..." and a "Satanic scourge." Ch. 4.
- Pope Leo XIII said of communists, "They leave nothing untouched or whole which, by both human and divine laws, has been wisely decreed for the health and beauty of life..." Ch. 4.
- The stance of the Catholic Church was that "the priests' first loving gift to his neighbors is to serve truth and refute truth in any of its forms..." Ch. 4.
- American Catholic bishop Fulton Sheen demonstrated that Marx was first an atheist, and then a communist. Communism was merely the political expression of his atheism. Ch. 4.
- Sheen said that communism was not inspired by the spirit of Christ, but by the spirit of the serpent, the "mystical body of the anti-Christ." Ch. 4.
- The Catholic Church had been eminently consistent on its stance against communism over the decades. Ch. 4.
- One calculation showed that Pope JPII was instrumental in saving approx. 860,000 Jews from Nazi destruction. Ch. 7.
- "In terms of both his time and our own, Kennedy (JFK) was a conservative." Ch. 8.
- Reagan used the word 'evil' to describe the world's totalitarian communist regimes. Ch. 9.
- Vatican II taught that "authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man" and that "man's dignity demands that he act according to a conscious and free choice." Ch. 12.
- ** JPII said that freedom was at the same time offered to man and imposed on him as a task. It (freedom) is an attribute of a free person and in that sense, it is a gift of the Creator and an endowment of human nature and thus the lawful right of man. God is therefore the antithesis of the earthly destroyers of freedom. Ch. 12.
- "Man can do wrong precisely because he is free. That is the risk. At the same time, that is the beauty of freedom." "Freedom is given not so that man will do evil, but so that he will do good." Ch. 12.
- After being shot, Reagan began to pray for the shooter and his soul. Ch. 16.
- Once Reagan was shot, it put America on high alert and raised defense readiness. This made the Soviets call off their planned invasion/attack on Poland and prevent a hot war. Ch. 17.
- In both assassination attempts, Hinckley's bullet just missed Reagan's heart, and Ali Agca's bullet just missed JPII's main abdominal artery. Ch. 18.
- In 1984, Reagan gave a speech to the students at Fudan Univ. in Shanghai, which in part said, "We believe in the dignity of each man, woman, and child. Our entire system is founded on an appreciation of the special genius of each individual, and of his special right to make his own decisions and lead his own life." Ch. 25.
- Reagan called JPII his "closest friend," according to Nancy Reagan. Epilogue.
Some standout quotes and notes:
- "Every human being is unique and unrepeatable." JPII, Christmas Day, 1978. Prologue.
- Reasons why the Mary apparition appeared in Portugal (a place dear to my heart) at Fatima, of all places: see Ch. 1.
- In June 1913, Lenin secured an unconditional annulment of all laws against abortions and by 1920, abortion was free and legal to Russian women, which caused a skyrocketing of abortions throughout Russia. Ch. 2.
- Of the 657 churches in Moscow that existed on the eve of the 1917 Revolution, only 100-150 remained by 1976, and only 46 still held services. Ch. 2.
- The Bolsheviks stole from Russian Moscow churches (prior to 11/21/1922) 1,220 lbs of gold, 828,275 lbs of silver, 35,670 diamonds, 536 lbs of gemstones, 3,115 gold rubles, 19,155 silver rubles, 1,902 various precious objects, and 71,762 unspecified valuables, and completely destroyed the Catholic Church in the Soviet Union. Ch. 2.
- American members of the Communist Party saw themselves as subservient to Moscow and Soviet control and swore a loyalty oath to Moscow. Ch. 2.
- Were it not for the Polish victory against the early Russian Soviets after WWI, the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe might have occurred 25 years earlier. Ch. 3.
- In a near-death experience around 15 years old, a friend pointed what he thought was an unloaded gun at JPII and narrowly missed hitting the future Pope. Ch. 3.
- JPII believed that God allows bad things to happen so good things can come from them. Ch. 3.
- During his 7 years as a lifeguard, Reagan saved the lives of 77 individuals, all for $15-16 per week! Ch. 3.
- Pope Pius XI coined several phrases against communism and socialism:
- "Socialism is irreconcilable with Christianity."
- "'Religious socialism' or 'Christian socialism' are contradictory terms."
- In 1937, the Vatican officially called communism as a "collectivistic terrorism..." and a
"pernicious plaque..." and a "Satanic scourge." Ch. 4.
- Pope Leo XIII said of communists, "They leave nothing untouched or whole which, by both human and divine laws, has been wisely decreed for the health and beauty of life..." Ch. 4.
- The stance of the Catholic Church was that "the priests' first loving gift to his neighbors is to serve truth and refute truth in any of its forms..." Ch. 4.
- American Catholic bishop Fulton Sheen demonstrated that Marx was first an atheist, and then a communist. Communism was merely the political expression of his atheism. Ch. 4.
- Sheen said that communism was not inspired by the spirit of Christ, but by the spirit of the serpent, the "mystical body of the anti-Christ." Ch. 4.
- The Catholic Church had been eminently consistent on its stance against communism over the decades. Ch. 4.
- One calculation showed that Pope JPII was instrumental in saving approx. 860,000 Jews from Nazi destruction. Ch. 7.
- "In terms of both his time and our own, Kennedy (JFK) was a conservative." Ch. 8.
- Reagan used the word 'evil' to describe the world's totalitarian communist regimes. Ch. 9.
- Vatican II taught that "authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man" and that "man's dignity demands that he act according to a conscious and free choice." Ch. 12.
- ** JPII said that freedom was at the same time offered to man and imposed on him as a task. It (freedom) is an attribute of a free person and in that sense, it is a gift of the Creator and an endowment of human nature and thus the lawful right of man. God is therefore the antithesis of the earthly destroyers of freedom. Ch. 12.
- "Man can do wrong precisely because he is free. That is the risk. At the same time, that is the beauty of freedom." "Freedom is given not so that man will do evil, but so that he will do good." Ch. 12.
- After being shot, Reagan began to pray for the shooter and his soul. Ch. 16.
- Once Reagan was shot, it put America on high alert and raised defense readiness. This made the Soviets call off their planned invasion/attack on Poland and prevent a hot war. Ch. 17.
- In both assassination attempts, Hinckley's bullet just missed Reagan's heart, and Ali Agca's bullet just missed JPII's main abdominal artery. Ch. 18.
- In 1984, Reagan gave a speech to the students at Fudan Univ. in Shanghai, which in part said, "We believe in the dignity of each man, woman, and child. Our entire system is founded on an appreciation of the special genius of each individual, and of his special right to make his own decisions and lead his own life." Ch. 25.
- Reagan called JPII his "closest friend," according to Nancy Reagan. Epilogue.
July 27, 2025
If I could give this zero stars I would. First of all I was hoping that this would be an analytical book because it said, “This book is a work of historical investigation, not a religious apologetic.” It then proceeds to make President Ronald Reagan into a religious warrior for the Virgin Mary. For one, President Ronald Reagan was a Protestant under the Disciples of Christ. Protestantism does not venerate the Virgin Mary in the same way that Pope John Paul II did, who dedicated his papacy to Virgin Mary. The constant callbacks to the Fatima appearances and Marian theology can and should only apply to the Pope NOT a person who doesn’t even believe in Virgin Mary being able to intercede in God’s name. Secondly, a lot of the author’s arguments are based on conjecture rather than undeniable proof. He claims that President Ronald Reagan swore to protect the Solidarity movement in Poland, but there were no public actions or statements from addresses that suggest such a thing. I could and have written an 8 page paper on how most of the arguments here are purely religious in nature, speculative at best, and do not address contradictory theories or details that complicate the author’s theory. For example, he does not address the controversial foreign affairs policy that President Reagan used in order to select new, authoritarian leaders in Latin America all in the name to fight communism. Actions that Latin Americans are still facing the consequences of to this day. But the author said he hated authoritarianism while he was a union leader in Hollywood, so he fails to mention this. The author also fails to mention that former CIA Director William Casey is ALSO a controversial figure due to his role in the Iran-Contra affairs and his deliberate influence in the information shared. However, this would weaken the author’s portrayal as the Irish Catholic warrior of communication between the White House and the Vatican that he made Casey to be. If the author had said outright that he was going to put a religious spin on his theories from the get go instead of claiming this to be “historical investigation,” I wouldn’t have a problem with this. However, in order for this to be a TRUE historical investigation it has to be analytical in nature. Yes there can be a mention of someone’s religious beliefs but it can only be a show of how religion can be a proponent to one’s beliefs NOT an entire geopolitical movement and largely complex culmination of right people at the right time. To say that the end of the Cold War is a direct result of only President Reagan and Pope John Paul II as a historical account is an insult to those of Solidarity, Gorbachev’s policies that further weakened the Soviet Union, and Eastern Europeans that fought against, suffered from, and died under communist regime.
Again if this was a book purely for religious purposes, I wouldn’t have an issue with it, but it claimed to be a purely historical account. Because it contradicts itself time and time again, I have to ardently disagree with it purely on the basis of a historical standpoint.
Again if this was a book purely for religious purposes, I wouldn’t have an issue with it, but it claimed to be a purely historical account. Because it contradicts itself time and time again, I have to ardently disagree with it purely on the basis of a historical standpoint.
October 30, 2017
A Pope and a President
John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century
Author Paul Kengor
Narrated by James Anderson Foster
Publication date Sep 20, 2017
Running time 23 hrs 21 min
Courtesy Tantor Media
I remember the spring of 1981 well. I was a freshmen in community college. I had turned eighteen the fall before and voted in my first election. The end of March my family, friends and classmates were all shocked by the assignation attempt on President Ronald Reagan. I was too young to remember the Kennedy assassination. Six weeks later, Reagan was back at the White House and finals were looming. The assignation attempt on Pope John Paul II really hit me as a Catholic. I really did not understand why someone would try to kill the Pope. Finally thirty-six years later, author Paul Kengor supplies the answer and how Reagan factors into the events of May 13, 1981.
Kengor does a fantastic job of constructing the background that sets the stage for the partnership of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II. He explains the events of the history of the Catholic Church and Communism in Russia that are intertwined by the communist opposition to all religions. The author states that “Lenin ordered the shootings of an estimated 14,000 to 20,000 clergy and active laymen.” This book has much to offer even non-Christians or atheist. The religious content is important because it is what motivated those involved. The religious beliefs of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II are are central to the history as the communist antipathy to all religion.
Would the USSR have fallen when it did without President Reagan or Pope John Paul II? I do not think it would have. I think it was the unique unofficial partnership and true respect between the two men that facilitated the events. Without the hope Pope John Paul II gave his countrymen in Poland and other communist bloc countries, without the pressure applied by the government of the United States under President Reagan’s direction, without the same message from two perspectives from two of the most powerful men in the world, the USSR had no reason to allow the changes to happen without bloodshed. Gorbachev is quoted in the book as stating that the Pope, “did a lot to prepare for the end of the Cold war.”
The book is fascinating but the audiobook is even better. James Anderson Foster has been one of my favorite narrators for years. This is the first nonfiction I have heard him narrate. The book contains a number of names that I struggled to read and retain in the print book. With Foster narrating, I was easily able to keep the various people straight because of his clear pronunciations. His voice is easy to listen. I recommend listening to the audiobook over reading the book just for the pleasure of hearing Foster’s narration.
John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century
Author Paul Kengor
Narrated by James Anderson Foster
Publication date Sep 20, 2017
Running time 23 hrs 21 min
Courtesy Tantor Media
I remember the spring of 1981 well. I was a freshmen in community college. I had turned eighteen the fall before and voted in my first election. The end of March my family, friends and classmates were all shocked by the assignation attempt on President Ronald Reagan. I was too young to remember the Kennedy assassination. Six weeks later, Reagan was back at the White House and finals were looming. The assignation attempt on Pope John Paul II really hit me as a Catholic. I really did not understand why someone would try to kill the Pope. Finally thirty-six years later, author Paul Kengor supplies the answer and how Reagan factors into the events of May 13, 1981.
Kengor does a fantastic job of constructing the background that sets the stage for the partnership of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II. He explains the events of the history of the Catholic Church and Communism in Russia that are intertwined by the communist opposition to all religions. The author states that “Lenin ordered the shootings of an estimated 14,000 to 20,000 clergy and active laymen.” This book has much to offer even non-Christians or atheist. The religious content is important because it is what motivated those involved. The religious beliefs of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II are are central to the history as the communist antipathy to all religion.
Would the USSR have fallen when it did without President Reagan or Pope John Paul II? I do not think it would have. I think it was the unique unofficial partnership and true respect between the two men that facilitated the events. Without the hope Pope John Paul II gave his countrymen in Poland and other communist bloc countries, without the pressure applied by the government of the United States under President Reagan’s direction, without the same message from two perspectives from two of the most powerful men in the world, the USSR had no reason to allow the changes to happen without bloodshed. Gorbachev is quoted in the book as stating that the Pope, “did a lot to prepare for the end of the Cold war.”
The book is fascinating but the audiobook is even better. James Anderson Foster has been one of my favorite narrators for years. This is the first nonfiction I have heard him narrate. The book contains a number of names that I struggled to read and retain in the print book. With Foster narrating, I was easily able to keep the various people straight because of his clear pronunciations. His voice is easy to listen. I recommend listening to the audiobook over reading the book just for the pleasure of hearing Foster’s narration.
November 27, 2022
The author looks at the common ground between Pope John Paul II and President Reagan. I found the most value in the history of events that preceded the end of the Soviet Union. A lot of it I knew or thought I knew, but Kengor does a great job of bringing to light information I had either forgotten or never learned.
The book begins with the experience of three children in a city in Portugal in which they reported seeing the mother of Christ. They relayed messages from her. Among those messages, according to Kengor, was a warning that Russia would be a source of error or evil or whatever. Being an uninformed outsider, I’m not sure I’m getting all the nuances right on this. In any event, this experience in Portugal was apparently huge in the life of JP II. The author returns to it almost mercilessly as he moves through the book.
The book’s purpose is to demonstrate the remarkable bond that existed between the pope and Reagan. This is a bond not merely of friendship but of two men who saw the world in remarkably the same way. Would-be assassins shot them within days of each other; they each found faith albeit in different paths. Regan was fascinated by the Phatima visions as was the pope.
If you are a devout Catholic but have hesitated to read this because you fear the author will in some way trash your faith, Trust me, you have nothing to be afraid of. This book seems to drip with Catholicism, and it’s highly sympathetic to the church. No funky stories here about rogue priests, etc. If the devotion to Catholicism had been an actual substance, the parts of my book player would surely have corroded.
Kengor is a reliably conservative writer. So, there’s no way he’s going to belittle Reagan. I ultimately enjoyed this because of the dovetailing of the lives of these two men. Even scholars who dislike conservatives and Catholics tacitly agree that because of work done in unison by these two men, communism suffered and ultimately came to naught for a time at least.
I’ve always found Kengor’s writing style pleasant and easy to read. The guy who narrates the commercial audiobook does a solid all-business narration, which is what you want for this. No one tries to do a fake accent here when quotes by Pope John-Paul II appear in the text. In short, this his highly readable, and it will take time to get through it—perfecting for shortening nights and cooler temperatures.
The book begins with the experience of three children in a city in Portugal in which they reported seeing the mother of Christ. They relayed messages from her. Among those messages, according to Kengor, was a warning that Russia would be a source of error or evil or whatever. Being an uninformed outsider, I’m not sure I’m getting all the nuances right on this. In any event, this experience in Portugal was apparently huge in the life of JP II. The author returns to it almost mercilessly as he moves through the book.
The book’s purpose is to demonstrate the remarkable bond that existed between the pope and Reagan. This is a bond not merely of friendship but of two men who saw the world in remarkably the same way. Would-be assassins shot them within days of each other; they each found faith albeit in different paths. Regan was fascinated by the Phatima visions as was the pope.
If you are a devout Catholic but have hesitated to read this because you fear the author will in some way trash your faith, Trust me, you have nothing to be afraid of. This book seems to drip with Catholicism, and it’s highly sympathetic to the church. No funky stories here about rogue priests, etc. If the devotion to Catholicism had been an actual substance, the parts of my book player would surely have corroded.
Kengor is a reliably conservative writer. So, there’s no way he’s going to belittle Reagan. I ultimately enjoyed this because of the dovetailing of the lives of these two men. Even scholars who dislike conservatives and Catholics tacitly agree that because of work done in unison by these two men, communism suffered and ultimately came to naught for a time at least.
I’ve always found Kengor’s writing style pleasant and easy to read. The guy who narrates the commercial audiobook does a solid all-business narration, which is what you want for this. No one tries to do a fake accent here when quotes by Pope John-Paul II appear in the text. In short, this his highly readable, and it will take time to get through it—perfecting for shortening nights and cooler temperatures.
May 21, 2024
This was a well researched book but the author promised "The Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century" and I think that was overpromised and underdelivered. I did complete it, but only out of sheer stubbornness to finish it. The author went down so many rabbit holes that I kept wondering if he was ever going to make his point. The author gave mini biographies for each person connected to the story, which in a lot of ways I enjoyed especially in the beginning, but it was overdone to the point that chapters were filled with so many inconsequential details that it just felt like a drag at times.
It took him basically 23 hours to say that Ronald Regan and Pope JP2 bonded over many similarities in their life:
- Love of acting
- Both came from a family of four, and each of them had an older brother.
- Reagan's grandparents were immigrants and were married in the Catholic Church.
- Reagan's older brother converted to Catholicism. Reagan's dad was a nominal Catholic.
- Regan's mom was devout Protestant and was a huge influence in his life.
- Both boys when 8, mothers were deathly sick.
- Their moms both died within weeks of each other - at the start of the 1940s.
- Lost their dads around the same time and for similar health reasons.
- Both dads died of heart attack in their bedrooms. Both had Catholic funerals.
- Both suffered attempted assassinations.
But where they really bonded was over their shared mission in the fight against communism.
There was a lot of weaving in of other details like the warning of Fatima that "Russia would spread her errors," then the Bolshevik revolution, the tumultuous relationship between the US and the Soviet Union during the 80's, Gorbachev, and the eventual fall of communism in Eastern Europe. This book outlines every single detail of their friendship and how they both played a role in the dissolution of communism.
Fans of Reagan and Pope JP2 would probably love this book. I'm not a fangirl of either, although after reading this book I have a greater admiration for the roles they both played in the fight against communism.
It took him basically 23 hours to say that Ronald Regan and Pope JP2 bonded over many similarities in their life:
- Love of acting
- Both came from a family of four, and each of them had an older brother.
- Reagan's grandparents were immigrants and were married in the Catholic Church.
- Reagan's older brother converted to Catholicism. Reagan's dad was a nominal Catholic.
- Regan's mom was devout Protestant and was a huge influence in his life.
- Both boys when 8, mothers were deathly sick.
- Their moms both died within weeks of each other - at the start of the 1940s.
- Lost their dads around the same time and for similar health reasons.
- Both dads died of heart attack in their bedrooms. Both had Catholic funerals.
- Both suffered attempted assassinations.
But where they really bonded was over their shared mission in the fight against communism.
There was a lot of weaving in of other details like the warning of Fatima that "Russia would spread her errors," then the Bolshevik revolution, the tumultuous relationship between the US and the Soviet Union during the 80's, Gorbachev, and the eventual fall of communism in Eastern Europe. This book outlines every single detail of their friendship and how they both played a role in the dissolution of communism.
Fans of Reagan and Pope JP2 would probably love this book. I'm not a fangirl of either, although after reading this book I have a greater admiration for the roles they both played in the fight against communism.
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