Reckoning with Reagan: America and Its President in the 1980s

by Michael Schaller

At the height of Ronald Reagan's popularity in July 1986, Time magazine wrote glowingly of how he had "found America's sweet spot." Reagan seemed a "magician who carries a bright, ideal America like a holograph in his mind and projects its image in the air." Not since the rhapsody about "Camelot" that surrounded John F. Kennedy in the wake of his assassination had a president been spoken of so reverently. Reagan pledged to bring Americans a "little good news" and during the next eight years, through recession and recovery, cold war and detente, success and scandal Reagan forged a powerful bond with the public. His popularity appeared so unrelated to actual achievements and so undiminished by failure that Colorado Representative Pat Schroeder dubbed him the "Teflon president." Providing a brief but comprehensive and non-polemical overview of what exactly took place during the Reagan years, Michael Schaller presents a lively account of the Reagan presidency, weighing the
president's great personal and political popularity against the effects of his economic, social, diplomatic, and strategic decisions.
Much more than an account of Reagan the man , Schaller offers us a fascinating evaluation of the Reagan phenomenon , providing an accessible introduction for Americans struggling to understand the illusory and actual impact of the Reagan administration on the 1980s and on years to come.

Genres: History, Biography, Presidents

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 1992

About the author

Michael Schaller is Regents Professor of History at the University of Arizona. A specialist in twentieth-century American politics and foreign policy, he earned his bachelor's degree from SUNY Binghamton in 1968 and his master's (1969) and doctorate (1974) degrees from the University of Michigan.

Reviews

[Brad Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is clearly written from the perspective of someone that is critical of the Reagan Presidency. That' s not to say that it is a bad book though. I just thought it was overly-critical of Reagan.

[Laurie Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info, albeit negatively biased in parts, which left me suspicious of the author's motives.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fitting that this book from 1991 includes a picture of #45. Those two deserve each other.

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written.