“Reagan’s Revolution”
There are a lot of books available about Ronald Reagan, and after the long-overdue accolades given during his week-long funeral observation in 2004, it’s hardly a shock there would be still more published now. But if you want to learn about Ronald Reagan, especially about the beginning of not only his rise to power, but the nation’s discovery of what he was about and meant to the future of the Republican Party and America’s place in the world, you simply must go out and but “Reagan’s Revolution”, by Craig Shirley.
I am not one to gush. When I reviewed Hugh Hewitt’s book, “Blog”, earlier this year, I pointed out Hugh’s arrogance as well as his perceptive points. I am known for doses of vinegar in with the honey. But in the case of “Reagan’s Revolution”, the closest thing to criticism I can throw out, is that I wish there was a Volume II and III and IV, to cover Reagan’s Presidency in the same detail as his 1976 run for the Republican nomination, the influence of Reagan in the Contract With America, and of course, the parallels between Reagan and Dubya in political philosophy.
When we look back at the great men of our history, it’s easy to believe they had no doubts, no worries, no times of turmoil or weak support. This book not only details the challenges Ronald Reagan faced in starting up his 1976 challenge to an incumbent President, but also reminds that all great men start as ordinary men. For example, while Ronald Reagan has always enjoyed the image of a man with a lot of money, in 1976, his pension from the State of California as Governor had been reduced by the Democratic-controlled Legislature from $49,000 a year to just $19,000 (which they did to no other Governor). The new Federal Election Commission, which radically changed the rules by which candidates could run and which also controlled disbursement of governement matching funds, consistently allowed advantages to President Ford in access to media and in fund-raising. In fact, at one point the FEC ceased to exist because of a court ruling, and while Congress duly reconstituted the FEC, President Ford delayed signing the legislation, which ended up delaying the disbursement of more than a million dollars to the Reagan campaign for more than a month, arguably costing him his chances in Wisconsin and hurting him in other states.
“Reagan’s Revolution” also shows some of the wit and character of the man. Reagan once said of comparisons between himself and President Ford, “It’s been said that if you put Ford and me together in a dark room, you can’t tell us apart philosophically. Well, if you turn on the light, you can.” The book also includes quotes which show the thinking of some of Reagan’s advisors, like Mel Thomson, quoted in the Miami-Herald as saying, “If I was going to give the world an enema, I’d insert the nozzle in Washington.”
“Reagan’s Revolution” captures the emotion and drive of a political campaign, as well as providing a cast of characters we still see today, including names like Fred Barnes, William F. Buckley, Tommy Thomas, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, George Will, and Bob Mosbacher. It’s fascinating to see the ebb and flow, thrust and parry, yin and yang of American politics, expressed in a manner far more timeless than anything I have read before.
Buy “Reagan’s Revolution”. Read it. Take notes. Read it again. Tell your friends about it. Give it as a gift. You will not be sorry.
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