The Reagan Diaries - Hardcover

Reagan, Ronald

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 006087600X ISBN 13: 9780060876005

Publisher: Harper, 2007

Synopsis

During his two terms as the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan kept a daily diary in which he recorded, by hand, his innermost thoughts and observations on the extraordinary, the historic, and the routine day-to-day occurrences of his presidency. Now, nearly two decades after he left office, this remarkable record--the only daily Presidential diary in American history--is available for the first time. Edited by historian Douglas Brinkley, The Reagan Diaries provides a striking insight into one of this nation's most important presidencies and sheds new light on the character of a true American leader. Whether he was in his White House residence study or aboard Air Force One, each night Reagan wrote about the events of his day, which often included his relationships with other world leaders and the unforgettable moments that defined the era. Seldom before has the American public been given access to the unfiltered experiences and opinions of a President in his own words. To read these diaries--filled with Reagan's trademark wit, sharp intelligence, and humor--is to gain a unique understanding of one of the most beloved occupants of the Oval Office in our nation's history.

About this title

Review:

'Amusing and enlightening...I quite simply couldn't put them down.' Sunday Times

'What emerges from these pages is the remarkable character of Ronald Reagan himself. He was what he seemed to be, so fundamentally decent and sunny that it is hard to figure how the American political system could have produced such a genial leader.' Sunday Telegraph

'Reagan's handwritten summary of almost every day of his 1981-89 presidency shows more clearly than ever before the way his mind worked...On the whole, it worked pretty well – especially in his cold-war policy.' The Economist

From the Publisher:

Ronald Reagan is probably the only American president in
history who kept a detailed, handwritten diary every day - day in and day
out - for eight years. As more and more time goes by, his presidency seems
to loom larger and larger and is increasingly recognized as one of the most
important we've ever had. Reagan himself has also proved to be such an
enigma that no biographer has ever come close to capturing him, including
his authorized biographer Edmund Morris, whose fictionalized approach was
such a disaster that it's unlikely anyone else will even try anytime soon.
This is part of what makes the appearance of Reagan's private diaries such
a major, highly-anticipated publication - it's the genuine article, with
all of his thoughts and feelings about what was going on behind the scenes,
and all of it written unsparingly, in his own words. It'll most likely be
seen as a book that sheds new light on Reagan's character and intelligence
as well as the extent of his involvement in some of the most complicated
and critical moments during his time in the White House. From his first
inauguration to weekends at Camp David to the end of the Cold War, these
Presidential diaries are the most detailed in American history, filled with
Reagan's trademark wit, sharp intelligence, and humor. They offer the deep
warmth of his voice, while shedding a new light on the character of a true
American leader. To read these diaries is to gain a unique understanding of
the Oval Office and one of the greatest presidents in our nation's
history.

There are literally thousands of pages of diary entries on record, and the
Reagan Foundation has asked Douglas Brinkley to be the official editor of
the project. He sifted through and selected only the very best entries for
the book to make it as lively and compelling as possible. No part of the
diaries have ever been published before, and only a handful of scholars
with special access at the Reagan Library have actually seen them.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 006087600X
• ISBN 13: 9780060876005
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 784