Governor Reagan: His Rise to Power - Hardcover

Cannon, Lou

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1586480308 ISBN 13: 9781586480301

Publisher: PublicAffairs,U.S., 2003

Synopsis

A comprehensive biography of Ronald Reagan 's governorship, based on never-before mined cabinet minutes, recent interviews with former staff members, and a lifetime of reporting from the former president 's definitive biographer. In Governor Reagan , Lou Cannon offers -through recent interviews and research drawn from his unique access to the cabinet minutes of Reagan's first years as governor of California -a fresh look at the development of a master politician. At first, Reagan suffered from political amateurism, an inexperienced staff, and ideological blind spots. But he quickly learned to take the measure of the Democrats who controlled the State Legislature and surprised friends and foes alike by agreeing to a huge tax increase, which made it possible for him to govern for eight years without additional tax hikes. He developed an environmental policy that preserved the state 's scenic valleys and wild rivers, and he signed into law what was then the nation's most progressive declaration on abortion rights. His quixotic 1968 presidential campaign revealed his higher ambitions to the world and taught him how much he had to learn about big-league politics. Written by the definitive biographer of Ronald Reagan, this new biography is a classic study of a fascinating individual's evolution from a conservative hero to a national figure whose call for renewal stirred Republicans, working-class Democrats, and independents alike.

About this title

Review

"Lou Cannon's insightful knowledge of his subject, his entertaining writing style and his excellent research make Governor Reagan an invaluable book about a remarkable man". National Review "This is a well-written book. It tells a fascinating story and, most of all, it goes a long way to explain the secrets of Reagan's success". Washington Post Book World"

About the Author

Lou Cannon covered Reagan for thirty-six years, first as a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, later as The Washington Post White House correspondent. He is the author of four other books on Reagan including Ronnie and Jesse: A Political Odyssey, Reagan, and President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime, widely regarded as the definitive biography and as "the best study of that enigmatic presidency " (New York Times Book Review). He lives in Summerland, California, near Santa Barbara.

Edition details

• Publisher: PublicAffairs,U.S.
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1586480308
• ISBN 13: 9781586480301
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 592