Publisher Description

Hidden in the archives of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for more than a decade, the writings contained in Reagan, In His Own Hand redefine the way we think about American history of the past quarter century and about the fortieth American president. By revealing an active mind wrestling with the problems of a sluggish economy, social pathologies, welfare reform, and the Cold War struggle with the Soviet Union, these never-before-seen documents, many reproduced in his own handwriting, prove Reagan to be both the visionary and intellectual powerhouse behind his administration's landmark policies.

Author Biography

Kiron K. Skinner is an assistant professor of history and political science at Carnegie Mellon University and a fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Table of Contents

Contents

Foreword by George P. Shultz

Introduction

A Note on Editorial Methods

Part One

REAGAN'S PHILOSOPHY

Part Two
FOREIGN POLICY

Communism, Asia, Europe, and the Soviet Union

Defense and Intelligence Policy

Foreign Policy Double Standards, Human Rights, International Organizations, and Religion

The Third World

Part Three

DOMESTIC AND ECONOMIC POLICY

Freedom and Government

The Economy

Energy, Land, and the Environment

Education

Social Security and Health Care

Social Issues

Personal Stories

Part Four

OTHER WRITINGS NOV. 6, 1925-NOV. 5, 1994

Hallowe'en

Yale Comes Through

Life

Squall

Return to the Primitive

Killed in Action

The Making of a Movie Star

Letter to the Editor of The Catholic Reporter

"Are Liberals Really Liberal?"

Speech

Letter to the Editor of the Pegasus

Speech on phone to YAF Convention in Houston, Texas

Letter to Dr. McDowell

On Portugal

Stump Speech Insert

Speech on Agriculture

"State of the Union" Speech

Peace

Economic Speech -- Address to the Nation

I.N.F. Negotiations

"Mr. Minister"

Reagan's Goodbye

Appendix: Ronald Reagan's Radio Addresses, 1975-79

Acknowledgments

Index

Review

Steve H. Hanke Forbes Awe-inspiring in their breadth...these essays laid out the philosophical framework for Reagan's presidency.
William Safire The New York Times Magazine These handwritten documents prove that the original revolutionary was Ronald Reagan. We are struck by the workings of one man's mind expressed through a pen in his hand.
Lou Cannon The Washington Post Reagan, In His Own Hand makes mincemeat of the idea that Reagan was a dunce. Many of these speeches are those of a visionary who saw around the bend in the road of history.
Michael Beschloss The New York Times Ronald Reagan's private papers may show us that the Great Communicator was a better writer and thinker than even his fans understood.

Long Description

Hidden in the archives of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for more than a decade, the writings contained inReagan, In His Own Handredefine the way we think about American history of the past quarter century and about the fortieth American president. By revealing an active mind wrestling with the problems of a sluggish economy, social pathologies, welfare reform, and the Cold War struggle with the Soviet Union, these never-before-seen documents, many reproduced in his own handwriting, prove Reagan to be both the visionary and intellectual powerhouse behind his administration's landmark policies.

Review Quote

William SafireThe New York Times MagazineThese handwritten documents prove that the original revolutionary was Ronald Reagan. We are struck by the workings of one man's mind expressed through a pen in his hand.

Details