Reagan's Path to Victory: The Shaping of Ronald Reagan's Vision: Selected Writings

by Martin Anderson, Annelise Anderson, Ronald Reagan, et al.

Provides radio addresses by the late fortieth president following his campaign tactics and victory speeches, complemented by a CD of recordings and essays that offer insight into his ability to inspire others.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743227069
• ISBN13: 9780743227063
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 538 Pages
• Weight: 2.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.6" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

helps overturn unfair misperceptions

News Flash: Reagan had a brain and used it. Over the past few years, with all the material coming out in 'Reagan's own hand' and accompanying scholarship, it's hard to believe that anyone could still think that Reagan was no more than an actor, an 'amiable dunce' in Clark Clifford's words. (Clark who?) But, there are still folks out there who believe in Marxism, the tooth fairy, and Obama's achievements, so some misperceptions die hard. For the antidote, one could well start with this volume of collected essays Reagan wrote and broadcast as radio commentaries in the 1970s. One finds an amazing array of subjects--domestic and foreign policy issues, economics, national security, social issues--each one commented on cogently and occasionally brilliantly. An accompanying CD with many of the broadcasts is much appreciated. Highly recommended.

The Great Communicator outdoes himself again

This book might best be described as a companion to an earlier volume entitled "Reagan, In His Own Hand: The Writings of Ronald Reagan that Reveal His Revolutionary Vision for America," The format is identical to the earlier book and the content is similar, but, in my view, this is a much superior work. I say that because a larger percentage of the commentaries included in this volume focus on Reagan's thoughts and ideas concerning the national and international affairs of his time, the thoughts and ideas which shaped his presidency and which made him one of America's greatest, most successful, and most revered presidents. Like the earlier volume, this is the kind of book which can be read a bit and then set aside and returned to later with no loss of continuity, since each brief essay is a stand-alone item. And best of all, since these commentaries were written by Reagan for broadcast on the radio they reflect the soft easy-going literary style of America's "great communicator." The book also includes a CD containing twenty of Reagan's broadcasts. But if you are not inclined to read the entire book, at least read a few of his brief essays. My suggestions would be: Medical Care (pg. 181); Inflation (pg. 186); Farm Day (pg. 268); Bakke (pg. 274); Budget (pg. 276); Local Control I (pg. 279); Local Control II (pg. 280); Government Security (pg. 291); Health Care (pg. 302); Oil (pg. 309); Drugs (pg. 313); Money (pg. 314); Salaries (pg. 315); Stamps (pg. 320); Inflation (pg. 328); District of Columbia (pg. 363); Pensions (pg. 371); Business Tax (pg. 385); Textbooks (pg. 388); Birthday Party (pg. 393); Patent Medicine II (pg. 406); Inflation (pg. 425); Jonestown (pg. 435); Three Mile Island I (pg. 438); Three Mile Island II (pg. 440); Oil (pg. 442); and Vietnam War (pg. 453). If you read these, you will learn a lot about how our government really works; about centralized government, the federal bureaucracy and the problems they cause; and about how some of our nation's current problems came about and, most enlightening, Reagan's views as to what must be done to fix them. Of course, if you read them you may also decide that you really do want to read the rest of the book. Having already read almost fifty books by and about Ronald Reagan, his family, and his administration, I must admit that I was suffering severe Reagan burnout when I encountered this one. But, despite some mixed feelings, I read it and once again marveled at the depth of Reagan's insight, his patriotism, and his humanity, as well as the broad scope of his reasoning. Many professional politicians seem to crave the power of America's presidency but do nothing to earn it. Through these essays, Ronald Reagan actually prepared himself for the job. I wonder if anyone else has ever done that.

Preparation for a Presidential Run

Never the lightweight portrayed by the media, this collection of 300 addresses shows how Ronald Reagan honed his message in the crucial years leading up to his presidential run. The late 1970s were times of tumult. Following Vietnam and Watergate, the country was adrift, unsure of its foreign and domestic mandate. Between 1975 and 1979 Reagan delivered more than 1,000 radio addresses, of which he himself wrote 680. Reagan argued in vain against the Panama Canal treaties. He was against the prevailing view that the Vietnam War was wrong. He counseled against détente with the Soviet Union; against the growth of regulation; and against the tax burden. Yet he was fundamentally an optimist. His positive positive, values-based prescriptions for the economy and for Soviet relations were welcome prescriptions during this period of what President Jimmy Carter termed "malaise." Reagan told inspiring stories; he applauded charities and small businesses that worked to overcome challenges. In short, he touched voters. This history of Reason's pre-presidential thoughts provides unique insights not just into Reagan's policy thinking, but also into his status as a master communicator.