Sleepwalking Through History: America in the Reagan Years

by Haynes Johnson

Book Overview

"It is morning again in America," Reagan's campaign commercials told us, and for too long we embraced that convenient lie. Indeed, the problems that came to plague us in that decade are with us even... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393029379
• ISBN13: 9780393029376
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 524 Pages
• Weight: 2.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Asleep at the Wheel

I have often contended that Ronald Reagan was the most over rated president during the second half of the twentieth century, and Haynes Johnson makes this case in his book. The neocon debacle of the past few years had its roots during the Reagan years in the eighties. Reagan's naps were legendary (hence the title of the book), and his record for the most vacation time spent during a presidency stood firm for twenty years, until 2007, when you-know-who breezed past.

CAREFUL, OBJECTIVE, THE FACTS WITHOUT COMMENT FROM A TRUE PROFESSIONAL GENTLEMAN JOURNALIST HISTORIA

This good book provides a healthy and bracing antidote to the recently forged Reagan Diary hoax, although this book seems soft on REagan, Bush, Ollie North and the rest. But that is simply the author's professional and gentle style from an earlier age of journalism, long before the rage of Hannity, Coulter and O'Reilly, when Rush was still an oddity and an anomaly, when journalism was not yet mere slap down steel cage entertainment but the scholarly presentation of historical facts clearly and concisely, as in this book, as in Murrow, as in IF Stone. This book contains the facts of that age, objectively written by a trained journalist and historian and a true professional and gentleman with full access to all parties, the objective truth and facts about the long national nightmare which was and still is the Reagan/Bush dynastic regime, from which we as a nation still struggle to awaken and may never succeed. As you can see I would prefer a little more polemic on the part of the author, but he is a skilled professional correctly concerned with maintaining his access to all parties and yet presenting the truth. Thus, while restraining himself from commenting directly nor editorializgin at length regarding the phenomena of that time, he skillfully does so indirectly through quotes from the players and writers of that age. We therefore read the harshest words regarding Reagan coming from the mouth of none other than Dick Cheney, quoted at great length. Haynes can wear the velvet glove and fine demeanor, and let others speak the truth no matter whom it disturbs from their eager slumber. THe most telling section comes near the end with a closing factual summation of the effects of the Reagan administration, moving us from our position as the world's greatest lender nation to its deepest debtor nation, a depth of debt ever spiralling downwards, the destruction of our industrial and our agricultrural base, the destruction of our technological research and development, the destruction of our moral base as a nation from the largesse and self sacrifice called for so effectively by President Kennedy to the lust and unregulated greed under Reagan. We see the facts, gently presented of all of the Reagan scandals, noted by Haynes Johnson calmly in passing without outrage we might expect now, like a bored tour guide might indicate the town square stone, but letting us read the horrors there written. For this is the teflon journalist. He points out the truth of the horror and the mud and the corruption and the dirt, but none of it sticks to him. He is too clever for that. Yet we read between the lines and we read directly the lines and we see the truth of that horrendous administration. We must read again this book and remember the truth, for we have fallen far more deeply and we cannot get up. Whereas Reagan cut taxes and went into debt to fund his military nmonstrosities and absurdities, we go far more deeply into dept to fund an unfounded yet endless war

Leading By Visceral Vicissitude

Haynes Johnson captures the essential Reagan years. EPA, Iran-Contra, HUD, and the plethora of scandals that rocked this administration, while the Chief gave us movie recitations as fact. Credit is given when due, as the case with Reagan's Zero Option Nuclear treaty negotiations.What Johnson adduces is a clueless President, who's uninterested in policy, being led around by advisors, who are often corrupt. His belief in Lasser and Stockman's supply side expectations, SDI, and conflicting threat estimates are a few examples. The Reagan anecdotes, such as the "welfare queen" story is worth the price of the book. I'd rate this book higher than similar exposes on Reagan, such as "Landslide", however, if you're expecting a complete history, you'll be disappointed.

Must reading!

If the paucity of reviews on Pulitzer Prize winning Haynes Johnson excellent book on the Reagan years is any indication of the number of people who have read this book I urge you to read it. I am a retired Professor of History and feel this is must reading to understand the damage done to the country by the 40th President of the United States.

A book that gives one a philosophical look at the 80's.

One should read Johnson's book as a history of the 80's, not as a book about Reagan. Johnson paints a fascinating view of how the person in the Precedency is irrelevant, it is those he chooses to advice him. The book also verifies, "man is not altruistic by nature." One needs only look at what happens when institutions are given free rein; the institution will use the freedom for its own benefit.Johnson makes clear anyone can be successful, in business or politics, as long as they choose the right people to run things.