Speaking Out: The Reagan Presidency from Inside the White House

by Larry Speakes

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684189291
• ISBN13: 9780684189291
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 8 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Speaking of the Reagan White House

As President Reagan's Press Secretary, Larry Speakes had an insider's view of the workings of the Reagan White House. Working closely with and observing those supporting the Reagan Administration, and President Reagan himself, Mr. Speakes also gained various insights into the personalities and character of those involved. These, he offers to the reader. He also met with the President and attended many high-level meetings where he listened to the discussions, saw how the various participants acted and reacted, and finally witnessed how the critical decisions were made. For these reasons alone, this book should be of interest to anyone seeking to understand or learn more about President Reagan and his administration. Fortunately, this book is an easy read. It flows well, offers many useful insights, and most importantly wasn't written by an author with a hidden agenda or an axe to grind. The most interesting thing about the book, however, at least in my view, is that it directly contradicts Donald Regan's book, "For the Record," in one important particular. In his book, Mr. Regan maintains that even after hearing all of the discussion, President Reagan rarely made a decision and that it was left to the listener to assume that if he didn't say no, the answer was yes --- and, in some cases it was even necessary to resort to Reagan's public utterances to determine the correct course of action. Mr. Speakes, on the other hand, who also attended these critical meetings, states that "...the President was decisive. He listened; he was well-informed on the important points; and once he had received the counsel from his top appointees, he acted." I guess it will be left to future historians to determine who is right. But knowing what I do about Ronald Reagan, I suspect that Larry Speakes, no axe in hand, is much closer to the truth. In any event, it all makes for very interesting reading.

A lot of Gossip

I have read a number of books covering the Reagan Administration and this rates as one of the more enjoyable to read. Not from a hard facts point of view, but becuase of the level of gossip. From talking about the different personalities of the top officials to the make up of the Reagan suit collection, the author(s)do a good job of giving you the kind of information you would gather from an office coffee break conversation. This is a fairly light book that provides the reader an interesting view into the personalities of the President's close circle. If you are looking for an in-depth decision about the policies or events, this is not your book.