Balanced political analysis of the Reagan
presidency.
Assesses Reagan Revolution in its own times, as well
as the post-New Deal political structure and its after-effects.
Considers the impact of Reagan`s legacy on subsequent
presidents and elections.
A brilliant, compact introduction to the most
significant—and controversial—political movement in the last thirty
years
"They called it the Reagan revolution," Ronald Reagan
noted in his Farewell Address. "Well, I`ll accept that, but for me it always
seemed more like the great rediscovery, a rediscovery of our values and our
common sense."
Nearly two decades after that 1989 speech, debate continues
to rage over just how revolutionary those Reagan years were. The Reagan
Revolution: A Very Short Introduction identifies and tackles some of the
controversies and historical mysteries that continue to swirl around Reagan and
his legacy, while providing an illuminating look at some of the era`s defining
personalities, ideas, and accomplishments. Gil Troy, a well-known historian who
is a frequent commentator on contemporary politics, sheds much light on the
phenomenon known as the Reagan Revolution, situating the reception of Reagan`s
actions within the contemporary liberal and conservative political scene. While
most conservatives refuse to countenance any criticism of their hero, an
articulate minority laments that he did not go far enough. And while some
liberals continue to mourn just how far he went in changing America, others
continue to mock him as a disengaged, do-nothing dunce. Nevertheless, as Troy
shows, two and a half decades after Reagan`s 1981 inauguration, his legacy
continues to shape American politics, diplomacy, culture, and economics. Both
Bill Clinton and George W. Bush modeled much of their presidential leadership
styles on Reagan`s example, while many of the debates of the `80s about the
budget, tax cutting, defense-spending, and American values still rage.
Love
him or hate him, Ronald Reagan remains the most influential president since
Franklin D. Roosevelt, and one of the most controversial. This marvelous book
places the Reagan Revolution in the broader context of postwar politics,
highlighting the legacies of these years on subsequent presidents and on
American life today.
