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Deconstructing Reagan: Conservative Mythology and America's Fortieth President
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Comments/Reviews
Description: Although he left office nearly 20 years ago, Ronald Reagan remains a potent symbol for the conservative movement. The Bush administration frequently invokes Reagan's legacy in suport of its fiscal, domestic, and foreign policies. His name is a watchword for campus conservatives who regard him in a way that borders on hero worship. Conservative media pundits often equate the term "Reagan-esque" with personal honor, fiscal rectitude, and unqualified success in dealing with foreign threats.
But how much of the Reagan legacy is based on fact, how much on idealized myth? And what are the reasons--political and otherwise--behind the mythmaking?
Deconstructing Reagan is a fascinating study of the interplay of politics and memory concerning our fortieth president. While giving credit where credit is due, the authors scrutinize key aspects of the Reagan legacy and the conservative mythology that surrounds it.
Selected Contents:
Introduction: American Conservatism
1. Reagan and the Cold War, Michael Schaller
2. The Economic Costs of Reagan Mythology, John W. Sloan
3. Reagan and Race: Prophet of Colorblindness, Baiter of the Backlash, Jeremy D. Mayer
4. When Character Was King? Ronald Reagan and the Issues of Ethics and Morality, Kyle Longley
Epilogue: Contemporary Politics and the Myths of Reagan
Notes
About the Authors
Index
Comment(s): "This is an important book. Four gifted historians probe the disparity between Ronald Reagan's record in office and the sweeping claims of greatness that his admirers on the right have advanced. Lively, fast-paced, and well-documented, this volume is ideal for any reader trying to grasp what makes Ronald Reagan so controversial almost two decades after his presidency ended." -- Lewis Gould, author of Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans
Review(s): ...this book is suited for undergraduates in history or political science courses as a way to introduce new students to the fortieth president. Recommended. General readers through undergraduates. Choice, Vol.44, No.10
This collection of essays by historians and political scientists provides a stimulating assessment of the presidency of Ronald Reagan. ... The authors of this book have made excellent use of the existing historical scholarship to advance understanding of contemporary American politics. The Journal of American History
    
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