Ronald Reagan is arguably the most successful post-war American president. A transformational leader, he is broadly credited with renewing American prosperity after the stagflation-hit 1970s, laying the foundations for Cold War victory and bringing about the shift to the right in late-twentieth century politics. In this new biography, Iwan Morgan shrewdly assesses Reagan's considerable achievements whilst also highlighting the shortcomings that were an indisputable part of his record. Based on extensive research, this book plots a chronological path through Reagan's life covering his upbringing; his rise and fall as a Hollywood star; his time as California governor; and his pursuit of the presidency. Morgan offers a detailed evaluation of the pragmatic conservatism that was the hallmark of Reagan's presidential leadership in domestic affairs. In the international sphere, he explains Reagan's metamorphosis from Cold War hawk to negotiator for nuclear-arms reduction, while also examining his role in the Iran-Contra scandal.
This book ultimately shows that what made Reagan an American icon above all else was his optimism regarding his country and his ability to articulate its best values - even if he himself did not always live up to these. Today, as the Republican Party grapples with its new direction and identity, understanding the legacy of Ronald Reagan and Reaganism is more relevant than ever.

Authoritative and even-handed biography of Reagan

About the Author
Iwan Morgan is Professor of US Studies and Head of US Programmes at the Institute of the Americas, University College London. He was awarded the British Association of American Studies Honorary Fellowship in 2014 in recognition of his contributions to the discipline over the course of his career. His publications include The Age of Deficits: Presidents and Unbalanced Budgets from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush; Nixon and Beyond the Liberal Consensus: A Political History of the United States since 1965.

Reviews
'As one might expect from such an influential and controversial personality Ronald Regan has been the subject of much biography, running from the meticulous but essentially critical works of Lou Cannon to the bizarre biographical fantasy by Edmund Morris. Iwan Morgan's new life, benefiting from the elapse of time, the fading of old resentments and the appearance of rival subjects of both admiration and disdain, stands every chance of emerging as the standard life. Morgan has brought to its writing formidable but also thoughtful and critical research and a lively style. His research has given him a sure grasp of Reagan's improbable journey from small town Middle West, through Hollywood's Golden Age into national and international politics. Morgan's greatest virtue is his fairness. He does justice to Reagan's authentic faith in the essential virtue of America and to the individual, non-ideological quality of his conservative faith. At the same time he is not afraid to point out the contradictions in Reagan's beliefs, the limitations of his political credo and the occasional mistakes and absurdities of his political career. Wise, fair and witty, Iwan Morgan 's life of Reagan is likely to be accepted by both the admirers and the critics of the fortieth president as both trustworthy and readable.' - Godfrey Hodgson, author of The Myth of American Exceptionalism and former Washington correspondent for The Observer , 'Iwan Morgan's Reagan is a fast-paced narrative that is superbly organized and judiciously argued about the life and times of America's 40th president. Before going elsewhere, both academics and general audiences should first read this exceptional volume as the introduction to this complex topic.' - Irwin F. Gellman, author of The President and the Apprentice: Eisenhower and Nixon 1952-1961, 'Iwan Morgan has written a hugely valuable account of a highly consequential life. Reagan is engagingly written and exhaustively researched - the grounding in archival sources adds real depth to the portrayal of Reagan the person, performer, governor and president. The book does credit to Morgan as a scholar but his erudition is consumed painlessly thanks to the elegance of his prose. Morgan's assessment of Reagan is nuanced and refreshingly non-partisan, giving credit and finding fault where each is appropriately due. Readers will come away appreciating the intriguing complexity of the man, and the immense impact of his career.' - Andrew Rudalevige, T.B. Reed Professor of Government, Bowdoin College



Book Information
ISBN 9781780767475
Author Iwan Morgan
Format Hardback
Page Count 426
Imprint I.B. Tauris
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 758g
Dimensions(mm) 226mm * 155mm * 25mm