Reagan : an American journey
(Book)

Includes bibliographical notes, references, and index (pages 766-863).

Includes bibliographical references (pages 836-843) and index.

This evenhanded biography of America's first celebrity president, Ronald Reagan, reads like a novel but doesn't skimp on the scholarship. Spitz starts with a prologue about Reagan's great-grandparents' emigration to America in 1857 and then breaks Reagan's life into four sections: "Midwest youth," "The Hollywood years", "Governor," and "Mr. President." Evocative detail abounds. Spitz recreates such episodes as Reagan's 1976 presidential primary challenge and the 1981 assassination attempt in gripping and sometimes amusing fashion. (As nurses cut off the "natty" clothes he was wearing when shot, Spitz writes, "You're ruining my suit!" the president protested.") Impressive research, including numerous interviews with a wide array of Reagan cohorts, from 1930s movie star Olivia de Havilland to national security adviser "Bud" McFarlane, undergirds the writing. Spitz synthesizes other scholars' analyses, firsthand memoirs of key players, original press coverage, and archival holdings. Readers need not be Reagan fans or Republicans to enjoy this biography. --,Adapted from Publishers Weekly.