The Reagan I Knew

No two people were more important to American conservatism in the postwar era than William F. Buckley Jr. and Ronald Reagan. Buckley’s writings provided the intellectual underpinnings, while Reagan brought the conservative movement into the White House.

They met in 1961 when Reagan introduced a speech by Buckley. When nobody could turn on the microphone, Reagan climbed out a window, walked along a ledge to the locked control room, broke in, and flipped the correct switch. Buckley later described this moment as “a nifty allegory of Reagan’s approach to foreign policy: the calm appraisal of a situation, the willingness to take risks, and then the decisive moment leading to lights and sound.”

For over thirty years, the two men shared jokes and vacations, advised each other on politics, and counseled each other’s children. The Reagan I Knew traces the evolution of an extraordinary friendship between two American political giants.

This is one of the most intimate and meaningful memoir I've read.it was charming and thought provoking. The world needs like thinking men to write more!

I was expecting a different book. Instead of a solid memoir, this book is a series of snapshot reminisces mixed in with the volley of correspondence between WFB and the Gipper.

And it was the epistolary aspect that engaged me the most. As a historian (BA, BYU '95), I have an eye and a nose for the primary sources. These letters are gems, some of which should have been included in Reagan: A Life In Letters. Gladly, the gems have now been restored to the crown.

Here are some of the surprises:

* The running joke over WFB and the Gipper's disagreement about the Panama (or is it Erie?) Canal.

* Buckley's mock appointment as Ambassador to Afghanistan--this was an ad nausium joke in WFB's letters.

* The intimate--even flirtatious--letters WFB wrote to Nancy.

Indeed, these letters to Nancy were rather shocking, considering the Reagans' proverbially tight relationship, and Nancy's well-know antenna for detecting frauds and shysters. WFB was playful--in ways that I might be with a sister-in-law, but never with another man's wife. But, apparently, the Reagans were fine with the flirtations.

One key letter was included, the outlining of the abortive attempt for WFB and Rush Limbaugh (The Way Things Ought to Be) to hold a celebration for the Gipper in 1994 (p. 234ff). Mr. Limbaugh has referenced it several times, and both have cited Nancy's poignant response "Ronnie is simply not up to it" (236n). This was the beginning of the end, with the announcement of the Alzheimer's eight months later.

So this book is a useful part of Reganalia, tracking him from pre-Gubernatorial days to his passing. But in a larger sense, it is about camaraderie. Two men--the rarified academic and the citizen-politician--coming together, and sometimes disagreeing, but still keeping their friendship in tact. It highlights the relationship, despite disagreements, is above all.

And an enviable relationship it was, rivaling Lewis and Tolkien's great friendship (Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship).

That many the lesson for all of us, regardless of our political stripes.

In this book, author and political thinker William F. Buckley Jr. reminisces about that great American Conservative, Ronald Wilson Reagan. The book takes the form of a mixture of letters exchanged by Reagan and Buckley, and remembrances of meetings between the two.

Overall, I found the book to be somewhat lightweight. The book is not a biography of Reagan, but it was not intended to be one. As a series of reminisces, though, it is quite interesting. I particularly found Mr. Buckley's observations on people confusing Mr. Reagan's ability to tune people out with early signs of Alzheimer's.

So, if you already know Ronald Reagan, and you want an inside look at the man, written by a close personal friend, then this is the book for you. I am glad that I read this book, and I do not hesitate to recommend it.

As a great admirer of Ronald Reagan, I found this book to be a very informative and enjoyable read and I regret that Mr. Buckley was not able to speak publicly about the book before his death. It is an intimate, behind-the-scenes chronicle of the relationship between WFB and Ronald and Nancy Reagan. The book covers over thirty years of friendship between two political giants through original text and re-printed correspondence. It offers insight into some of Reagan's most important positions on government, the economy and foreign policy, particularly concerning the Soviet Union. The book also offers a peek into the personal lives of the Reagan and Buckley families. I recommed it to anyone with an interest in the Reagan legacy.

This book, published after WFB's death, is a decent and quick read. It DOES give the reader some insight into Reagan, as expected from personal correspondence, but also lacks, as others have noted. While I would be as harsh as the gentleman who noted, "The book strikes me as awfully lazy, a pastiche of vignettes, letters, and transcripts," there is some validity in the latter part of that qualm. Still, for two afternoons in the library, it was a worthwhile read. I'd recommend it to folks who seek to learn more about one of our great president; one I was raised under.