Course Title:  History 340, Ronald Reagan

Prerequisite:  None

Credits:  3

Dutch
A Memoir of Ronald Reagan
Edmund Morris
Random House, publisher
p. 874
1999

History 340, Ronald Reagan, is course design by the History Department to introduce students to the life and presidency of the 39th president of the United States. There are many books written about the man, both pro and con, this selection of books intends to present the students with a book in memoir form, written by renown author, Edmund Morris; a book of selective writings by Ronald Reagan himself compiled by Kiron K. Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson ; and an autobiography.

By my own unscientific survey, there were probably 77 people on the planet at any one point who could of written the story of President Ronald Reagan, Dutch. When one considers the talent necessary to write the story, that number would drop dramatically, and if one weighs the personal experiences over a lifetime with the man, Ronald Reagan, that numbers falls to only 1. For Ronald Reagan was no easy man to comprehend, necessarily, only a select handful could of interacted with the man, researched his life, and not be dissuaded from an evenhanded approach to his memoirs. The only man whom I reckon could of pulled that off was Edmund Morris.

Mr. Morris does a tremendous job of tracing Reagan's roots back to Tampico, Illinois. He writes an interesting story of how the man, Reagan, and the author, Morris, lives come together and grow apart, and finally coalesce again. It is this aspect of the memoir that is at first quite odd, for as a student approaching the subject matter of presidential biographies, what significance is Edmund Morris' life?

In the biography, the major events are documented by Morris, in fact the author even delves into the possible communist ties of the late president. Although this books is not full of minute details, Reagan's radio days are in there, the Hollywood years, the first marriage, the second, the governorship, the failed attempt at the presidency, the summits with Gorbachev, are all in there. What is also in the story of Ronald Reagan, the man, is also a significant part of Edmund Morris, the man, and as the memoir ends, we find, that indeed, perhaps the story of Ronald Reagan could not of been told by anyone else.

A very nice compliment to Edmund Morris’ Dutch, is Reagan, In His Own Hand, by Annelise Anderson. This is a book of collection of speeches, stories, and even poems from throughout Reagan’s life. A good many of the entries are from era 1975-1979 when Reagan was making regular radio speeches on current events and politics. While Dutch does lack a degree of detail, this book will more than make up for that shortfall. Many students will be surprise to learn of the depth to which Reagan had formulated his opinions and positions, how principled and true to his own words the presidency was.

The student will read the blue print for burying communism and the Soviet Union, written before 1981 but followed through during the administration. This is just one of many planks of his philosophy developed over time, and the depth of his writings will certainly surprise any skeptics of Reagan’s intellect.

An American Life, an autobiography, was published in 1990. Written in the conversation style that was an endearing feature of his presidency, the book covers his life and presidency in a way that will only strengthen the reverential perspective of his admirers. For students of the University, naturally, the staff feels that it is very important to read the autobiographies of historical figures.