Rating: Summary: Very charming book! Review: I enjoyed this book so much, I read it in two days! Mike Deaver's intimate perspective on the Reagans shines through in this book. He really captures the essence of their personalities. Through this book I was able to go back in time and experience a relationship with Ronald Reagan through the eyes and actions of Mike Deaver.Although not a comprehensive insight into the complexities of Ronald Reagan, it is a delightful read and is an excellent addition to my growing collection of books on the Reagans.
Rating: Summary: A Great Read Review: I found this to be one of the most interesting books about the personal life of Reagan that I've come across. Deaver paints clear images of how this Great Man became such a Great President. I would strongly recommend this for anyone interested in reading about the life of Reagan without having to sift through all the political opinions of the other biographers.
Rating: Summary: Reagan Remembered Review: I grew up with Ronald Reagan. He was my president. Although I was 11 when he was elected, I consider him to have been the first president that I heard, noticed, watched. The image of a father figure was obviously shared by millions of Americans, and I guess the day when I began looking on him as my president, was when Hinckley fired his .22 caliber. I had arrived home from school and was outside playing basketball with friends. My mother came out and told me, and I remember missing my bedtime that night, up watching the latest news. I prayed for Reagan, I watched him, listened to his radio addresses, wrote to him, pulled for him, admired him. Deaver's book brings back the reasons we all loved President Reagan. He was different. He did not rely upon polls, he was constant, unflappable, strong. At a time when the vernacular included phrases like "Iron Curtain" and "Arms Race", he comforted and protected us, and single-handedly dismantled the biggest threat we faced. Deaver lets us glimpse what we already knew to be true. His stories, although new and unknown to me, validate why I called Reagan MY president. I was at the National Republican Convention in New Orleans in August 1988 when he gave his farewell speech to the faithful. I was right up front, and as a 19 year old, I remember crying upon realizing that he was leaving public life. This book will remind you, too why we loved him.
Rating: Summary: Reagan Remembered Review: I grew up with Ronald Reagan. He was my president. Although I was 11 when he was elected, I consider him to have been the first president that I heard, noticed, watched. The image of a father figure was obviously shared by millions of Americans, and I guess the day when I began looking on him as my president, was when Hinckley fired his .22 caliber. I had arrived home from school and was outside playing basketball with friends. My mother came out and told me, and I remember missing my bedtime that night, up watching the latest news. I prayed for Reagan, I watched him, listened to his radio addresses, wrote to him, pulled for him, admired him. Deaver's book brings back the reasons we all loved President Reagan. He was different. He did not rely upon polls, he was constant, unflappable, strong. At a time when the vernacular included phrases like "Iron Curtain" and "Arms Race", he comforted and protected us, and single-handedly dismantled the biggest threat we faced. Deaver lets us glimpse what we already knew to be true. His stories, although new and unknown to me, validate why I called Reagan MY president. I was at the National Republican Convention in New Orleans in August 1988 when he gave his farewell speech to the faithful. I was right up front, and as a 19 year old, I remember crying upon realizing that he was leaving public life. This book will remind you, too why we loved him.
Rating: Summary: Personal glimpses of Ronald Reagan. Review: I have seen some of the other reviews of this book, and I don't understand why some rate it as a poor read. Deaver offers a personal glimpse of one of our great modern presidents, and his interaction with him. The book does jump around, but it is an easy read, and enjoyable. Unfornately Deaver is not critical enough on Reagan on some points, and the book tends to hero worship. Other than those two points, the book is very enjoyable. As Deaver says of Reagan, what you see is what you get. I voted and campaigned for Reagan/Bush is both 1980 and 1984. I often wondered what the personal Reagan was really like, and this book at least satisfies some knowledge requirements. Reagan was a complex man in many ways. This book shows him as a simple man who pursued policy regardless of the poll statistics. He was also a softy when it came to common people's requests. This book shows the personal side of a great American President.
Rating: Summary: Personal glimpses of Ronald Reagan. Review: I have seen some of the other reviews of this book, and I don't understand why some rate it as a poor read. Deaver offers a personal glimpse of one of our great modern presidents, and his interaction with him. The book does jump around, but it is an easy read, and enjoyable. Unfornately Deaver is not critical enough on Reagan on some points, and the book tends to hero worship. Other than those two points, the book is very enjoyable. As Deaver says of Reagan, what you see is what you get. I voted and campaigned for Reagan/Bush is both 1980 and 1984. I often wondered what the personal Reagan was really like, and this book at least satisfies some knowledge requirements. Reagan was a complex man in many ways. This book shows him as a simple man who pursued policy regardless of the poll statistics. He was also a softy when it came to common people's requests. This book shows the personal side of a great American President.
Rating: Summary: A New Take on a Great Man Review: I picked this book up with some skepticism. I had long since grown tired of books that refused to accept that Ronald Reagan was a human being and was merely looking for an interesting, insightful, yet honest read about the man. Being as close to Reagan as Michael Deaver was, I suspected that this book would be another glossed-over account of reality, but I could not deny that it probably had some interesting stories that would be worth the time it took to read. Upon finishing, I had to admit that Deaver had delivered the book I was looking for. What I liked about the book is that there is no discussion of policy. There is no index and there is little discussion of legislative events. The book is simply Deaver's reflection on his years with Reagan and it paints a portrait of a man (not some quasi-godlike figure that no one can relate to) who had the courage to dream things so tremendous that he was laughed at from one end of the country to the other. Paying no mind, Reagan set out to achieve his goals and repeatedly amazed critics by with his ability to make tremendously optimistic goals a reality. I find myself noticing that, while officials in other presidential administrations write memoirs of their personal experiences, Reagan officials seem only to write tributes to Reagan. The conclusion I have come to is that Reagan was able to make people believe: in themselves, in America, and in his ability to lead the country toward some great end. There are very precious few people like that in the history of politics and, when one comes along, those on the inside end up chomping at the bit to get the message out, Reagan wasn't perfect and he made mistakes, but as Deaver points out, his ability to make people believe again made him an extraordinary president. This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in politics who deeply wants to believe again.
Rating: Summary: So So Review: I was disappointed in this book. It is written by someone who obvisouly adored the President, therefore, he is not objective in his review. Save your money on this one.
Rating: Summary: Not at all surprised Review: If you liked Ronald Reagan, this book could cause you to love him. If you didn't like him, this book could change your mind. Well written by a man who possibly knew Reagan better than anyone, second to Nancy.
Rating: Summary: Lasers and robots would make it better. Review: If you wanted to make up a story of Ronald Reagon being as close to Jesus as possible, and needed to see an example of how, then I think this might be the book for you. The author, an indicted man himself, writes how he believed One Shot Ronny was incapable of telling even the smallest lie. His disclaimer at the beginning about how the Gipper was a completly self-made man really provided much amusement while reading this deification from his former Media Strategist. But hey there's a sucker born every minute and they do need something to read.
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