When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan

Rating:
Summary: Classic Noonan At Her Best
Review: Peggy Noonan is widely regarded as one of the finest writers, authors, and speechwriters of our time. All of her abundant talents are on stage in her biography of Ronald Reagan entitled "When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan." If you are looking for a chronological, year-by-year account of the major, TV newsworthy events that defined Ronald Reagan, then this book is not for you. If you want to look into the soul of a man, to find out what made him tick, then this is your book.

Noonan explores all of the major influences on Ronald Reagan's life. Of note, she goes into what formed his basis for anti-communism, which would be his personal signature for decades. Noonan covers new angles on the anti-communist front, taking an in-depth look at the social and personal contacts and relationships that were tangled in Hollywood during the 1940's and 1950's. Certainly, some innocent people were ensnared, maybe even after denying any Communist Party (CPUSA) or affiliated group membership. But many more flatly refused to denounce the CPUSA or deny associating with or supporting individuals or groups aligned with the CPUSA.

It was this blatant refusal to distance support for Moscow and the CPUSA and pledge allegiance to the United States that animated Reagan. He could forgive past association, especially during the Great Depression, and he could excuse sympathy during World War II when the USSR was an ally. But once the Cold War began, Reagan had no use for people who were explicitly against the country and loyal to Moscow. Many people were -- despite denial by many political and Hollywood elites. Imagine a Republican not disavowing membership in a pro-Nazi group. Reagan saw up close and personal the insidious nature of the CPUSA and despite his Democratic Party roots, he was first and foremost loyal to America, not CPUSA or Moscow. This is the major reason why he became a Republican.

Other episodes tackled by Noonan include some new twists on the so-called Iran-Contra episode, the "Evil Empire" speech, and how Reagan's powerful personality affected even such disparate figures as Natan Sharansky and Jaromir Jagr. The former was a Soviet dissident imprisoned in the Russian gulag, the latter a young Czech hockey player in the 1980's who is today an NHL star with the NY Rangers. Each was mesmerized and inspired by Ronald Reagan's calls for freedom in their homelands. Contrary to popular belief, Reagan often wrote major parts or all of his speeches, and many of the key and memorable phrases -- so-called controversial phrases like the "Evil Empire" reference -- were either Reagan's idea or kept in the final draft at his personal insistence.

Reagan could be flexible and compromise, as any politician must of necessity be willing to do, but as Noonan detailed with the PATCO strike, he could also be firm. PATCO was the air traffic controllers union, one of the few to endorse Reagan in 1980. It wasn't a militant union, growth in the numbers of air traffic controllers or their salaries wasn't the kind of stuff that was causing government spending to spin out of control, unlike larger government employee unions or entitlement spending. So why draw such a tough line with PATCO -- why not save it for a group that wasn't normally in Reagan's corner? Because Reagan was convinced that a union entrusted with government and safety issues had no right to strike, and even a former union man like Reagan wouldn't make an exception for a group that backed him. This event set the stage for a decade of more moderate wage increases that helped to break he back of double-digit inflation. It also sent a signal to the Soviet Union: Ronald Reagan means what he says, he is not a slightly tougher version of Jimmy Carter.

I had purchased this book a few months after it initially came out but did not read it until a few weeks after the death of Ronald Reagan. It brought back many poignant moments for this reviewer, as I came of age personally during the 2 terms of Reagan's presidency, his election coming only weeks after I started college. If you are a fan of Ronald Reagan and have read other biographies, don't be dissuaded by thinking you've read it all: you will enjoy this narrative. If you haven't read much on Reagan -- and especially if you grew up as a young person in the 1980's (either school-age or college-age) -- this book will bring back many memories of things that you may have forgotten about or never paid much attention to during that age of cable and news proliferation.

Kudos to Miss Noonan. To Ronald Reagan, Rest In Peace, Gipper.

Rating:
Summary: "All in all, not bad. Not bad at all."
Review: Peggy Noonan's story is a warm journey into the life and presidency of Ronald Regan. Noonan's account is praiseworthy but sincere, and from a healthy and helpful perspective as an admirer and former staffer/speechwriter. The only criticism I have of this particular work is Noonan's journalistic style. It isn't bad, by any means, but it just isn't the kind of writing I prefer. But if you enjoy reading journalists in general you can't go wrong.

One of the elements of this book I particularly enjoyed was Noonan's use of Reagan's speeches (that is, the actual text). I enjoyed revisiting these in text form, not just to recall some of them, but to picture President Regan speaking them while processing the ideas was a delight. No one had greater faith in the power of the individual and the inherent goodness in human nature than President Reagan, and it really comes out in many of the speeches quoted by Noonan. To be sure, another fine element of this book is Noonan's focus on Reagan's role during the conclusion of the Cold War, which, again, underscores Reagan's commonsense (i.e., "simplistic" - and completely correct) values and worldview.

Another one of my favorite components of Noonan's book is her excellent use of how others saw and were impacted by the 40th President of the United States of America. I took particular pleasure in the thoughtful comments about President Reagan made by not only George H. W. Bush (i.e., Bush "The Elder"), but also the comments offered by our current President, George W. Bush. In a time where it is currently quite en vogue to confidently proclaim that "43" isn't intelligent, I enjoyed reading thoughtful and shrewd observations made by G. W. Bush with regard to Reagan.

A couple comments about recent reviews: I don't know if I'd go so far as to call Peggy Noonan a "spin-doctor" and imply that she isn't accurate in her section on Iran-Contra. I went back and re-read portions of Reagan's autobiography and, as one might expect, everything checks out. Unless you buy into the "Reagan knew everything" theory (which is, of course, far from implausible), I'd say both Reagan and Noonan paint a coherent picture of a good-intentioned, albeit a bit naïve, plot to save American lives that backfired badly. Another reviewer notes that the book began rather weakly. I couldn't agree more. As soon as I started this book I quickly began to wonder if I'd be able to finish it. Luckily, as the June 5, 2004 reviewer notes, the book only gets better and better.

In all, this book was great - and especially nice to read after Ronald Reagan's recent passing. It didn't knock me out, but all in all, it was pretty good and worthy of a solid four-stars.

Rating:
Summary: Partisan sniping aside, this is a very good book.
Review: Reviews of this book below seem to divide neatly between the 5-star, "Reagan is the greatest" view and the 1 star, "Reagan was a horrible criminal who caused homelessness and poverty" view. The objective fact of the matter is, however, that this is an excellent profile of President Reagan, and though it is laudatory in its praise, it is filled with great, behind-the-scenes stories and keen observations of Reagan's character and accomplishments. Along the way, Ms. Noonan, a wonderful writer, makes small but insightful comments on aging, memory, national pride, and the way our children will come to view our leaders, and ourselves. (And by "our children," I include the servicemen and women of the newly-commissioned aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, many of whom were born after he took office.)

In particular, the two chapters on the 1981 assassination attempt are absolutely compelling, and the entire book, at a breezy 320 or so pages, gives a much more complete and meaningful picture of Reagan than the overblown and artificial official biography by Edmund Morris, "Dutch."

Democrats won't like Noonan's views of Reagan, but they should appreciate Noonan's head-on view of the Iran Contra scandal (where she acknowledges that Reagan could have and should have put a stop to the arms-for-hostages initiative, but didn't); and they will delight in the catalog of cheap shots directed at Reagan by the media elite (he was dumb, vacant, senile, uninterested, etc.). And Noonan, perhaps surprisingly in light of her last book ("The Case Against Hillary Clinton"), largely resists the urge to use Reagan's character to blast former President Clinton.

Small criticisms: the book appears to be hastily edited, with minor typos here and there (George Scultz?); and though I appreciate Ms. Noonan's word-pictures, a few actual photographs would have helped remind the reader of particular events. All in all, however, the best profile (so far) of President Reagan, a quick and very enjoyable read, and a view of Reagan that I expect will hold up well as history increasingly smiles on his presidency.

Rating:
Summary: He¿s here ¿ his heart, his mind, his soul
Review: Thank you, Peggy Noonan.

She brought him back to me. I could feel the presence of Ronald Reagan in every chapter. (Which is no great surprise - she wrote many of his most powerful presidential speeches.)

The book's title is precise. It isn't about history, or the presidency, or his life, or even about the man. It's about Ronald Reagan's character. The man who astounded everyone (and appalled most) by always speaking the truth as he saw it - even if that meant calling the Soviet Union an evil empire.

Her description of the "failure" of the Reykjavik summit with Gorbachev, and her compelling reasoning that it inevitably led to real arms reduction, the end of the Soviet Union, and the fall of the Wall, are fascinating. Most especially, you can trace Reagan's frustration, when he knew beyond any doubt that if he had given in, all the media would have praised him. But he couldn't do it, because he thought it was wrong.

And so he took the heat and was excoriated by the press, and in the passing of time he won, and America won, and freedom won, and peace won.

And the media keeps excoriating him.

But that's all right. The book also tells about what he said to William Bennett when the press came after him. "You know, they like to criticize me for being in show business. But one thing you learn in show business, there's a difference between the critics and the box office. Just do your job, and don't worry about the critics."

The book feels right, with details you've never heard, old stories you've heard put in a new light, and overall a delightful, warm, nostalgic, loving appraisal.

All in all, not bad. Not bad at all.

Rating:
Summary: Great read about a Great Man
Review: The first book of Peggy Noonan's that I read was "What I saw at the Revolution," the story of what brought her to the White House and what she experienced during her tour of duty. How appropriate that she would now write a book about the man she went to work for and shaped her political career.

While "Revolution" is now looked at as THE definitive book on the inner workings of the Reagan White House, "When Character was King" is a short biography told in a series of stories about Reagan himself.

Noonan doesn't claim to have been the closest to Reagan or to have presented the most thoroughly researched biography of the 40th President. She is an admirer and now one of the chief preservers of the Reagan legacy.

Academics who despise Reagan will dismiss this as the biased view of an insider, but they still cling to the myth that history can be presented in a completely objective fashion (for those of you who still believe that myth, please revisit the controversy surrounding "Dutch," a Reagan biography by Edmund Morris).

What Noonan has done with "When Character was King" is present a great biography of a great president that's extremely readable. She makes it relevant to today in one of her later chapters which discusses the influence that the Gipper had on Dubya. For those of you who follow Noonan in the pages of the Wall Street Journal and enjoy her writing, do yourself a favor and order this book.

Rating:
Summary: His character was king
Review: The only book on Reagan that touched my heart. He was the man. Noonan, gave us something that we rarely get to see in a president, his character, which is rare these days. Noonan, did a great job mixing present day events with Reagan day events so we could see the man for who he was, great. He was funny. He was stearn. He fought communism. He was caring. He loved people. He was smart. He was a leader. He could be angry but no condescending. He was fearless. He was/is an American and Americans should be thought of. He saved us all from ourselves. Ms. Noonan presents it all.

Rating:
Summary: Moral Biography.
Review: This book is less of a biography, and more of a moral character sketch of a man. It highlights events that formed Ronald Reagan's moral soul. From early childhood, to his last days before Alzheimer's, Reagan seems to have an instinctive ability to find "True North" in any situation.

I think his religious life is the key to the Reagan Mystery. He had a devotion to God, but kept it private. Yet it was this private relationship with God that made all the difference in what he did. In fact, he seems to be somewhat like an old testament prophet: subtle like Elisha, meek as Amos but as apocalyptic as Isaiah.

As a fan of Jung, I found that Regan's recurring dream about being in the large white house to be an eye-popper. That indicates that something deeper was brooding or nesting on Reagan' soul. All I can do is repeat the prophet Joel's prophecy:

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28 - 29)

Noonan pulls no punches. She is very candid about the Iran-Contra Affair, but also puts it in the overall context of the man's moral sense. Like Peter Kreeft said about Aquinas and his incorrect notions about animals not being saved, I think that Reagan made this mistake so we would not worship him as infallible (c. f. C. S. Lewis For The Third Millennium, 97).

This book edifies. I am a much better person for having read it. I not only know Reagan better, but I know Reagan.


Rating:
Summary: An excellent review of the life of President Reagan
Review: This book opened my eyes to all that Reagan accomplished in his lifetime. Peggy Noonan is a witty writer who captures the heart of President Reagan. I recommend this to anyone wanting to know more about the history of America during the Reagan era.

Rating:
Summary: "To Preserve, Protect And Defend... So Help Me God."
Review: When I started to read "When Character Was King" by former White House speechwriter, Peggy Noonan I thought how apropos then candidate Reagan's quote from his debate with then President Jimmy Carter "there you go again" would be to this work. No book written about Ronald Reagan escapes the broadsides hurled from the liberals and intelligentsia who hate to admit they had it wrong in the 80's. Then again, there are the supply-siders, conservatives and exiled pundits who close their eyes to the cracks in the myth of the Reagan presidency. So I wondered, what could this book contribute to the debate over the Reagan legacy? Instead of trying to convince the reader that those were the "good ol' days," Ms. Noonan attempts a different slant - what about the "character" of the person occupying the Oval Office - does it count for anything? Does it affect the way history will record that presidency? With a deft pen and quick moving account of the life of the former actor, governor and President, Ms. Noonan delivers a knockout blow to the fallacy that history doesn't care about the character of the person in the highest elected office. Ms. Noonan makes the case well that the "something" that distinguishes presidencies and makes some great is the 'character' of the man in the Oval Office. As Noonan says, "No one is ever trained to be president, and usually a president either walks in getting it or he doesn't. Some learn the role along the way, some never do. Reagan always comported himself as if he got it so easily, so effortlessly, that he didn't even notice that he had it."

Noonan traces Reagan's peripatetic early life; his college days, his acting career and involvement with the Screen Actors Guild. She recounts well known facts and some new ones too that formed the foundation for much of Reagan's core, his personality and his vision. She uses anecdotes from former staffers, friends and even Nancy Reagan to show how Reagan evolved into the man America saw on the campaign trail and elected twice to the White House. Noonan asserts that time and again during his presidency, in dealing with the Soviets and with the Congress, Reagan's character counted for something.

Noonan recalls that Reagan delivered on all the big promises he had made when running for office: cut taxes, get the economy moving, name a woman to the Supreme Court, cut interest rates. She doesn't duck the Iran-Contra scandal or the "Star Wars" controversy, but hits them head on. There are many tomes on the Reagan years; some that provide much more detail than this work. This is, however, a well written book that should earn a place of distinction in the debate over the Reagan years. Noonan closes the book by touching on the recent war on terrorism, its effect on the current occupant of the Oval Office and his views of the Reagan years. It does in the end give its readers something to think about on the way to the ballot box. It is very good reading.