Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful book about a great man
Review: Among Reagan fans, Edmund Morris's book "Dutch" was a disappointment. It gave some insight into Reagan but was confusing to read as the author intruded often in the narrative. Some thought it would negatively impact on Reagan's legacy. But maybe Morris's book has had a positive impact for it has caused others to come forward and tell their stories of Reagan. In a Different Drummer, Michael Deaver said he was motivated to write about President Reagan because of some of the things that upset him in Morris's book. Peggy Noonan does not mention in her book that she has the same motivation, but if Morris's book did cause her to write "When Character Was King", fans of Reagan (and there are many) must thank Edmund for "Dutch". "When Character Was King" is a remarkable book - heartwarming, inspirational, uplifting. Noonan provides valuable insights into Reagan, and provides enough facts and stories to keep everything moving. I particularly liked the fact that she included texts of some of his speeches. I also enjoyed the interviews with people in the Reagan administration as well as with current President George W. Bush, who obviously is a big fan of Reagan. Noonan has written a great book. I encourage anyone wanting a basic, brief history of President Reagan to read it. I also encourage anyone wanting to learn more about the President to read it. As his legacy grows, perhaps more great books like this will be written about President Reagan.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow - good and bad
Review: Wow. This is so magnificently written. Noonan is blessed by God with a gift for words. What this book really is a tribute, and she only uses information that will support that. She does it well; she is a brilliant propogandist. But under the soothing and calm is a rage against anyone or anything that even gently seeks to conflict with the perfectly ordered world of the Ruler Reagan and his gal Peg. No, families never have any troubles. Women are always doing their Stepford best. Kids from good families don't experiment with drugs or sex. This book and the whole lot of recent Reagan books reminds me of the same worship campaign that the Kennedys orchestrated in the post-JFK assassination period. It will probably be some time before we can get a truly fair and balanced and objective view of a good man who was not the best President.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I didn't even vote for Reagan but this is a darn good book! Full of info, Ms. Noonan seems to want to put every facet of Reagan into this remarkable book. Buy it now!
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Regardless if you are a democrat or a republican. This book is awesome. I found it to truly be inspirational. I am so grateful for writers like Peggy Noonan, who can so beautifully put into words and describe for the mind's eye, the message she is conveying. I have found myself reading certain chapters over and over, often times leaving tear stains. What an awesome tool for generations to come,-- this book, about one of the greatest Presidents in modern times. Once you read this book, if you didn't already realize, you will learn what an awesome man Ronald Reagan really was. There could not be a better title for this book; When Character was King!!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Insight from Inside
Review: It must be hard to write a good biography and I appreciate Peggy Noonan's attempt to analyze President Reagan based on a theme; in this case character. Too often the biograpghies I read are long and lack a flow. This book is short, to the point, and has an easy to follow flow. Please disregard the previous reviews as they seem based more on political idealogy than observing the book for its entertainment value. I think this book was well worth the time and has encouraged me to look into Peggy Noonan's other books, too. I know much more about President Reagan than I did before I read the book and to me, that means the author's endeavor was successful.
Rating:
Summary: Understanding Reagan
Review: The book is well-written with Peggy Noonan's unique and gifted style. The book successfully understands Reagan character. The insights are comical,courageous and sad like life. There is the very strong thread of understated faith which was at the essence of Reagan's character.
Hopefully this book is able to explain Reagan to the critics of his policies such as his daughter Patti Davis who obviously loves him so very much but disagrees with his policies for the reasons as she set forth to the author when she witnessed the "The Speech" in 1964. The book is bountiful with wonderful observations, quotes and insights. The book as the man is honest,not clever, and inspiring.
Rating:
Summary: Brings out the best in RWR and in Ms. Noonan's writing
Review: This is a very good, beautifully written book. Writen by a former Reagan speechwriter, When Character was King is at times both humorous and touching. Ms. Noonan writes from the inside, and offers poignant portraits of our former president, who, because of his essential kindness and courage, as well as for his immense historical achievements, she is very fond of. I am very happy to have read another book by Peggy Noonan and would recommend this book to those are interested in how one's character is inseparable from true greatness as a human being.
Rating:
Summary: Fresh, first hand insight into presential leadership
Review: This book provides a fresh, first hand insight into the nature of Ronald Reagan's presidential leadership. While it is experience and fact-based, it is most valuable for her insight into the heart, mind and soul of a man as a leader, and the leader as a man. Add to that the clear, fresh, witty writing of Ms. Noonan and this becomes a valuable addition to any fan or scholar of history, presidential leadership, Ronald Reagan or of leadership in general.
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: A Stirring Tribute to a Great Leader
Review: I agree 100% with the other reviewers who have praised this book. Peggy Noonan's book serves as a concise but relatively thorough biography of Reagan, an informative explanation of the influences that guided his decisions before and during his political career, and a spirited and insightful defense of some of Reagan's controversial actions (controversial, at least, to those who Reagan called "our liberal friends" who "know so many things that are not so"). Plenty of funny, enlightening, and touching anecdotes help to make this a great tribute to one of our Nation's greatest leaders.
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