The American Experience - Republicans

Rating:
Summary: IKE - NIXON - REAGAN
Review: The American Experience series is simply outstanding. The Republicans series includes Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan. They are full of detail and are a must have for anyone interested in history. It is also a great assett to the classroom. I would highly recommend the Republican series to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: not a bad start, decent overviews
Review: This package gives you the American Experience version of the presidencies of Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan. Each covers the most salient parts of their early biographies and then shows how their careers led them into politics and eventually the nation's highest office. About what you would expect from PBS in terms of placing each in the overall context of American history. A good place to start and get more information or ideas about each of these presidents, but not definitive by any means. Hardly one-sided, there's a healthy amount of criticism for each of these Republican presidents.

The Eisenhower one does a good job of showing what Ike was like before he became either a famous general or a politician. The parts about his wartime exploits are more personal than reflective of the war in Europe of which he was such an integral component. The approach toward his presidency is a little simplistic and follows the interpretation that Ike led by a "hidden hand."

The Nixon part of course focuses heavily on Watergate. There was more to his presidency, but this is given relatively short shrift. Basically portrays Nixon's political insecurity and obsession that someone was always out to get him.

The Reagan part actually has separate reviews on Amazon, but it draws heavily on the commentary of Edmund Morris, who would not have been my first choice. Potential bias of the narration aside, the video of Reagan and interviews with his staffers and colleagues is very good and worth watching.

Rating:
Summary: not a bad start, decent overviews
Review: This package gives you the American Experience version of the presidencies of Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan. Each covers the most salient parts of their early biographies and then shows how their careers led them into politics and eventually the nation's highest office. About what you would expect from PBS in terms of placing each in the overall context of American history. A good place to start and get more information or ideas about each of these presidents, but not definitive by any means. Hardly one-sided, there's a healthy amount of criticism for each of these Republican presidents.

The Eisenhower one does a good job of showing what Ike was like before he became either a famous general or a politician. The parts about his wartime exploits are more personal than reflective of the war in Europe of which he was such an integral component. The approach toward his presidency is a little simplistic and follows the interpretation that Ike led by a "hidden hand."

The Nixon part of course focuses heavily on Watergate. There was more to his presidency, but this is given relatively short shrift. Basically portrays Nixon's political insecurity and obsession that someone was always out to get him.

The Reagan part actually has separate reviews on Amazon, but it draws heavily on the commentary of Edmund Morris, who would not have been my first choice. Potential bias of the narration aside, the video of Reagan and interviews with his staffers and colleagues is very good and worth watching.