Ronald Reagan : an intellectual biography / David T. Byrne.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Byrne, David T., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Reagan, Ronald--Political and social views.

Reagan, Ronald.

Reagan, Ronald--Philosophy.

Reagan, Ronald--Religion.

Presidents--United States--Biography.

Presidents.

Religion.

Philosophy.

Political and social views.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies.

Nonfiction.

Physical Description:

xx, 222 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

[Lincoln] : Potomac Books, an imprint of the University of Nebraska Press [2018]

Summary:

"In this ambitious work, David Byrne analyzes the ideas that informed Ronald Reagan's political philosophy and policies. Rather than appraising his personal and emotional life, Byrne's intellectual biography goes one step further; it establishes a rationale for the former president's motives, discussing how thinkers such as Plato and Adam Smith influenced him. Byrne points to three historical forces that shaped Reagan's political philosophy: Christian values, particularly the concept of a universal kingdom of God; America's firm belief in freedom as the greatest political value and its aversion to strong centralized governments; and the appeasement era of World War II, which stimulated Reagan's aggressive and confrontational foreign policy.<BR /><BR /> Byrne's account of the fortieth president augments previous work on Reagan with a new model for understanding him. Byrne shows how Reagan took conservatism and the Republican Party in a new direction, departing from the traditional conservatism of Edmund Burke and Russell Kirk. His desire to spread a "Kingdom of Freedom" both at home and abroad changed America's political landscape forever and inspired a new conservatism that persists to this day.<BR />"-- Provided by publisher.

"An analysis of the ideas that informed Ronald Reagan's political philosophy and policy ideas"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction

Religious roots

From liberal to conservative

Fostering freedom at home

Understanding Reagan

A moral view of the Cold War

Promoting freedom abroad

Did Reagan's ideas matter?

The Reagan intellectual legacy

Conclusion

Appendix: "A time for choosing"

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 203-212) and index.

Machine generated contents note: Contents<BR /> Acknowledgments <BR /> Introduction <BR /> 1. Religious Roots <BR /> 2. From Liberal to Conservative <BR /> 3. Fostering Freedom at Home <BR /> 4. Understanding Reagan <BR /> 5. A Moral View of the Cold War <BR /> 6. Promoting Freedom Abroad <BR /> 7. Did Reagan's Ideas Matter? <BR /> 8. The Reagan Intellectual Legacy <BR /> Conclusion <BR /> Appendix: "A Time for Choosing" <BR /> Notes <BR /> Bibliography <BR /> Index <BR />.

ISBN:

9781640120037

1640120033

9781640121263

1640121269

9781640121270

1640121277

OCLC:

1031913753