A Different Drummer: My Thirty Years with Ronald Reagan

An OK book by Reagan's chief of staff (as California Governor and President) who was a functioning alcoholic the whole time. He later fell into complete alcohol addiction. The book could have been shorter by a third but that is the only critique one can make. The book is about his love for Reagan the person and how he sacrificed the best years of his life to place Reagan in the best possible historical light. Nice historical tibits of info thrown in here and there. Some glaring omissions that are strange to read. He completely omits why the Marines died in Beirut. He says that by doing nothing after the Soviets shot down the Korean Jetliner, Reagan faced down his reputation as a Republican warhawk. Iran-Contra is mentioned to state that show more Don Regan had to resign since Reagan was not directly implicated. Reagan resisted that for a time. Lastly, he left out Al Haig's memorable "I'm in control here" when Reagan was shot. Decent first-hand account of those years. This author has also written a book on his relationship with Nancy Reagan show less

Politics aside, this short book is worth the read just to learn a little about a positive moral man who was steadfast in his values and principles.