The Reagan Diaries

Extended Selections

By: Ronald Reagan

Narrated by: Eric Conger

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

During his two terms as the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan kept a daily diary in which he recorded, by hand, his innermost thoughts and observations on the extraordinary, the historic, and the routine day-to-day occurrences of his presidency. Now, nearly two decades after he left office, this remarkable record, the only daily presidential diary in American history, is available for the first time.

Edited by historian Douglas Brinkley, The Reagan Diaries provides a striking insight into one of this nation's most important presidencies and sheds new light on the character of a true American leader. Whether he was in his White House residence study or aboard Air Force One, each night Reagan wrote about the events of his day, which often included his relationships with other world leaders and the unforgettable moments that defined the era.

Seldom before has the American public been given access to the unfiltered experiences and opinions of a president in his own words. To read these diaries, filled with Reagan's trademark wit, sharp intelligence, and humor, is to gain a unique understanding of one of the most beloved occupants of the Oval Office in our nation's history.

©2007 The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Reagan's diaries are revealing, and Brinkley has done historians and the broad public a great service by editing them for publication." ( Publishers Weekly)

Enjoyable

Interesting to here the thoughts, it is truly a diary so remember that before you buy but overall a good listen

Not very good

I did not care for this book at all. It is disjointed and not very interesting. I tried to hang with it for over four hours over a week or so but finally had to give up. I'm still searching for a good book on Reagan.

A simple diary from a small minded old man

This is not an impressive presidential diary. It has little or no detail, no discussion, no insights. Basically, he just lists what he did on a given day. "Ate breakfast, then had meeting".
The diaries do, however, confirm some very unflatering stereotypes. Reagan praises Zaire's Mobutu and the Philippine's Marcos. He shows incredible ignorance about South Africa, writing that Tutu is "naive" to think that sanctions could ever work. He follows the polls avidly. He never analyzes his policies or decisions, rather just discusses how they affect his polling results. He blames the press for everything. He can't understand why anyone would find his Bitburg visit offensive. He makes simple minded decisions, then stubbornly sticks to them, regardless of the facts. Sounds eerily familiar.
He visits China. The only thing he mentions in his diaries is the food, and his ability to use his chopsticks.
Overall, these diaries are nothing but simple lists of his daily activities. If you're looking for any depth, this is really the wrong place.

Too bland

Hoping to learn more about man and his family but zero info on that So many issues with his angry kids who ended total wack jobs. Impression that parents so much into each other kids ignored