Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher

A Political Marriage

By: Nicholas Wapshott

Narrated by: Simon Vance

It is well known that Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were close allies and kindred political spirits. During their eight overlapping years in office, the U.S. president and the U.K. prime minister worked together to promote lower taxes, deregulation, free trade, and an aggressive stance against the Soviet Union.

But according to Nicholas Wapshott, the Reagan/Thatcher relationship was much deeper than an alliance of mutual interests. Drawing on interviews with those closest to them, as well as on hundreds of recently declassified private letters and telephone calls, Wapshott depicts a more complex, personal, and sometimes argumentative relationship than has previously been revealed.

©2007 Nicholas Wapshott (P)2007 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Throughout, Wapshott favors the nitty-gritty, painting a portrait of the friendship that shaped the 1980s and the alliance that won the Cold War." ( Publishers Weekly)

the age-old adage is true: history repeats itself

Listening to this book describe the issues and feelings and strength of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher in their time overcoming communism and Marxism reminds me of what this United States currently faces in the growing trust in socialism to the horror of most Americans who have lost their jobs and yet are told "you can be reeducated".

Great Recap of 2 Incredible Leaders In Dangerous

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Publisher's Summary
It is well known that Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were close allies and kindred political spirits. During their eight overlapping years in office, the U.S. president and the U.K. prime minister worked together to promote lower taxes, deregulation, free trade, and an aggressive stance against the Soviet Union.

But according to Nicholas Wapshott, the Reagan/Thatcher relationship was much deeper than an alliance of mutual interests. Drawing on interviews with those closest to them, as well as on hundreds of recently declassified private letters and telephone calls, Wapshott depicts a more complex, personal, and sometimes argumentative relationship than has previously been revealed.

Not bad

It read like cliff notes rather than being in depth. It brushed over all the interesting issues like a Wikipedia summary of facts. This is not a very insightful book, more like a hurried book report.

Should be Mandatory Reading These Days

Well written and well performed. It is a good mix of the personal and the public. It is not a text book and does not go into the minutia of Reagan or Thatcher's lives - you won't be hearing about their 1st grade reading scores, but it does give a detailed enough account of their lives to be interesting and informative. The book focuses on the relationship between the two, and gives insight into the recent past that seems to have been quickly forgotten. The tenor of the book is complimentary without being fawning. If you hate either political figure you won't enjoy it; if you are on the fence of have little knowledge of them you may discover something to like or be informed on something you didn't know; and if you approve of their philosophies you will be well pleased. I certainly enjoyed the book, and found it supported much of what I had liked about them, and gave me some insight into a side of them I didn't know. For example I didn't know that either of them had been aware of or were interested in the Global Warming. Well, that is my penny's worth - which may be exactly what it is worth. Cheers.

History and future

Highly recommend this read to our better understanding of the past and our evolving future.