Reagans Disciple: George W. Bushs Troubled Quest for a Presidential Legacy
by By Cannon, Carl M. and Cannon, Lou
Category: Political Science , Political Process , Political Parties

George W. Bush ran for office promising to continue what  conservative icon Ronald Reagan started, and two years into  his first term, Bush was still being described as "Reagan's  son." Today, with the Iraq War spinning out of control and  the Democrats in charge of Congress, Republicans and the  conservative movement have all but abandoned George W.  Bush. What happened? Did Bush change, or did his party's  perceptions? Has the war and Bush's performance on other  issues derailed the larger goals of the Reagan Revolution?  and even undermined its foundations? Or does the nation  remain on a conservative path despite Bush's low standing  with his fellow Americans?  In Reagan's Disciple, two widely respected reporter/  historians provide an authoritative and concise investigation  into these issues. They describe the essence of the 40th  and the 43rd presidencies, and compare them to shed new  light on the history of the past three decades. They show  both how extraordinary a leader Reagan was, and how preposterous  the expectations for Bush were from the beginning.  As Americans look toward choosing a new leader in  2008, Reagan's Disciple will serve as an instructive tale for  Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike.