Ronald Reagan: The Presidential Portfolio: History as Told through the Collection of the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum
Crowded with photographs of the grinning Gipper and accompanied by a CD of his voice, this offering from Reagan's first biographer condenses the unusual path to the White House taken by the fortieth president. Cannon concedes he has reworked previous material into the text, so readers of hisPresident Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime(1991) or the official and controversial biographyDutchby Edmund Morris (1999) will find this narrative a bit old hat, especially on the policy side. It works best as a large thumbnail sketch of the Reagan persona: sunny, optimistic, idealistic. His early life was not easy, however, and he had to persevere to break into radio amidst the Depression. Relating Reagan's occupations from Hollywood actor to GE pitchman to president, Cannon homes in on his generally acknowledged skill as a communicator, which is illustrated by facsimiles of handwritten speeches, notes for extemporaneous remarks, and cue cards for one-on-one meetings. Admirers of Reagan will be smitten by this album. Add Cannon to the canon of Reaganalia.Gilbert TaylorCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved