Product Description

The outpouring of grief and heartfelt tributes following Ronald Reagan’s death demonstrated the love and admiration people still have for our nation’s 40th president. Now, in this affectionate memoir, Reagan’s chief political strategist and friend for 36 years offers a fascinating close-up portrait of the Great Communicator. Taking us inside the 1980 and 1984 presidential campaigns and beyond, Dick Wirthlin shares illuminating anecdotes, off-the-record remarks, and private moments that reveal the true Ronald Reagan. Through it all, Wirthlin points out the unique qualities and talents that made Reagan such a strong leader-and such a great communicator. For anyone who has fond memories of the late president, this admiring reminiscence brilliantly conjures up the strong values, gregarious charm, and all-American optimism that made Ronald Reagan great.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #413250 in Books
• Published on: 2005-08-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
“…original and highly accessible…this book from Dick Wirthlin is not to be missed.” (Yorkshire Post magazine, 19th March, 2005)

Review
"No one understood Ronald Reagan's ability to communicate better than Dick Wirthlin.  In The Greatest Communicato, Dick offers us a window into the secrets of Reagan's success, and he does so with a level of intimacy and grace that only comes from someone who was there from the beginning to see it from the inside."
—James Carville

"No one knew and understood Ronald Reagan the leader better than Dick Wirthlin.  And no one explained so well the core of Reagan's leadership, what Wirthlin calls his ability 'to change lives and the world with words."  The Greatest Communicatoris a smart and insightful book, indispensable to understanding Reagan."
—Fred Barnes, executive editor, The Weekly Standard,and co-host, "The Beltway Boys," FOX News

"For twenty years, through two victorious elections to the White House, Ronald Reagan relied upon Dick Wirthlin as his pollster, chief political strategist, and increasingly, as his trusted friend. Dick has waited until now to tell the inside story, but the wait has been more than worth it. A scholar, a gentleman and one of the country's best political analysts, Dick has written a warm, illuminating story that helps us all understand why America remains so drawn to Reagan."
—David Gergen

"A lot of people claim to have been in Reagan's inner circle; Dick Wirthlin truly was.  As his chief political strategist and pollster, no one understood Reagan's ability to communicate better than Dick.  The Greatest Communicator is must reading for anyone who admired President Reagan."
—Lyn Nofziger

"Dick Wirthlin was one of the few individuals who was with Ronald Reagan from the very beginning.  In The Greatest Communicator, it becomes clear why Reagan kept Wirthlin at his side all those years.  The book is a must r ead for anyone who wants to understand the inner workings of President Reagan's ability to communicate--and how he accomplished so much."
—Edwin Meese

"Dick Wirthlin was there at the beginning of the Ronald Reagan prairie fire that began with the speech for Barry Goldwater in 1964 and spread across the Nation with the election to the Presidency in 1980. Dick was a member of the Reagan strategic team and his recollections are a valuable part of the real history of the Reagan revolution."
—Michael Deaver, political advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to Ronald Reagan and author of A Different Drummer: My Thirty Years With Ronald Reagan

"Was anybody more important to the Reagan Revolution than Dick Wirthlin? Like Reagan himself, Dick Wirthlin was a man of personal gentleness and goodness who was also insightful, wise and talented. The president trusted him, in fact, thought the world of him. As did so many of us who worked with him on three presidential campaigns and in the White House years. He has quite a story to tell."
—Tony Dolan, chief speechwriter, Deputy Assistant to President Reagan, and author of the "Evil Empire" speech

"Richard Wirthlin, the wizard of polling, pulls back the curtain and provides an intimate look at the extraordinary relationship between President Reagan and his pollster. This book is a political junkie's delight and a staple for any communications course." —Peter D. Hart, public opinion analyst

From the Inside Flap
"This is not a book about what I did for Ronald Reagan, but about what he did for the world. . . . Those of us who were at Reagan’s side from the beginning will tell you that he gave us more than we ever imagined. We will tell you that our lives are forever better for having worked in his shadow. And we will mean it."
--Dick Wirthlin

Ronald Reagan was a man of tremendous vision, strong moral character, and unwavering patriotism. The public outpouring of love and admiration at his passing shows just how beloved America’s fortieth president was. The legacy he leaves behind was built over many long years of personal and professional ups and downs. And while speechwriters, chiefs of staff, and media advisors came and went during his political career, Dick Wirthlin--the strategic genius behind Reagan’s greatest victories--was there with Reagan through it all.

Reagan once told a reporter, "When Dick Wirthlin speaks, I listen!" Now, Wirthlin speaks for Reagan one more time in The Greatest Communicator,a heartfelt personal reminiscence of the man Wirthlin respected and admired without reservation. He shares candid stories of Reagan no one else can tell, drawing on treasured memories of their many private moments and shared experiences, as well as an immense trove of files and notes.

From his first meeting with Governor Reagan in the fall of 1968, Wirthlin could see that this man was different. Some politicians love policy; Ronald Reagan loved people. Wirthlin was impressed by Reagan’s warmth, his lack of pretense, his humble spirit, and, above all, his desire to build a strong and secure base for America’s future. Here, Wirthlin reveals how Reagan forged a special relationship with the American people through his greatest gift: the extraordinary ability to communicate both publicly and privately, changing lives--and indeed, the world--with words.

Wirthlin shares the many lessons Reagan taught him, taking us on a behind-the-scenes journey through milestones in Reagan’s political career: the 1976 loss to President Gerald Ford in the primary, one of the GOP’s closest fights in modern history and the only time Reagan ever tasted electoral defeat; the tense meetings, awkward moments, high-stakes debates, and tough decisions on the road to winning the White House; the landslide victories of 1980 and 1984; and the reflective moments with Reagan to which only Wirthlin was witness. He also reveals how he unlocked one of the master communicator’s greatest secrets: Reagan’s rhetorical method that won over the hearts and minds of Democrats.

Brimming with affection, humor, and remarkable honesty, The Greatest Communicator is a shining tribute to the man Wirthlin was honored to serve for over two decades--and the dear lifelong friend he will never forget.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful NEW Book ; a nonfiction MUST READ
If you want something real, warm, and informative, this book is for you. You will come to understand more about a truly great man, President Ronald Reagan, and why he was so popular. Anyone who ever saw Ronald Reagan speak will remember his easy smile and the way he enthralled us with his singular approach and charm. This delightful book delves into the depths of Reagan's character, his ability to communicate with any group, and the reasons for his success in the political world. Warm and personal, it's a tribute to the man Reagan was, both in his public and private moments. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Reagan Legacy
Dick Wirthlin's myriad experience with the Reagan presidency, including a three-decade relationship with the "Greatest Communicator," is eloquently recounted by Wynton Hall, Wirthlin's co-author and an expert in presidential rhetoric. To say that this book is a must read for anyone wanting to know the man behind the politician is an understatement. Read Chapter 7, "Three Goodbyes," for a poignant and uplifting account of Reagan's bravery in his battle with Alzheimer's.

Powerful, funny - sometimes touching
This author does a great job of putting us beside him as he interacts with President Reagan. What surprised me most was how different Reagan really was compared to the image the "drive-by media" gave us.

Wirthlin is someone who's name we've heard but this reallly solidifies him as an important insider and confidant to the greatest president in the 20th century.

Well done Mr. Wirthlin!