Product Description

Reagan In His Own Voice features Ronald Reagan's radio addresses from the late 1970s. Edited by Kiron K. Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson, they are introduced by George Shultz and feature additional introductions by Nancy Reagan, Richard V. Allen, Judge William Clark, Michael Deaver, Peter Hannaford, Edwin Meese III and Harry O'Connor.

From 1975 to 1979 Ronald Reagan gave more than 1,000 daily radio broadcasts, the great majority of which he wrote himself. This program represents the opening of a major archive of pre-presidential material from the Reagan Library and the Hoover Institution Archives. These addresses transform our image of Ronald Reagan, and enhance and revise our understanding of the late 1970s -- a time when Reagan held no political office, but was nonetheless mapping out a strategy to transform the economy, end the cold war, and create a vision of America that would propel him to the presidency.

These radio programs demonstrate that Reagan had carefully considered nearly every issue he would face as president. Reagan's radio broadcasts will change his reputation even among his closest allies and friends. Here, in his own voice, Reagan the thinker is finally fully revealed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #365579 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-01
• Formats: Abridged, Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 5
• Binding: Audio CD

From Library Journal
Between his campaign against President Gerald Ford in 1975-76 and his entry into the race that resulted in his election victory over President Jimmy Carter in 1980, Reagan delivered more than 1000 radio broadcasts, running about three minutes apiece, writing nearly all of them himself. A major archive of these recordings and other prepresidential material has now been opened by the Reagan Library and the Hoover Institution Archives, and the impact is breathtaking. Anyone who listens to these, except for the most dazed mind captivated by one anti-Reagan ide‚ fixe or another, will find it virtually impossible to dismiss Reagan as a shallow thinker, captive of handlers and inattentive to detail. Instead, we encounter a man who is master of a wide array of public policy issues, his facts researched and at hand, his overall philosophy shaping his interpretation of those facts, and his orderly mind arranging them into powerful and lucid verbal deliveries to a vast audience. Most of the themes of his presidency are represented here: the Soviet Union, the failures of big government, and foreign policy particulars, as well as more personal commentary on marriage, religion, holidays, war, and death. Along the way we hear the voices of the editors, and also Nancy Reagan, Michael Deaver, Richard V. Allen, and various other Reagan-era notables as they introduce particular segments. On these tapes we find the Great Communicator in full flower at a crucial moment in his political history, and any audio library representative of the recent historical past should view these as a necessary purchase. Don Wismer, Cary Memorial Lib., Wayne, ME
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Kiron K. Skinner is an assistant professor of history and political science at Carnegie Mellon University, and a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Hoover Institution. Her articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal and National Interest. She earned her Ph.D. from Harvard University.

From AudioFile
A collection of radio commentaries made by Ronald Reagan from 1975 to 1979, this is an excellent production of broadcasts made before he became president. Transcripts of these broadcasts, which were written by Reagan, are found in two related books, REAGAN IN HIS OWN HAND and STORIES IN HIS OWN HAND. Those books also show photos of the original scripts, as well as Reagan's editorial marks. The aim of those books and this audiobook is to show that Reagan presented many core political ideas even before he became known as "The Great Communicator." Reagan's delivery is almost always flawless, although the original recordings are not in perfect condition. A narrator tells what is happening at the time of each broadcast, and we hear directly from those who were close to Reagan, such as his wife and key advisors, at the time of these recordings. M.L.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

A Precious Historical Legacy
As I write this, the news has come through of Ronald Reagan's sad passsing at age 93. It marked an appropriate occasion for me to listen to this set for the first time that had been given me as a gift.

This is by far a precious historical legacy. In Ronald Reagan's own voice, delivering radio commentaries from 1975-79, we gain a better understanding of why he became President in 1980, and our greatest president of the last half-century. Students of recent political history should listen to these to really understand the measure of Reagan's convictions, and his plain-spoken, amiable personality that enabled him to connect with the American people in a way no other President of the last 60 years has done before or since.

Godspeed, Mr. President, and thank you for what you gave to our country and to the world as well.

Audio Theatre, Audio History
My coeditors (Martin Anderson and Kiron Skinner) were thrilled when we heard this production. Reagan's voice from the original recordings is strong and clear; the narrator tells the listener what's happening in the world to which Reagan speaks between 1975 and 1979 as he runs for the presidency, talking about foreign policy, domestic policy, and personal matters. The three of us and George Shultz, Nancy Reagan, Ed Meese, Peter Hannaford, Mike Deaver, Richard Allen, William Clark, and Harry O'Conner comment on the times and Reagan's views and how they will come to affect his presidency. The CD has facsimiles of 18 of the documents Reagan himself wrote (38 pages altogether).
The texts of some of these documents are in Reagan In His Own Hand; others are in Stories in His Own Hand (a shorter, more personal book, with many photographs).
We talk about a fast-moving who-done-it as a "good read"; I call this a "good listen", far more compelling than I expected it to be.
Reagan wrote; he recorded; it got distributed (syndicated around the country to hundreds of stations); and "poof!" it disappeared. But it didn't. Here they are, as he actually delivered them. An historical and American treasure.
Annelise Anderson

A Visionary and Motivator
Simply a superb human being in spite of his shortcomings. The country needed him in 1980 and still does. Reagan was a man with a combination of wisdom, charisma, and he was intelligent and well read too; Qualities that are lacking in the leaders of today. You will be inspired all over again when you listen to this recording.