by Paul Kengor
First published 2017
Paul Kengor reveals the hidden partnership between Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II in their campaign against Soviet communism. The author draws on extensive archival research and insider access to show how these two leaders developed an extraordinary relationship. Both men survived assassination attempts in spring 1981, just six weeks apart. These near-death experiences convinced them that God had preserved their lives to defeat what they saw as the century's greatest evil. Kengor uncovers their private 1982 meeting where they shared this divine mission. He explores how the Protestant president became fascinated with the secrets of Fatima and the Catholic prophecies. The book examines whether Moscow orchestrated the papal shooting and reveals how close the Soviets came to invading Poland in 1981. Nancy Reagan called the pope her husband's closest friend, while Reagan told Polish visitors the pontiff was his best friend. Kengor shows how their spiritual connection transcended religious differences and created a bond that would reshape global politics.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, religion, biography-memoir, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Poland, Soviet Union
Period: 1981, Cold War
653 pages · Kindle Edition · Intercollegiate Studies Institute