First published 2020
Rick Perlstein examines Ronald Reagan's political resurrection between 1976 and 1980. The author argues that four converging forces reshaped American politics during these years. Corporate America mobilized against unions, environmental regulations, and liberal policies. Conservative Christians organized to reverse 1960s cultural changes. The Democratic Party fractured as Jimmy Carter promoted austerity while liberal factions fought to restore New Deal populism. Meanwhile, Reagan transformed from a failed 1976 candidate dismissed as too old into the Republican standard bearer. Perlstein shows how Reagan emerged as the symbol of America's desire to move beyond 1970s crises like Love Canal, Jonestown, John Wayne Gacy's murders, and the Iran hostage situation. The book connects Reagan's rise to the broader conservative movement that continues to influence politics today. Perlstein offers fresh perspectives on how these turbulent years created the foundation for modern American conservatism and set the stage for contemporary political divisions.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, political-drama
Setting: America
Period: 1976-1980
1107 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster