by Paul Kengor
First published 2007
William P. Clark earned his nickname "The Judge" through years of quiet service, but his greatest role came as Ronald Reagan's most trusted adviser. From the California governorship through eight transformative years in Washington, Clark shaped Reagan's thinking on abortion, foreign policy, and the Cold War. His deep Catholic faith anchored every decision he made in government. Clark worked alongside Cap Weinberger, Bill Casey, and Lyn Nofziger while navigating relationships with Margaret Thatcher, Pope John Paul II, and other world leaders. He and Reagan developed the strategy that would ultimately bring down Soviet communism. Despite urgings from colleagues and biographers to write his memoirs, Clark remained silent for decades about his White House years. Paul Kengor finally convinced him to share his story, working with Clark's daughter Pat to create this first comprehensive account of the man Reagan called indispensable.
Genres: history, christian, 20th-century, political-science, politics, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: quiet-service, trusted-advisor
Setting: California, Washington, Soviet Union
Period: California Governorship, Reagan Administration
400 pages · Hardcover · Ignatius Press