by Bret Baier
First published 2018
Bret Baier examines Ronald Reagan's historic 1988 trip to Moscow, focusing on three crucial days that marked the Cold War's endgame. The book centers on Reagan's groundbreaking speech at Moscow State University on May 31, 1988, where he became the first American president to address human rights on Russian soil. Baier traces how Reagan transformed from calling the Soviet Union an "evil empire" to working alongside Mikhail Gorbachev in their fourth summit meeting. The author argues that Reagan's Moscow visit represented a turning point that directly contributed to the Berlin Wall's fall in 1989 and the Soviet Union's subsequent collapse. Baier builds his case by connecting Reagan's three Moscow days to the broader diplomatic strategy that achieved a peaceful Cold War resolution. The book reveals Reagan's leadership qualities and negotiating skills that succeeded where previous presidents had failed. Baier offers readers insight into how Reagan's vision of freedom and human rights resonated with Soviet citizens and helped reshape the global order, creating the foundation for America's emergence as the world's sole superpower.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, political-science, russia, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, political-drama
Setting: Moscow, Moscow State University
Period: 1988
397 pages · Hardcover · Mariner Books