While some laud Ronald Reagan as the president who won the Cold War, restored morale, and encouraged economic growth, others criticize him for record national debt and label him as a detached chief executive. Since he left office in 1989, both scholars and the public have intensely debated what the Reagan years meant for the United States and the world. In this important new volume, editors Paul Kengor and Peter Schweizer bring together original essays from leading scholars who examine topics as varied as Iran Contra, abortion, the Cold War, governmental management, and economic policy. Through critical analysis, these essays seek a better understanding of Ronald Reagan, his policies, and his lasting legacy. This balanced and accessible book is ideal for everyone interested in the American presidency, American Government, and U.S. political theory.

Winning Republican communication secrets are revealed. From Abraham Lincoln to John McCain, Republican leaders have used words to shape our world. Sadly, many of the most soaring moments of Republican rhetoric have fallen between the cracks of history. Now Wynton Hall considers the GOP's greatest oratorical gems, from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Teddy Roosevelt's the man with the muckrake to Ronald Reagan's Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall and George W. Bush's our mission and our moment speech after 9/11. Drawing on a massive reservoir of research, Hall looks at the historical context and reveals the persuasive secrets embedded in these great speeches.