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Well-researched and very informative.
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The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism
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Based on extraordinary research: a major reassessment of Ronald Reagan's lifelong crusade to dismantle the Soviet Empire–including shocking revelations about the liberal American politician who tried to collude with USSR to counter Reagan's efforts
Paul Kengor's God and Ronald Reagan made presidential historian Paul Kengor's name as one of the premier chroniclers of the life and career of the 40th president. Now, with The Crusader, Kengor returns with the one book about Reagan that has not been written: The story of his lifelong crusade against communism, and of his dogged–and ultimately triumphant–effort to overthrow the Soviet Union.
Drawing upon reams of newly declassified presidential papers, as well as untapped Soviet media archives and new interviews with key players, Kengor traces Reagan's efforts to target the Soviet Union from his days as governor of California to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of what he famously dubbed the "Evil Empire." The result is a major revision and enhancement of what historians are only beginning to realize: That Reagan not only wished for the collapse of communism, but had a deep and specific understanding of what it would take––and effected dozens of policy shifts that brought the USSR to its heels within a decade of his presidency.
The Crusader makes use of key sources from behind the Iron Curtain, including one key memo that implicates a major American liberal politician–still in office today–in a scheme to enlist Soviet premier Yuri Andropov to help defeat Reagan's 1984 reelection bid. Such new finds make The Crusader not just a work of extraordinary history, but a work of explosive revelation that will be debated as hotly in 2006 as Reagan's policies were in the 1980s.
Paul Kengor's God and Ronald Reagan made presidential historian Paul Kengor's name as one of the premier chroniclers of the life and career of the 40th president. Now, with The Crusader, Kengor returns with the one book about Reagan that has not been written: The story of his lifelong crusade against communism, and of his dogged–and ultimately triumphant–effort to overthrow the Soviet Union.
Drawing upon reams of newly declassified presidential papers, as well as untapped Soviet media archives and new interviews with key players, Kengor traces Reagan's efforts to target the Soviet Union from his days as governor of California to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of what he famously dubbed the "Evil Empire." The result is a major revision and enhancement of what historians are only beginning to realize: That Reagan not only wished for the collapse of communism, but had a deep and specific understanding of what it would take––and effected dozens of policy shifts that brought the USSR to its heels within a decade of his presidency.
The Crusader makes use of key sources from behind the Iron Curtain, including one key memo that implicates a major American liberal politician–still in office today–in a scheme to enlist Soviet premier Yuri Andropov to help defeat Reagan's 1984 reelection bid. Such new finds make The Crusader not just a work of extraordinary history, but a work of explosive revelation that will be debated as hotly in 2006 as Reagan's policies were in the 1980s.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1,2006
This edition
- Format
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432 pages, Hardcover
- Published
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October 17, 2006 by Harper
- ISBN
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9780061136900
- ASIN
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0061136905
- Language
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English
Characters More characters
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Ronald Reagan
Former actor and the 40th President of the United States. He served two terms from 1981 till 1989. Reagan is mostly known for his staunch opposition towards communism. He dubbed the term "Evil empire"Before he became president he also was the governor of ...
About the author
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Paul G. Kengor is an author and professor of political science at Grove City College and the senior director of the Institute for Faith and Freedom, a Grove City College think tank. He is a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace. Kengor has focused much of his work on Ronald Reagan, faith and the presidency, conservative politics, the Cold War, Communism, and Catholicism.
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Rating(4 / 5.0, 39 votes)
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39 reviews All reviews
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OK. Reagan's life-long crusade against communism and socialism.
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I just finished this one. It was so amazing. I only thought Reagan was my hero before. He is firmly my favorite president in the history of our nation. Only Washington and Lincoln equal him in true greatness, But for me Reagan eclipses them. He was MY president. I wish I had been old enough to vote for him.
Well, about the book...
Kengor creates a cohesive and meticulously documented portrait of a perceptive and purposeful Cold Warrior who never had any foreign policy goal other that the destruction of communist totalitarianism and the expansion of freedom around the world. Krengor clearly shows a philosophical consistency from Reagan days as president of SAG to his last years of lucidity (pre-Alzheimer's.
Anyone that really wants to understand how America won the Cold War should read this fantastic book.
Well, about the book...
Kengor creates a cohesive and meticulously documented portrait of a perceptive and purposeful Cold Warrior who never had any foreign policy goal other that the destruction of communist totalitarianism and the expansion of freedom around the world. Krengor clearly shows a philosophical consistency from Reagan days as president of SAG to his last years of lucidity (pre-Alzheimer's.
Anyone that really wants to understand how America won the Cold War should read this fantastic book.
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I listened to the audiobook. This isn't a full political biography, but focused mainly on Reagan's crusade against communism. Reagan first mentioned that the Berlin wall should come down in 1967, long before he was president of the USA. It was a long time goal which came to fruition. Without Reagan the Soviet Union may still be dominant, and communism more prominent throughout the world. We need more Reagan's!
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I had no idea this one man was so instrumental in tearing down the Soviet Union. Having said that, this is not an easy book to read. It's closer to a university textbook than a biography. With hundreds of names, dates, and political and military acronyms (as well as 94 pages of reference notes), it's ideal for someone with a voracious appetite for political strategy. Not so much for the casual reader.
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To all who feel Ronald Reagan was a sweet talking, below average intelligent dolt whose only role in ending the Cold War was simply being in the right place at the right time, read this book! You are wrong! Through meticulous and broad research using dozens of recently declassified documents from both the Americans and Soviets as well as in- depth interviews with key players on both sides, this book proves that Ronald Reagan's hand in ending the Cold War was not only guided by his own intelligence and determination, but that the Cold War would simply not have ended when it did if it wasn't for Reagan. Again, I can't say enough about the solid research that bolster's Kengor's argument. He goes right to the source and gives you a front row seat in the White House and Kremlin themselves during the Cold War and allows you to witness first hand the very real war that was being waged between freedom and oppression. Kengor also discusses the critics of Reagan in several of the chapter's, going right to their main arguments and elaborating on either how they have come to their conclusions through misinterpretation of evidence or how their interpretations were formed simply with a lack of available evidence at the time (like I said, many of these documents have only been declassified within the last few years). Perhaps the greatest declassified document included is actually included in its entirety in the appendix, and it is a letter from then Senator Ted Kennedy to the Soviets in 1984 concerning his and the Democrats disgust with Reagan's "warmongering" and "crazy tactics" and their desire to get a more "moderate" candidate elected who is more effective at working with the Soviets. I couldn't believe it. The verdict of history has clearly established the winners and losers of the political debates of the 1980s. In short, Ronald Reagan defeated an enemy, Communism, that was responsible for more deaths than both World Wars combined without so much as a single military engagement.
RECOMMENDED FOR:
1. People who want to be inspired and motivated by a man's crusade to spread the fruits of freedom to the oppressed of the world.
2. OR anyone who believes Reagan's legacy is a myth and he was simply a charismatic dolt who was unintelligent and largely not responsible for the successful policies of his advisors.
RECOMMENDED FOR:
1. People who want to be inspired and motivated by a man's crusade to spread the fruits of freedom to the oppressed of the world.
2. OR anyone who believes Reagan's legacy is a myth and he was simply a charismatic dolt who was unintelligent and largely not responsible for the successful policies of his advisors.
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The title At first when I came across this book, made me question the Author's motive,seeing there is so much respect for this Great Man, and so much disrespect for him from Unreasonable and delusional apologetics.This Book Is a wonderful Tome, And Re-Confirmed the Belief That Yes he was A BIG Reason if not the only I would dare Say That By God's Grace, Evil Tyranny(Communism) Fell. And that he completed his Mission. Who Doesn't Like Reagan? A Former Classical Liberal Democrat and Union Man then Republican(The Liberals sold out to the Extreme Left in the 60s),He fought Communism all his life and with Good reason. My Personal Bias obviously shows in my review, However, Classical liberals(OldSchool) and Conservatives, Patriots and Most who respect This Man Can agree that He did so Much For this Country that was left in Shambles by an On the Job 1term Inexperienced Liberal(History Repeats Itself).I am Proud To be a Conservative Republican, Proud of Reagan and My Country.This Book Is an Excellent Starting Point for any Reagan Fan or Political Science Student.
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This is an enjoyable read and makes a strong case that Reagan was one of the greatest American presidents. However, it focuses primarily on Reagan's foreign policy exploits; so don't expect to find much detail about his economic policies.
Regardless, the foreign policy anecdotes are excellent. For example, in 1981 the French brought what was called the "Farewell Dossier" to the attention of U.S. intelligence agencies and Reagan's National Security Staff. A Soviet defector by the name of Colonel Vladimir Vetrov, who was the author of the dossier, wrote that approximately 100 spies throughout the West had infiltrated various government agencies and privates corporations and were stealing key defense technology for the Soviets. In response, Reagan authorized U.S. intelligence agencies to leak faulty technology to the Soviets. In one particularly successful instance, the Soviets were leaked faulty computer software, which they in turn used to run their new Siberian gas pipeline. Unbeknownst to them, the software was programmed to initially pass Soviet quality-control tests, until a hidden program within the software eventually instructed the pumps and valves to produce pressure beyond capacity, which in turn caused the pipeline to explode. According to the book, it was "the most monumental non-nuclear explosion and fire ever seen from space."
Needless to say, I hate the Soviets, so this story put a smile on my face.
Regardless, the foreign policy anecdotes are excellent. For example, in 1981 the French brought what was called the "Farewell Dossier" to the attention of U.S. intelligence agencies and Reagan's National Security Staff. A Soviet defector by the name of Colonel Vladimir Vetrov, who was the author of the dossier, wrote that approximately 100 spies throughout the West had infiltrated various government agencies and privates corporations and were stealing key defense technology for the Soviets. In response, Reagan authorized U.S. intelligence agencies to leak faulty technology to the Soviets. In one particularly successful instance, the Soviets were leaked faulty computer software, which they in turn used to run their new Siberian gas pipeline. Unbeknownst to them, the software was programmed to initially pass Soviet quality-control tests, until a hidden program within the software eventually instructed the pumps and valves to produce pressure beyond capacity, which in turn caused the pipeline to explode. According to the book, it was "the most monumental non-nuclear explosion and fire ever seen from space."
Needless to say, I hate the Soviets, so this story put a smile on my face.
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