American Life

The personal and political story of Ronald Reagan, who rose from small-town beginnings to dominate world events in the 1980s as the most popular US president since Roosevelt. He was the son of an alcoholic shoe-salesman who grew up in the Depression in a series of small towns in America's mid-west. Through radio sports commentating he broke into acting, became a major movie actor and married film star Jane Wyman, whom he later divorced to marry Nancy. His leadership qualities led to his election as President of the Screen Actors Guild, to the Governorship of California and in 1980 to the White House. The book offers a behind-the-scenes account of issues of national and international importance, including his frustrations with Congress, his relationships with key advisors, US involvement with South and Central America, Star Wars, his relationship with Mrs Thatcher during and after the Falklands conflict and the rapprochement with Mikhail Gorbachev. He also bares his feelings about his family and his personal beliefs, hopes and fears. Ronald Reagan also wrote "Where's the Rest of Me?" and "Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches".