The Reagan Era: A History of the 1980s

by Doug Rossinow

In this concise yet thorough history of America in the 1980s, Doug Rossinow takes the full measure of Ronald Reagan's presidency and the ideology of Reaganism. Believers in libertarian economics and a muscular foreign policy, Reaganite conservatives in the 1980s achieved impressive success in their efforts to transform American government, politics, and society, ushering in the political and social system Americans inhabit today.

Rossinow links current trends in economic inequality to the policies and social developments of the Reagan era. He reckons with the racial politics of Reaganism and its debt to the backlash generated by the civil rights movement, as well as Reaganism's entanglement with the politics of crime and the rise of mass incarceration. Rossinow narrates the conflicts that rocked U.S. foreign policy toward Central America, and he explains the role of the recession during the early 1980s in the decline of manufacturing and the growth of a service economy.

From the widening gender gap to the triumph of yuppies and rap music, from Reagan's tax cuts and military buildup to the celebrity of Michael Jackson and Madonna, from the era's Wall Street scandals to the successes of Bill Gates and Sam Walton, from the first "war on terror" to the end of the Cold War and the brink of America's first war with Iraq, this history, lively and readable yet sober and unsparing, gives readers vital perspective on a decade that dramatically altered the American landscape.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Presidents, Biography, American History

392 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2015

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much more depressing for having lived through it somehow. Probably why I prefer my history to be Renaissance or earlier! I thought Rossinow was relatively fair though he definitely seems to share my political leanings. It was a depressing time. I still remember the gloating at the Reagan victory party on campus--I was the only non-Republican in the room having been dragged there by a friend. The book increased my sense of a great maw between the people who supported him and the people who loathed him.

[Ella Shelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rossinow’s generally unbiased interpretation of this political megalodon gradually shifts to one of unscrupulous critique. There is an awkward transition from Reagan’s administration to Bush’s, but I enjoyed the alternating focus on domestic and foreign politics. All in all, this book gave a decent overview of Reaganism’s impact and hinted towards its lasting legacy.

[Nathan Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Critical Look at Reagan

I highly recommend this book of you are tired of all the fawning biographies and books about Reagan and his presidency. Rossinow gives an excellent critical look at one of the most influential American presidents in modern history.

[Claw Machine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In short, a really great overview of the 1980s that clearly thinks Reagan sucks huge chunks, and isn't afraid to say it.

Rossinow's text is an excellent overview of the 1980, a time of glitz, glamour, and nuclear terror. While reading it, I felt compelled to say to my gen-x mother, "Damn Mom, I'm really sorry you grew up in the 80s, because this is terrible." Rossinow shows the consistent campaign of woe that was the 1980s-the homes of children with AIDS being burnt, Reagan's campaign to make America more comfortable with nuclear war, the slaughter of nuns and children in Nicaragua. Rossinow does a great job linking everything together, from the politics of the time to pop culture, weaving in the interworkings of the Reagan administration and office battles between the OMB and the DoD with discussions of the newfound popularity of Madonna and Public Enemy. Throughout it all, Rossinow has a very compelling thesis, that the 80s were the Reagan era, defined by the commander in chief of the United States, who set the drumbeat for all of culture. It was his comfortability with greed that made it the mantra of the day, his ignorance of the poor and racial minorities that made racial tensions so hot, and his personal opinions on detente that both brought the world to nuclear brink and took it away.

This does mean, however, that Rossinow has an obvious opinion of Reagan, and it's negative. Other reviewers are saying it's unbiased, and it's not. Rossinow clearly thinks the guy sucks, and has very very little positive to say about him; he's definitely an unabashed liberal. Now I think that's awesome. I can't stand Ronny either, and I thought Rossinow laid out the case for Reagan's personal leadership being terrible for the nation during the eighties very very well. it's definitely worth reading, and frankly I'd question the idea that somebody's bias or opinion on the subjects they're covering makes their works of history worse, necessarily. But it's there, and while I think it's deserved, it feels fair to mention to prospective readers that you are not getting a fan of Reagan, and Rossinow really heaps on the acid (though in my opinion I'll tell you it's deserved). Other forces, of course, get scorn too. Al Sharpton is portrayed as a bit of a clown during the Tawana Brawley incident, and Democrats are frequently winged for their connections to the wealthy or corrupt, and for their fullthroated acceptance of Reaganism in many cases. But it's still, on the balance, a pretty liberal work.

However, it's a great liberal work, and a fantastic overview of the epoch of Reagan, and the start of the new American Gilded Age we still are living in today. 4/5 stars, and I'd highly recommend any reader looking into the Reagan presidency read this one, since it's wicked good!

[Randal White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent review of the 1980’s, Rossinow explores many of the events of that decade and how the Reagan presidency either affected or were affected by them. Subjects ranging from anticommunism to racism are covered. Contradictions such as the growth of the American prison system to the corruption of Reagan’s own staff (two of his top White House advisors left office due to corruption). Rossinow provides this information in an easily readable, easily understood manner. He provides an honest, non-partisan assessment of Reagan’s time in office. He doesn’t try to lead the reader into a positive or negative view of Reagan, instead providing a wealth of information to allow you to make your own decisions. I highly recommend this book.

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Reagan Era: A History of the 1980s by Doug Rossinow is a fairly comprehensive look at the Regan Era. Rossinow is a professor of history at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota and is the author of numerous works, including Visions of Progress: The Left-Liberal Tradition in America. He has been a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Oslo and is past president of the Peace History Society.

The 80s were a golden age for me. I became an adult, spend time in Southern California courtesy of the Marine Corps, traveled the world, and was employed the entire decade. I rocked to Van Halen and later to hair bands. I worked on computers, rode motorcycles, had a bumper sticker that read "I'd rather be killing communists in Central America" and had a great decade. Thanks to modern social media, I have caught up with several friends from back then and we all look back fondly on that time. The future was bright back then. America was back on the rise and we were riding the wave.

I think we all have favorite presidents that captured our imagination. My grandmother spoke highly of FDR. My parents praised JFK. My son loves Clinton. For me, it was Reagan. It's was morning again in America. Needless to say after college and especially after graduate school my youthful idealism faded with the facts. Rossinow seems to have those same initial feelings: a proud Reagan supporter, who later has second thoughts.

The Reagan Era is not an attack on the former president, but a very well-documented account of the Reagan years concentrating on Reagan and his staff. Investigations of Edwin Meese who seemed to invite scandal became Attorney General before resigning "vindicated" by a finding of "Insufficient evidence to indict." There were scandals outside the government too. Banks, Savings and Loans, and televangelists all found their way to the headlines. Many people gained power in this era such as William Casey, James Baker III, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, and many more.

We had a Red Scare of our own as we saw communists "in our own backyard." We sponsored freedom fighters in Latin America and Africa. The later without much public attention. Jean Kirkpatrick tried to ease the idea of supporting right wing dictators over left wing dictators (communists) by suggesting the right wing is more open to democratic reforms than the left. We entered an arms race. We built a six hundred ship navy. We developed the MX missile and developed an intermediate range missile just to make the Soviets remove theirs from Europe. Reagan defied the logic of the anti-ballistic missile treaty with a far-fetched Strategic Defense Initiative. America did win the Cold War, but it was not exactly like we think we did. Rossinow provides a great deal of documented information on exactly how it happened.

We like to remember the 80s as a Golden Age and of rebirth of America. Rossinow show us cracks in the facade. In fact, many of the problems we see today have their roots in the 1980s. It was when the 1% grew in wealth and the middle class shrank. Although Reagan is known for his historic tax cut, the tax increases and revenue enhancements are pushed by the wayside. The man who wanted less government increased spending considerably. The Reagan Era covers many aspects of the decade. I just chose a few to mention here. Nearly a quarter of the book is documentation and cited sources. The information is accurate.

Otto von Bismark is credited with saying "Laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion as we know how they are made." The eighties no matter how much I enjoyed them are rather like Bismark and his sausage. They were great... until I learned how they were made.

[Tyler Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty heavy left wing bias, and a bit too much speculation and reliance on hearsay from former staffers. The historical accuracy is on point however, and shows the true start of the US’s modern age, insane intervention, in other countries’ private affairs under the guise of stopping the spread of communism. This dude was bought and paid for from the start by his billionaire Hollywood friends and was the blueprint for trump getting to where he is today. Nobody can harken back to days that never existed for normal people like billionaires and the GOP. The final chapter’s data showing the almost instant chasm of wealth inequality ripping open when his tax reforms past was chilling and is really the only thing you need to take from this book to understand the lasting legacy of this man.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book from 2015, This author takes a look at all of the things or policies and tax cuts, military build, what policies we did in South and Central America, Europe, and with big business as well. The author does not try to sway you one way or another but gives you facts and information to let you come up with your own opinion about what you think when you look back on the 80s and Regan's two administrations. A very good and thoughtful book, very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com

[Landis Duffett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real joy to read. Engrossing. Analysis was usually clear and trenchant, but could have used more, could have gone a bit deeper.

[Lois Plale · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 80s - both good and bad.

[Jonathan Root · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice summary of the Reagan years.