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The Triumph of Nancy Reagan
A Washington Post Notable Book
The definitive biography of the fiercely vigilant and politically astute First Lady who shaped one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th Nancy Reagan.
The made-in-Hollywood marriage of Ronald and Nancy Reagan is more than a love story—it’s the partnership that made him president. Of the pair, Nancy was the one with the sharper instincts about people, the superior radar for trouble, and the keen sense of how to secure his place in history. The only person in the world to whom Ronald Reagan felt truly close, Nancy understood how to foster his strengths and compensate for his weaknesses. Neither timid nor apologetic about wielding her power, Nancy Reagan made herself a place in history.
But that confidence took years to develop. Nancy’s traumatic early childhood instilled in her a lifelong anxiety and a craving for security. Born into a broken marriage, she spent seven years yearning for the absent mother who abandoned her to pursue an acting career. When she met Ronnie, who had a difficult upbringing of his own, the two fractured halves became whole. And as Ronnie turned from acting to politics, she did too, helping build the scaffolding of his rise and cultivating the wealthy and powerful figures who would help pave his way. Not only was Nancy crucial in shaping Ronald’s White House team and in softening her husband’s rhetoric, she became an unseen force pushing her husband toward what she saw as his grandest purpose—to shake his image as a warmonger and leave behind a more peaceful world.
This book explores the multifaceted character of Nancy Reagan and reveals new details surrounding the tumultuous presidency. The Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty spent four years interviewing the people who knew this couple best and draws on overlooked archives, letters, memoirs, and White House records, compiling the most extensive biography of Nancy Reagan yet. From the AIDS epidemic to tensions with the Soviets and the war on drugs, this book shows how Nancy Reagan became one of the most influential First Ladies of the century.
The definitive biography of the fiercely vigilant and politically astute First Lady who shaped one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th Nancy Reagan.
The made-in-Hollywood marriage of Ronald and Nancy Reagan is more than a love story—it’s the partnership that made him president. Of the pair, Nancy was the one with the sharper instincts about people, the superior radar for trouble, and the keen sense of how to secure his place in history. The only person in the world to whom Ronald Reagan felt truly close, Nancy understood how to foster his strengths and compensate for his weaknesses. Neither timid nor apologetic about wielding her power, Nancy Reagan made herself a place in history.
But that confidence took years to develop. Nancy’s traumatic early childhood instilled in her a lifelong anxiety and a craving for security. Born into a broken marriage, she spent seven years yearning for the absent mother who abandoned her to pursue an acting career. When she met Ronnie, who had a difficult upbringing of his own, the two fractured halves became whole. And as Ronnie turned from acting to politics, she did too, helping build the scaffolding of his rise and cultivating the wealthy and powerful figures who would help pave his way. Not only was Nancy crucial in shaping Ronald’s White House team and in softening her husband’s rhetoric, she became an unseen force pushing her husband toward what she saw as his grandest purpose—to shake his image as a warmonger and leave behind a more peaceful world.
This book explores the multifaceted character of Nancy Reagan and reveals new details surrounding the tumultuous presidency. The Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty spent four years interviewing the people who knew this couple best and draws on overlooked archives, letters, memoirs, and White House records, compiling the most extensive biography of Nancy Reagan yet. From the AIDS epidemic to tensions with the Soviets and the war on drugs, this book shows how Nancy Reagan became one of the most influential First Ladies of the century.
672 pages, Hardcover
Published April 13, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 14, 2021
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Prior to the publication of this biography, readers interested in Nancy Reagan had relatively few alternatives. Among them: a salacious, gossipy blockbuster by Kitty Kelley published in 1991, Bob Colacello’s 2004 “Ronnie and Nancy: Their Path to the White House” and several generally-friendly memoirs and remembrances penned by friends and former staffers.
But while this biography is fresh, balanced, insightful and engaging, it is not devoted entirely to Nancy Reagan. The first 74 pages of this book’s 578-page narrative are dedicated to her childhood and early acting career. But once she meets her future husband, the book almost feels like a dual-biography of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Even when Nancy is not the immediate center of attention, however, her actions, influence and mindset are always in sharp focus.
Tumulty’s writing style is consistently straightforward and unpretentious, but it lacks the erudite literary flourishes exhibited by the very best and most seasoned biographers. But her narrative is uncommonly readable, consistently engaging and filled with insight and context. Tumulty’s book often seems less like a traditional biography than a piercing personal portrait drafted by a discerning reporter. And it will remind many readers of Peter Baker’s recent (and excellent) biography of James A. Baker III.
Although the relevant historical record seems both sparse and elusive, Tumulty does a nice job capturing and covering Nancy’s childhood. The narrative gathers even more steam when Nancy moves to Hollywood to work for MGM Studios. But the pace becomes even more robust, and commensurately more detailed, during Ronald Reagan’s successful 1980 presidential campaign.
Nancy Reagan’s eight years as first lady account for approximately half the book’s pages. Coverage of her time in the White House is unquestionably the heart and soul of the book. But the majority of this book’s emotional punch takes place in the final three chapters. Here, Tumulty reviews Ronald Reagan’s post-presidency, his Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the dozen years Nancy lived following his death. These pages provide as touching a biographical denouement as I can remember.
Other highlights include coverage of Nancy’s anti-drug campaign, her turbulent relationships with the four Reagan children and her shrewd political instincts. Equally excellent are the numerous occasions where Tumulty investigates Nancy’s well-publicized foibles, faults and self-inflicted wounds. And the chapter covering her fascination with astrology is absolutely captivating.
But while the narrative is uncommonly accessible it can also feel gossipy and fast-paced. Tumulty is adept at embedding quotes and gluing together important events in the Reagans’ lives in an engaging way, but this book sometimes exhibits the effervescent tempo and depth of an episode of The West Wing.
In addition, although this book demonstrates Tumulty’s keen instincts as a political reporter it lacks some of the historical rigor and analytical persistence of a more experienced historian. As a result, this biography captures Nancy Reagan’s multifaceted persona marvelously but occasionally misses the opportunity to more deeply probe cause-and-effect.
Overall, Karen Tumulty’s “The Triumph of Nancy Reagan” is a comprehensive, wonderfully balanced, observant and remarkably engaging behind-the-scenes account of an extremely capable and fascinatingly flawed former first lady. And even if Tumulty’s coverage of her subject is not quite perfect, it is difficult to imagine a more entertaining, insightful or readable biography of Nancy Reagan.
Overall rating: 4 stars
Prior to the publication of this biography, readers interested in Nancy Reagan had relatively few alternatives. Among them: a salacious, gossipy blockbuster by Kitty Kelley published in 1991, Bob Colacello’s 2004 “Ronnie and Nancy: Their Path to the White House” and several generally-friendly memoirs and remembrances penned by friends and former staffers.
But while this biography is fresh, balanced, insightful and engaging, it is not devoted entirely to Nancy Reagan. The first 74 pages of this book’s 578-page narrative are dedicated to her childhood and early acting career. But once she meets her future husband, the book almost feels like a dual-biography of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Even when Nancy is not the immediate center of attention, however, her actions, influence and mindset are always in sharp focus.
Tumulty’s writing style is consistently straightforward and unpretentious, but it lacks the erudite literary flourishes exhibited by the very best and most seasoned biographers. But her narrative is uncommonly readable, consistently engaging and filled with insight and context. Tumulty’s book often seems less like a traditional biography than a piercing personal portrait drafted by a discerning reporter. And it will remind many readers of Peter Baker’s recent (and excellent) biography of James A. Baker III.
Although the relevant historical record seems both sparse and elusive, Tumulty does a nice job capturing and covering Nancy’s childhood. The narrative gathers even more steam when Nancy moves to Hollywood to work for MGM Studios. But the pace becomes even more robust, and commensurately more detailed, during Ronald Reagan’s successful 1980 presidential campaign.
Nancy Reagan’s eight years as first lady account for approximately half the book’s pages. Coverage of her time in the White House is unquestionably the heart and soul of the book. But the majority of this book’s emotional punch takes place in the final three chapters. Here, Tumulty reviews Ronald Reagan’s post-presidency, his Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the dozen years Nancy lived following his death. These pages provide as touching a biographical denouement as I can remember.
Other highlights include coverage of Nancy’s anti-drug campaign, her turbulent relationships with the four Reagan children and her shrewd political instincts. Equally excellent are the numerous occasions where Tumulty investigates Nancy’s well-publicized foibles, faults and self-inflicted wounds. And the chapter covering her fascination with astrology is absolutely captivating.
But while the narrative is uncommonly accessible it can also feel gossipy and fast-paced. Tumulty is adept at embedding quotes and gluing together important events in the Reagans’ lives in an engaging way, but this book sometimes exhibits the effervescent tempo and depth of an episode of The West Wing.
In addition, although this book demonstrates Tumulty’s keen instincts as a political reporter it lacks some of the historical rigor and analytical persistence of a more experienced historian. As a result, this biography captures Nancy Reagan’s multifaceted persona marvelously but occasionally misses the opportunity to more deeply probe cause-and-effect.
Overall, Karen Tumulty’s “The Triumph of Nancy Reagan” is a comprehensive, wonderfully balanced, observant and remarkably engaging behind-the-scenes account of an extremely capable and fascinatingly flawed former first lady. And even if Tumulty’s coverage of her subject is not quite perfect, it is difficult to imagine a more entertaining, insightful or readable biography of Nancy Reagan.
Overall rating: 4 stars
January 25, 2022
Tumulty has written a very balanced biography on Nancy Reagan. You can tell she used the archives and interviews.
It should stand as the definitive work on her life, an important source to learn more about the Reagan administration. Highly recommend.
It should stand as the definitive work on her life, an important source to learn more about the Reagan administration. Highly recommend.
July 19, 2021
Whatever you think of the eight years of Ronald Reagan (or Ronnie, as he's referred to in this book) or his ideology, Karen Tumulty's biography of Nancy Reagan is excellent and enjoyable. If you are of a liberal bent, some of the book will make you furious (the Reagan administration's hideous record on AIDS, for example). But no one can deny the power and influence of Nancy Reagan after reading this book. Fascinating, well written, and well researched. It's a look into the (unelected) power that first ladies have and hold as well.
November 29, 2024
An amazing book about an amazing woman who was a tremendous bulwark of tenacity and strength. In October of this year, while I was visiting my brother in Ventura, he took me to the Ronald Reagan library in Simi Valley. I have always admired Ronald Reagan and when I was asked if I wanted to visit the library, of course I do!
We were surprised that on the same day we were there, Ronald Reagan's son, Michael was giving a tour. We tagged along and listened to his stories about his father. I had a chance to ask Michael what comes to mind in regards to his Dad's personality that stood out. He emphatically said that it was his humility and humor.
I bought my autographed copy of this book at the library. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment reading it. The author explored the good, the bad of both Nancy and Ronald, affectionately known as Ronnie. What comes across regardless of what people loved or hated about the couple, their love was immense and enduring. I plan on reading as many books about them as I can and I will be going back to the Ronald Reagan library next year. 5 plus stars.
We were surprised that on the same day we were there, Ronald Reagan's son, Michael was giving a tour. We tagged along and listened to his stories about his father. I had a chance to ask Michael what comes to mind in regards to his Dad's personality that stood out. He emphatically said that it was his humility and humor.
I bought my autographed copy of this book at the library. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment reading it. The author explored the good, the bad of both Nancy and Ronald, affectionately known as Ronnie. What comes across regardless of what people loved or hated about the couple, their love was immense and enduring. I plan on reading as many books about them as I can and I will be going back to the Ronald Reagan library next year. 5 plus stars.
July 16, 2021
3 1/2 stars
This was very informative. I wish I felt better about the Reagans after reading this book, but it shattered many of the beliefs I had about them. I did, however, confirm my distaste for and distrust of politics and politicans.
This was very informative. I wish I felt better about the Reagans after reading this book, but it shattered many of the beliefs I had about them. I did, however, confirm my distaste for and distrust of politics and politicans.
July 10, 2021
Absorbing! I like biographies but Nancy Reagan's persona (as well as her husband) never interested me. However I was hooked from the first few pages.
April 28, 2021
Do not miss this superb biography
Karen Tumulty has written probably the finest biography of a First Lady ever written. The elusive Nancy Reagan was almost impossible for the average American woman to understand. She wore this hypnotic adoring gaze whenever she was with her husband, the affable Ronald Reagan. She appeared almost doll-like and yet calculating. None of the incredible devotion, intelligence or strength was evident during her " public" years. The Press crucified her at every turn and she never enjoyed the feminine support given Barbara Bush or Michele Obama, whose every act was glowingly recorded.
After reading Tumulty's well researched book an entirely different Nancy Reagan appeared after all this time. She was a powerhouse for her husband. Because of her belief in and support of him and his ideals she put him above herself, her children and anyone who attempted to destroy him. She allowed herself to be the " bad guy" to his "good guy". The Press hated her or appeared to because she gave them a lot to report. For all we knew she was a Hollywood airhead. It turns out she was her husband's best advisor and toughest protector. It is about love, real love.
As I read this great book I kept thinking how lucky they were to have found each other. In reality their story was a love story for the ages.
If great writing can change one's perception, Ms. Tumulty is a great writer.
Karen Tumulty has written probably the finest biography of a First Lady ever written. The elusive Nancy Reagan was almost impossible for the average American woman to understand. She wore this hypnotic adoring gaze whenever she was with her husband, the affable Ronald Reagan. She appeared almost doll-like and yet calculating. None of the incredible devotion, intelligence or strength was evident during her " public" years. The Press crucified her at every turn and she never enjoyed the feminine support given Barbara Bush or Michele Obama, whose every act was glowingly recorded.
After reading Tumulty's well researched book an entirely different Nancy Reagan appeared after all this time. She was a powerhouse for her husband. Because of her belief in and support of him and his ideals she put him above herself, her children and anyone who attempted to destroy him. She allowed herself to be the " bad guy" to his "good guy". The Press hated her or appeared to because she gave them a lot to report. For all we knew she was a Hollywood airhead. It turns out she was her husband's best advisor and toughest protector. It is about love, real love.
As I read this great book I kept thinking how lucky they were to have found each other. In reality their story was a love story for the ages.
If great writing can change one's perception, Ms. Tumulty is a great writer.
June 26, 2021
One feature of the publisher's blurb calls this the "definitive biography" of Nancy Reagan; and perhaps in the end it will come close to being that, but I shall let posterity make that judgement. She certainly went to great lengths to protect her man. In the end my respect for Ronald Reagan was brought down a notch or two after contemplating some of this relationship. While I accept that no consequential policies were affected by Nancy's reliance on astrologers, I cannot help but think that the operation of things in the White House might have gone much more smoothly had the President better defined how much this astrological scheduling was NOT to impinge on things. The two clearly loved one another, even with the stresses that the White House, and eventually Alzheimers, brought to bear. I would rather liked to have heard a bit more, if it is available, on the relationship between Nancy and Raisa Gorbachev - it sounds like a bit of fascinating personality politics. A pretty good listen, generally.
May 19, 2021
I was not a fan of Pres. Reagan's policies, but I decided to try this book. Nancy was often portrayed negatively by the press. I was curious. This book is even handed and well written. It is not mean or gossipy. The author quotes letters and diaries as well as in-person interviews with many people who knew the Reagans. The book is really about both Nancy and Ronnie (as she called him). This made it more interesting and realistic. They were very much a couple and she played an important role in his career. She was protective, insightful, and smart when it came to Ron. She wasn't as successful at presenting herself in the best light. She was very influential in nudging her husband toward opening up conversations with Russia. She is fascinating and complicated. This is definitely a book that is worth reading. You learn about her, Ronald Reagan, their family, and the many people who worked with Ronald Reagan when he was governor and president.
May 13, 2021
I read a laudatory book review in The New York Review of Books about The Triumph of Nancy Reagan. Given the Review is not a champion of the Reagans, I was intrigued. I must say this is a fascinating book and hard to put down. Nancy's dedication to her husband and his legacy is paramount. She admits her children suffered because of this. Hadn't remembered she and Barbara Bush couldn't stand each other. Karen Tumulty draws from many sources to put together an eminently readable work and one of high historical significance.
May 31, 2021
Did you know you wanted almost 500 pages on Nancy Reagan?
Me neither. But I did! Turns out, at least in the very capable hands of Karen Tumulty, Nancy was a fascinating, important, and sometimes super weird character who had a huge impact on her husband's presidency. Come for the astrology dictating the President's schedule (in secret!) and stay for the wild family drama and behind the scenes White House machinations. It's quite a ride.
Me neither. But I did! Turns out, at least in the very capable hands of Karen Tumulty, Nancy was a fascinating, important, and sometimes super weird character who had a huge impact on her husband's presidency. Come for the astrology dictating the President's schedule (in secret!) and stay for the wild family drama and behind the scenes White House machinations. It's quite a ride.
May 12, 2021
This is an excellent biography. Fair, kind and balanced. Although I was not a fan of the Reagan presidency, I learned a great deal about their acting careers, friendships, marriage, family, and political life. Well researched and well written.
May 15, 2021
Karen tunley ‘s book Nancy Reagan was a good book. You will be surprised by the information she comes up with. I would recommend this book
May 25, 2021
I loved this book! I found it to be an honest, balanced appraisal of an interesting woman and a admirable couple. I hope Ms Tumulty will write more biographies. It was an excellent read!
April 19, 2023
The world underestimated Nancy Reagan. Her husband and staff may have been people building policy, but Nancy knew how to read the room. Push the agenda forward. She was practical, chose getting something done over holding onto ‘conservative’ principles. When the world discovered this, they were aghast she had so much power. No longer the ‘trophy wife,’ they weren’t sure how to thwart her. They couldn’t.
Nancy had faults, plenty, she is human. But her devotion to her husband is unquestionable. She did anything to protect him, whether that meant firing people or keeping family at a distance. ‘Ronnie’ was first and last. As any good actress, Nancy re-wrote her own story several times. Left at a young age to an aunt and uncle after her parents divorce. Her mother reclaimed her at age 6. Infatuated by her stepdad and new family dynamic she all, but abandon her biological father. This infatuation was immediately transferred to the recently divorced Reagan.
Tumulty is a fantastic reporter and does a fair job for the book. Never having met Mrs. Reagan she comes to this subject willing to see all sides. Favorite tidbit, post White House she had regular lunches with Tom Brokaw…and Warren Beatty?!?
Nancy had faults, plenty, she is human. But her devotion to her husband is unquestionable. She did anything to protect him, whether that meant firing people or keeping family at a distance. ‘Ronnie’ was first and last. As any good actress, Nancy re-wrote her own story several times. Left at a young age to an aunt and uncle after her parents divorce. Her mother reclaimed her at age 6. Infatuated by her stepdad and new family dynamic she all, but abandon her biological father. This infatuation was immediately transferred to the recently divorced Reagan.
Tumulty is a fantastic reporter and does a fair job for the book. Never having met Mrs. Reagan she comes to this subject willing to see all sides. Favorite tidbit, post White House she had regular lunches with Tom Brokaw…and Warren Beatty?!?
June 17, 2021
I am an admirer of Mrs. Reagan, whom I feel was badly misinterpreted by the press. I’ve read lots about her, and while I didn’t find any new revelations in this book, it’s still very well written. I enjoyed it.
December 25, 2022
Whatever one's political leanings, after reading this incredible biography, there is no denying the powerful and moving love story between Nancy and her Ronnie.
4.5
4.5
June 19, 2021
A friend, when she heard I was listening to a biography of Nancy Reagan, didn’t initially understand why I’d bother. Having read Joan Didion’s 1968 profile “Pretty Nancy,” she assumed Reagan fit that portrait of her as a mere decorative element in a couple who were all show and no substance.
In his 2016 eulogy, Nancy’s son Ron predicted that the former First Lady would keep her eagle ears open even beyond the grave. If he was correct, Nancy surely fumed to hear that even in the mind of someone too young to have any memory of her White House years, she was still being defined by that piece that so pained her back when she was merely First Lady of California.
Of course, as biographer Karen Tumulty chronicles, by the end of her husband’s presidency, public perceptions of Nancy had swung to the opposite extreme. It was well-established that she’d been a guiding hand steering the administration’s ship through the choppy waters of Iran-Contra, and she began to be cast as a shadow power making key decisions for her aging husband.
Tumulty’s multilayered account of Nancy’s White House years stands in vivid contrast to the reductive portraits painted by her critics and supporters alike. I reviewed The Triumph of Nancy Reagan for The Tangential.
In his 2016 eulogy, Nancy’s son Ron predicted that the former First Lady would keep her eagle ears open even beyond the grave. If he was correct, Nancy surely fumed to hear that even in the mind of someone too young to have any memory of her White House years, she was still being defined by that piece that so pained her back when she was merely First Lady of California.
Of course, as biographer Karen Tumulty chronicles, by the end of her husband’s presidency, public perceptions of Nancy had swung to the opposite extreme. It was well-established that she’d been a guiding hand steering the administration’s ship through the choppy waters of Iran-Contra, and she began to be cast as a shadow power making key decisions for her aging husband.
Tumulty’s multilayered account of Nancy’s White House years stands in vivid contrast to the reductive portraits painted by her critics and supporters alike. I reviewed The Triumph of Nancy Reagan for The Tangential.
June 22, 2021
I am a yellow dog democrat.
I read this book mostly because I follow the author on Twitter and wondered what all the fuss was about. I followed her journey researching it and digging up tidbits along the way.
It is so well written and well researched. Nancy was a complicated character that is captured here with grace and diplomacy, no catty comments. She and Ronnie were so in love and their children were often outside this circle and suffered as a result. Life as the "wife of" cannot be easy for anyone and to learn she was addicted to prescription drugs was shocking all the while spouting off about "Just say no."
It is a long book but wow was it well-paced and a relatively quick read. I can't wait until Ms Tumulty writes her next book. She has honed her talent and her telling of this tale is a wow.
I read this book mostly because I follow the author on Twitter and wondered what all the fuss was about. I followed her journey researching it and digging up tidbits along the way.
It is so well written and well researched. Nancy was a complicated character that is captured here with grace and diplomacy, no catty comments. She and Ronnie were so in love and their children were often outside this circle and suffered as a result. Life as the "wife of" cannot be easy for anyone and to learn she was addicted to prescription drugs was shocking all the while spouting off about "Just say no."
It is a long book but wow was it well-paced and a relatively quick read. I can't wait until Ms Tumulty writes her next book. She has honed her talent and her telling of this tale is a wow.
May 21, 2021
A must read for political junkies, love Nancy or not. In a complete and thorough study, Karen Tumulty locates Nancy Reagan's drive and vulnerability in her early years which saw her parents divorce, a hand off to relatives and an introduction to a new father in her life. One of Nancy's earliest ruthless acts is legally signing her birth father and loving grandmother out of her life, a harsh act later mirrored somewhat in her dealings with a rebellious teenaged stepson Michael. While the publicity around this book centered on Nancy's role in bringing Reagan to a face to face with the Soviets, in opposition to his decades long rhetoric and a cohort of right wing advisors, the personal prevails in a reading of this book. The dysfunction of Nancy's and Ronnie's early years sadly spills into their relationships with their children. Michael suffers the most here, as adopted son from Regan's marriage to Jane Wyman up against Nancy's favorite, Ron. There are occasional thaws in these relationship, but even a frail widowed Nancy still faces rejection and anger from both. And there is Patti. The story of Ronnie and Nancy was a great love affair carried upon the hurt of others, and politically Nancy was not the right wing harridan portrayed in the eighties but a lighthouse of political reason and a better judge of character regarding her husband's advisors.
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June 9, 2021If you love history and the Reagans this is a great read! Brought tears to my eyes on several occasions.
June 2, 2021
A well-written biography, whether or not you were a fan. Interesting to read about what was happening behind the scenes in the White House during those years.
June 13, 2021
An unbiased, deeply researched book that is an easy read for a long biography. It is not only informative and nuanced in its details about Nancy and the arc of her life before and with Ronald Reagan. it gave me a rich understanding of the events and motivations reviewed in the book. It is a wonderful read.
May 22, 2021
Karen Tumulty gives us a clear picture of the very complicated Nancy Reagan. I always admired her. Reading this book at times I couldn’t believe the cold woman she could be but at the same time the admiration was still there. The love story that the Reagan’s shared is second to none. This is not just about NR but so much of the Reagan administration years. Understanding the influence she had in her husband. It also gives a picture of President Reagan who in his private was extremely aloof even it seems at times with Nancy. The family struggles are so sad. Definitely worth reading even if you are not a fan of the Reagan’s. You will have, I believe respect for a First Lady that while complicated did a lot of good in her lifetime.
May 28, 2021
I hope people will not be put off by this being about Nancy Reagan. Whatever your feelings about Ron and Nancy this is one of the best biographies I have ever read and is absolutely the best bio of a first lady.
June 1, 2021
Comprehensive, well researched look at the life of Nancy Reagan, her abandonment as a child, love for “Ronnie,” role in political life, motherhood dramas and more.
July 30, 2021
Interesting life lived
Learned a great many things
Not all of them flattering
Learned a great many things
Not all of them flattering
February 28, 2026
I was surprised and pleased by how readable this book is. I approached it with some skepticism—I didn’t want a gotcha takedown of a historical figure who hasn’t been gone that long. Instead of a one-sided trashing of a former first lady, Karen Tumulty delivers a fair, four-star portrait of Nancy Reagan’s life. She’s critical where necessary, but always balanced. Tumulty notes that Nancy could be imperious, yet suggests this often stemmed from insecurities rooted in a difficult childhood. I admired how she presents Mrs. Reagan in full, multidimensional color.
Early chapters delve into Nancy’s relationship with her stepfather, Loyal Davis, who adopted her, including the incident that led him to renounce Christianity and religion altogether. Later sections explore the dysfunction in Ronald and Nancy’s family, tracing its roots to the couple’s intense, single-minded love for each other—a bond so all-consuming that it frequently left their children on the outside, almost as if they had to raise themselves.
Tumulty handles Michael Reagan’s struggles with real sensitivity: his adoption, the feeling he never truly belonged, and the horrific abuse he endured at a camp as a child. (That story hit hard; it was worse to learn how absent Ronald often was as a father—distracted, withdrawn, in the room but rarely truly involved or helping the kids navigate things. You picture the Great Communicator as deeply engaged, listening, guiding—but the book paints a different picture.) She covers daughter Maureen’s frustration when her father shut her out of most of his major political activities. Patti Davis claimed her mother beat her and was dependent on prescription drugs; Tumulty counters with other sources indicating things weren’t quite that extreme—Nancy may have slapped Patti, but accounts differ on anything more severe. Adding to the sadness, Michael and Maureen had a difficult mother in Jane Wyman from Ronald’s first marriage.
If you lived through the Reagan years, you’ll feel a wave of nostalgia as Tumulty focuses the lens primarily on Nancy. She made far more enemies than friends, but always in the name of protecting Ronnie—especially after he took John Hinckley’s bullet.
Tumulty’s research impressed me. She includes a letter from a very young Chelsea Clinton criticizing Reagan for visiting a German cemetery at the insistence of Chancellor Helmut Kohl. (And if anti-Trump jabs revive the fizz in your flat soda, you’ll find two in this book—one in chapter 13, the other in chapter 23.)
You watch as she methodically dismantles former Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan, whose hatred for Nancy burned intensely. He was the one who leaked details of her frequent consultations with an astrologer—sessions that influenced whether the president kept or altered parts of his schedule. (The astrologer stuff wasn’t a big shock; I’d read Donald Regan’s book years ago, so it felt like familiar territory rather than sensational revelation.) The astrologer later claimed in a 1990 book to have single-handedly dismantled the Soviet Union and accomplished various other absurd feats.
While Tumulty quotes from Kitty Kelley’s vicious, unsubstantiated unauthorized biography early on (chapter two), she largely dismisses it as garbage later in the book.
She gives close attention to the Iran-Contra scandal and credits Nancy with steps that helped save the presidency. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, you’re not alone—I was skeptical too, until I read this.
The final chapters cover the ex-president’s death from Alzheimer’s, Nancy’s dedicated caregiving in those years (her protective role extending far beyond the White House), a reconciliation between Nancy and her daughter Patti, and the ongoing friction with Michael, who leveraged his father’s name heavily for his radio talk show career. (Nancy didn’t care for much of that; she felt he often guessed wrongly at what Ronald would think, say, or do.) Their rift grew so deep that, at one point, Secret Service agents felt the need to stay close to Nancy whenever Michael visited the house. What a tragedy—a family so fractured.
So, do you read this to catalog the small train wrecks of Reagan family dysfunction? Or to recognize that Nancy Reagan—despite Barbara Bush’s palpable hatred for her—was remarkable in her own right: a woman whose central mission was to shield the love of her life from those who didn’t have his best interests at heart.
Early chapters delve into Nancy’s relationship with her stepfather, Loyal Davis, who adopted her, including the incident that led him to renounce Christianity and religion altogether. Later sections explore the dysfunction in Ronald and Nancy’s family, tracing its roots to the couple’s intense, single-minded love for each other—a bond so all-consuming that it frequently left their children on the outside, almost as if they had to raise themselves.
Tumulty handles Michael Reagan’s struggles with real sensitivity: his adoption, the feeling he never truly belonged, and the horrific abuse he endured at a camp as a child. (That story hit hard; it was worse to learn how absent Ronald often was as a father—distracted, withdrawn, in the room but rarely truly involved or helping the kids navigate things. You picture the Great Communicator as deeply engaged, listening, guiding—but the book paints a different picture.) She covers daughter Maureen’s frustration when her father shut her out of most of his major political activities. Patti Davis claimed her mother beat her and was dependent on prescription drugs; Tumulty counters with other sources indicating things weren’t quite that extreme—Nancy may have slapped Patti, but accounts differ on anything more severe. Adding to the sadness, Michael and Maureen had a difficult mother in Jane Wyman from Ronald’s first marriage.
If you lived through the Reagan years, you’ll feel a wave of nostalgia as Tumulty focuses the lens primarily on Nancy. She made far more enemies than friends, but always in the name of protecting Ronnie—especially after he took John Hinckley’s bullet.
Tumulty’s research impressed me. She includes a letter from a very young Chelsea Clinton criticizing Reagan for visiting a German cemetery at the insistence of Chancellor Helmut Kohl. (And if anti-Trump jabs revive the fizz in your flat soda, you’ll find two in this book—one in chapter 13, the other in chapter 23.)
You watch as she methodically dismantles former Chief of Staff Donald T. Regan, whose hatred for Nancy burned intensely. He was the one who leaked details of her frequent consultations with an astrologer—sessions that influenced whether the president kept or altered parts of his schedule. (The astrologer stuff wasn’t a big shock; I’d read Donald Regan’s book years ago, so it felt like familiar territory rather than sensational revelation.) The astrologer later claimed in a 1990 book to have single-handedly dismantled the Soviet Union and accomplished various other absurd feats.
While Tumulty quotes from Kitty Kelley’s vicious, unsubstantiated unauthorized biography early on (chapter two), she largely dismisses it as garbage later in the book.
She gives close attention to the Iran-Contra scandal and credits Nancy with steps that helped save the presidency. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, you’re not alone—I was skeptical too, until I read this.
The final chapters cover the ex-president’s death from Alzheimer’s, Nancy’s dedicated caregiving in those years (her protective role extending far beyond the White House), a reconciliation between Nancy and her daughter Patti, and the ongoing friction with Michael, who leveraged his father’s name heavily for his radio talk show career. (Nancy didn’t care for much of that; she felt he often guessed wrongly at what Ronald would think, say, or do.) Their rift grew so deep that, at one point, Secret Service agents felt the need to stay close to Nancy whenever Michael visited the house. What a tragedy—a family so fractured.
So, do you read this to catalog the small train wrecks of Reagan family dysfunction? Or to recognize that Nancy Reagan—despite Barbara Bush’s palpable hatred for her—was remarkable in her own right: a woman whose central mission was to shield the love of her life from those who didn’t have his best interests at heart.
June 12, 2021
4.5
To be quite honest, I never thought much of either Nancy or Ronald Regana during their eight years in the White House. I didn't like their politics or policies, and I still don't. Neither was a person I had any desire to spend much time with. He seemed vacuous and not terribly involved in the vital job of actually running the country. She was the image of women I avoided--arrogant, superficial, and entitled. Yet I never doubted that their relationship was real, perhaps the only thing genuine about them.
During the height of their political power, I was deeply involved in my own career and family. I was aware of the domestic world events swirling around me and kept up with the news. Still, it is difficult to see perspective while living through an era, so this excellent biography of Nancy, actually of them both, gave my personal experience context and continuity. Karen Tumulty's account helped me to see these historically significant people with more empathy, as real human beings with beliefs and aspirations, triumphs and tragedies. I don't believe we saw the world in the same way. I had little in common with the Regans, but they were courageous, persistent, and utterly devoted to one another.
I'm also glad that I did not read any of the "tell all" exposé biographies that came out soon after they left office. I wasn't even tempted at the time so it surprised me that I found myself interested in learning about the Regans and reviewing this time after listening to an interview with Karen Tumulty. I found this book engaging and balanced; it portrayed the Regans as living, breathing people who struggled to find their path just as we all must. They were flawed as well as gifted in very different ways. Together they succeeded in much they attempted while alone neither would have likely even seen the possibilities. The thread which holds this narrative together is their continual mutual dependence and love. I still remember watching as their son, Ron, literally had to remove his prostrate mother from his father's coffin during the public interment ceremony televised from California. It was moving...and very sad.
I recommend this book regardless of your political stance. It is history, our collective history, and it is very well done. It brought back images from my own past and fit these into what had come before and after. I believe it took the passage of decades for these events and these people to be seen and understood clearly. This account is balanced and fair, a rare find in our contentious and partisan times.
To be quite honest, I never thought much of either Nancy or Ronald Regana during their eight years in the White House. I didn't like their politics or policies, and I still don't. Neither was a person I had any desire to spend much time with. He seemed vacuous and not terribly involved in the vital job of actually running the country. She was the image of women I avoided--arrogant, superficial, and entitled. Yet I never doubted that their relationship was real, perhaps the only thing genuine about them.
During the height of their political power, I was deeply involved in my own career and family. I was aware of the domestic world events swirling around me and kept up with the news. Still, it is difficult to see perspective while living through an era, so this excellent biography of Nancy, actually of them both, gave my personal experience context and continuity. Karen Tumulty's account helped me to see these historically significant people with more empathy, as real human beings with beliefs and aspirations, triumphs and tragedies. I don't believe we saw the world in the same way. I had little in common with the Regans, but they were courageous, persistent, and utterly devoted to one another.
I'm also glad that I did not read any of the "tell all" exposé biographies that came out soon after they left office. I wasn't even tempted at the time so it surprised me that I found myself interested in learning about the Regans and reviewing this time after listening to an interview with Karen Tumulty. I found this book engaging and balanced; it portrayed the Regans as living, breathing people who struggled to find their path just as we all must. They were flawed as well as gifted in very different ways. Together they succeeded in much they attempted while alone neither would have likely even seen the possibilities. The thread which holds this narrative together is their continual mutual dependence and love. I still remember watching as their son, Ron, literally had to remove his prostrate mother from his father's coffin during the public interment ceremony televised from California. It was moving...and very sad.
I recommend this book regardless of your political stance. It is history, our collective history, and it is very well done. It brought back images from my own past and fit these into what had come before and after. I believe it took the passage of decades for these events and these people to be seen and understood clearly. This account is balanced and fair, a rare find in our contentious and partisan times.
March 26, 2023
It has often been said that people will have different perspectives on the same event in history based on their background and personal perspective, much like four individuals, each standing at a different corner of an intersection, could give different details about an automobile collision that they observed take place in that intersection.
Tumulty's perspective on the Reagan presidency is not a flattering one. She seems determined to find every cobweb and cast every possible shadow over the life and work of a president who won every state but one in his 1984 re-election and finished his 8 years of service to the country with still-high approval ratings.
I have been a long-time admirer of President Reagan and his outstanding presidential accomplishments, so while I did not necessarily appreciate the continual criticism throughout the book, I do believe it is beneficial to view events and personalities from others' points of view. When I got a few chapters into the book and realized that this one was not written from the viewpoint of someone wished to reflect on "Ronnie" and Nancy favorably, I determined to forge ahead and observe these figures from recent history from a different corner of the intersection. This 672-page (or 25-hour if you do the audio version) account of the Reagans' lives soon began to feel like an interminable gossip column and I breathed a sigh of relief when it was finally finished.
If you are curious about cobwebs and shadows lurking around the Reagan legacy, read this book. But when you're finished, do yourself a favor by taking time to follow up with a reflection on President and Mrs. Reagan that focuses on the depth of character and wise politics that created one of the most well-loved and respected presidents of the USA (I suggest The President Will See You Now by Peggy Grande).
Tumulty's perspective on the Reagan presidency is not a flattering one. She seems determined to find every cobweb and cast every possible shadow over the life and work of a president who won every state but one in his 1984 re-election and finished his 8 years of service to the country with still-high approval ratings.
I have been a long-time admirer of President Reagan and his outstanding presidential accomplishments, so while I did not necessarily appreciate the continual criticism throughout the book, I do believe it is beneficial to view events and personalities from others' points of view. When I got a few chapters into the book and realized that this one was not written from the viewpoint of someone wished to reflect on "Ronnie" and Nancy favorably, I determined to forge ahead and observe these figures from recent history from a different corner of the intersection. This 672-page (or 25-hour if you do the audio version) account of the Reagans' lives soon began to feel like an interminable gossip column and I breathed a sigh of relief when it was finally finished.
If you are curious about cobwebs and shadows lurking around the Reagan legacy, read this book. But when you're finished, do yourself a favor by taking time to follow up with a reflection on President and Mrs. Reagan that focuses on the depth of character and wise politics that created one of the most well-loved and respected presidents of the USA (I suggest The President Will See You Now by Peggy Grande).
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