WE ARE OPEN - WEEK FOURTEEN - PRESIDENTIAL SERIES: BOOK AS A WHOLE AND FINAL THOUGHTS - LANDSLIDE: LYNDON JOHNSON, RONALD REAGAN, AND THE DAWN OF A NEW AMERICA - March 2 - March 8th - (SPOILER THREAD)

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Thanks all who have posted their review thus far - as you know if you got the book as part of the free offer - you did agree to do an independent review on the Book as a Whole thread about the book itself. This is the thread where you need to do that. I do hope you enjoyed the book - I know that I did - I will be contacting those of you on the list so that you do post that review. The FTC wants all of us to attach a disclaimer in our review - this is the disclaimer - In compliance with FTC guidelines I received this book free through the History Book Club on Goodreads.

[Tomi]

I received this book through the History Book Club on Goodreads.
Darman's journalist background clearly shows in this book. It is readable and well-researched, with gossip and scandal thrown in. The minor characters are well-drawn and the book makes me want to read more about this time period. I enjoyed reading it.
On the negative side, it did seem that the book was as much about the Kennedys as it was Reagan. Also, Darman didn't completely explain what the "new America" was. I don't think he tied the two presidents together, other than as myth makers.
I enjoyed the bits about Lady Bird. She seemed a true hero with all that she out up with and her ladylike calm. Darman shut down the Jackie myth - she is usually portrayed as such a delicate, victimized lady when she apparently was really the driving force behind JFK's Camelot martyr status.
The Afterword had two strong points for me. First, LBJ's idea of a "government-led utopia" - that's the problem. Government cannot provide utopia for an entire nation. However, as Darman mentioned in his closing remarks, government has a "sacred obligation to try."

[Bryan]

Thanks Tomi.

[Mary]

In compliance with FTC Guidelines I received a copy of the book from the publisher through the History Book Club on Goodreads.

From the beginning this book was engaging, interesting and delightful. Jonathan Darman's skills as a journalist and storyteller are evident throughout. He has a keen sense of observation and interpersonal insights - laced with a powerful understanding of "timing and place." How refreshing to find a book about history that is so infinitely readable.

While some of my book reviewer colleagues have been critical about the journalist vs. historian, for me this is a strength of the book. I feel that any medium that can involve the masses in learning, reflecting and acting positively on the power of "lessons learned" from history is essential to any great society.

This past week I saw the movie Selma. Devernay developed a moving, dramatic portrayal of the Civil Rights movement, but conveyed a very heavy handed and simplistic portrayal of a powerful, self-centered, political LBJ. In my view, this strong visual will shape without much reflection the perspective for a very large audience about LBJ's impact on our country. History is laden with "myth." Sometimes displayed as a simplistic Hollywood version.

Anytime, I feel wow I learned something and I would like to learn more - this is a home run. This is "Landslide" - nothing simple about LBJ - certainly nothing as simple as conveyed in Selma. Reagan was artful and charming if not overly complicated. I do feel that Darman seemed to reflect more about both Kennedy and LBJS than Reagan.

For me this book did not really develop the theme "Dawn of a New Era." One of my lasting impressions will be the power, influence and role of "myth creation and execution" that all of the women behind the men played - Jackie Kennedy - who really architected Camelot?; Lady Bird - in a different way, but certainly had a powerful sway and influence over LBJ; Nancy Reagan - what would RR have been without her?

During each of these administrations, journalists as well as historians have been impacted by the myth creators - family, friends, advisors and detractors - and have often fueled or perpetuated the myth. This book has made me a Darman fan and I look forward to following his next endeavors.

[Bryan]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mary.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

I want to thank everybody who has already posted their review - if you received a book from us - you did promise to post your independent review of the book here on this thread for your fellow members.

[John]

Landslide: LBJ and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America by Jonathan Darman, is an intriguing book that attempts to compare and contrast two different politicians that are able to win a landslide in an election, but ultimately are unable to completely fulfill their ambitions despite the momentum. Darman primarily narrates the first 1000 days after LBJ's 1964 election, and Reagan's initial appearance on the national political scene and his development into the President he would become.

While Darman's writing style is very enjoyable and is able to place the reader in the middle of the action and drama (especially of the transition after JFK's assassination), ultimately the dichotomy between Reagan and LBJ during this time comes off as more contrived than inspired. In a way, the book might be more successful if just focused on LBJ's transition into the Presidency and then his Landslide victory and the promises and downturns later, and maybe including Reagan here and there as part of the occasional outside observer. By forcing Reagan into the Landslide thesis, it falls short, and at times the political rhetoric and bias seeps into the narration.

In addition to the body of the work, the prologue is weighty and attempts to promise too much and force a thesis that just isn't as solidly developed through the book. A short introduction or forward that presented the basic idea would have served the book better, as I found myself coming back to the prologue sometimes during the reading of the book, to really see if it connected. It may seem like a small point but it left this reader feeling like he sat through a long sales pitch, and then upon seeing the product wondered if he missed something.

Overall, the author's style and tone was enjoyable, and the subject matter interesting, but had it been more in focus on LBJ it would have been substantially better. Despite this, I see promise in this first time author and look forward to seeing his next book. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book for review from Random House through the History Book Club on GoodReads. Thanks to all of them for generosity.

by Jonathan Darman

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

John, thank you - I have to agree about the prologue. I thought it picked up substantially and was a wonderful book for discussion - Darman knew how to get the lead right. Good review - I gave Darman a bit more slack (smile) - but I see your points and you are correct.

[John]

Sure- no problem. Sorry about that.

[John]

You know I have to add a caveat I suppose; I was reading this during a very difficult time for my family with losing a loved one- and I wonder if some things that I may have been more forgiving of, or that didn't bother me normally, may have been more impactful while I was reading. But- it was my honest feelings I guess, maybe more pronounced.
I've often wondered how external circumstances color how we receive a book. I know some books that I thought were great as a teenager, don't hold up upon later inspection. And some of those were read during some very teenager-y times of stress, growth, etc- so it may have spoken to me in a way, that it didn't as I matured. While other books still hold up to this day for me.
Just a thought.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

You are fine John - I tried with a longer post to say that - sorry about your loss.

[John]

Thank you Bentley.

[Dave]

I received this book free through the History Book Club and Random House.

This book focuses on the years after JFK's assassination, particularly on the presidency of Lyndon Johnson and the early political career of Ronald Reagan, both of whom had some of their best and worst times in the 1960s. The difference is that one was on the rise, the other on the decline.

Ronald Reagan was at the bottom around 1963, finding it hard to get acting jobs and uncertain of what to do next. By 1966, he was California's governor and a bright light for conservative Republicans. LBJ, however, rose to the presidency through tragedy, but then won a landslide victory in the 1964 election. He accomplished much, pushing through legislation on civil rights, Medicare and other issues important to him and the Democrats. But after such a heady start, Vietnam and urban riots dragged him down to the point where he chose not to stand for reelection. Very different trajectories.

Darman tells these two stories in a balanced and very readable way. I think he might be stretching the point a little to say that these two men in this decade marked "the dawn of a new America." A lot happened between Reagan's governorship and his Presidency. There was Watergate, relative moderates like Gerald Ford, a more liberal administration from Carter, and a whole bunch of economic ups and downs. Some of these, like the price of oil, couldn't have been handled well by any president, liberal or conservative.

It was interesting to see how early Reagan got started in politics. I wasn't aware of all his stumping for candidates as early as 1963-64. And it was equally surprising to see just how quickly things imploded for LBJ. I enjoyed the book very much, but I think the subtitle (probably provided by the publisher) is a bit of oversell.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Excellent review Dave - and I agree with you too.

[Mary]

Bentley, I think I reviewed the book but it does not show on your list. Mary

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

I will go through the list and update tomorrow or Tuesday - and then will contact those folks who have not posted. No worries Mary,

[Vincent]

Landslide - LBJ & Ronald Reagan at The Dawn of a New America
By Jonathan Darman

This is an well presented display of a change in American politics. A shift from one aim point to another if one wishes.

Mr. Darman is also a journalist, not a historian, so footnotes are not included and it is an easy read while presenting much to ponder over during the period.

LBJ and Reagan are not the subjects I think, the shift - the "New Dawn" - is the subject and LBJ and Reagan are the principle characters illustrating this and moving the country through it.

While they are not the subjects they are addressed in much detail, through all their lives, to help illustrate and to help the reader to understand what Mr Darman is presenting in such an interesting fashion. Other players are there too - Lady Bird Johnson, Richard Nixon, Bill Moyers, both George Bushs and on and on. This is not a presentation stuck in a rut created by the title.

The shift from the protecting, providing society crafted since FDR and enhanced by LBJ (the Great Society, the Voting Rights Act, Medicare) to the less government, cut my taxes forces that Reagan led to the White House is well and thoughtfully presented in this work.

I found this book enhanced my understanding of the period. So I rate this book a read if one has interest in how our government works and the personalities in it. It is not a MUST READ but it is a read with four stars from me. The book's technique weaves the facts together and keeps raising the level of understanding. Mr. Darman keeps some "commentary" for the afterward - worth reading too.





I received this book at no cost from Random House via the Goodreads website and the History Book Club there.

[Bryan]

Thanks Vince for your final thoughts.

I think one reason journalists are filling the void in writing presidential political history is the fact that historians don't bother with it anymore. Sad, but true.

[Mark]

I received this book free through the History Book Club on Goodreads. Sorry to review this so late, the initial delay didn't coordinate with my schedule very well and it took me a while to catch up and get around to posting this.

I thought this was a very interesting book. I had a hard time getting into this book for a few reasons. I was expecting a more historical type book with more citation and analysis. Reading the prologue changed my expectations of what the book was going to be. Then reading the book felt different from that. I personally didn't like the lack of citations/footnotes, but I know some do like that. To me it makes it feel too much like a story based on a true account rather than an accurate history. I found myself doubting there were any sources that really talked about accounts he described.

I felt Darman did a great job telling the story of Johnson's presidency and giving good insight into the what happened out of the public eye. I was not around for the Johnson presidency and don't remember the Regan presidency so I did enjoy some of the stories highlighted by Darman.

While I also enjoyed the contrast he provided with Reagan, the first 2/3rds of the book felt like a presidential biography of Johnson with random bits of Reagan commentary that didn't always feel like it fit. The end of the book started to tie it together better, but it made it hard for me to read to start because the 2 stories he was telling didn't seem to mesh.

Darman had some interesting insights into both Johnson and Reagan that promoted thought. While I didn't always agree with his analysis or conclusions throughout the book, I thought they were generally well thought out.

Overall, I thought the book was well done, but not really the style of book that really catches my attention. Those that like the uninterrupted story style book would probably enjoy this much more than I did. I would probably advise people who want more political analysis and historical accounts to look elsewhere.

[Vincent]

Mark wrote: "I received this book free through the History Book Club on Goodreads. Sorry to review this so late, the initial delay didn't coordinate with my schedule very well and it took me a while to catch u..."

Thanks Mark

Just an observation is that up to the time of the book there was just so much more history of LBJ than of RR that influenced what was happening maybe logically there needed to be more history of LBJ.

This is maybe reinforced as it was this "more established" political philosophy that was being displaced.

Just sharing my thoughts on your comments.

[Bryan]

Thanks Mark and Vince.