Exit with honor

William Pemberton's new biography is the first book to make use of archival sources at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Pemberton explores the shaping of Reagan's beliefs and values during his childhood in the American heartland; his leadership of the American conservative movement; and his political career, culminating in the first successful two-term presidency since Dwight Eisenhower.

In clear and concise prose, Pemberton maintains a balance between recognition of Reagan's failures and acknowledgment of his achievements and his impact on later twentieth-century history. He also penetrates the heavy veil that Reagan used to separate his public and private personas.