#157 - Max Boot - Ronald Reagan: His Life and Legend

Built Not Born

🎙️ Built Not Born Podcast: Max Boot on Ronald Reagan - His Life and Legend 🎙️

"The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God." - Ronald Reagan, January 28, 1986

In this episode, we sit down with Max Boot, the acclaimed Washington Post columnist, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and Senior Fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss his groundbreaking biography "Ronald Reagan: His Life and Legend."

⏱️ Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Introduction to Max Boot and his extensive work

[05:30] Reagan's early life and the pivotal Montgomery Ward job rejection

[12:45] The GE years: Reagan's political transformation

[18:20] Nancy Reagan's crucial role in Reagan's success

[25:15] The assassination attempt and its impact on the presidency

[32:40] The Iran-Contra affair and Reagan's management style

[38:50] Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) and Soviet relations

[45:30] James Baker: The Velvet Hammer

[52:15] Reagan's lasting impact on American politics

[58:40] The Challenger speech and Reagan's legacy

🔑 Key Insights:

• Reagan's transformation from FDR Democrat to conservative icon
• The surprising truth about Reagan's relationship with his children
• How Nancy Reagan shaped the presidency
• The myth and reality of Reagan's role in ending the Cold War
• James Baker's crucial role as Chief of Staff
• Behind the scenes of John Hinkley's attempted assassination of President Reagan.

📚 Book Recommendation:

Max recommends Robert Caro's multi-volume biography of Lyndon B. Johnson as a masterpiece of political biography.

🌐 Connect with Max Boot:

• Twitter: @MaxBoot
• Washington Post: Max Boot's Column
• Facebook: Max Boot
• Council on Foreign Relations: Max Boot (Senior Fellow)

🎧 Listen to Built Not Born Podcast:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

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