Search for Reagan : The Appealing Intellectual Conservatism of Ronald Reagan

Never before has anyone explored the mind, soul, and heart of Ronald Reagan. The Search for Reagan explores the challenges and controversies in Reagan’s life and how he successfully dealt with each, depicting a man who was never as conservative as some conservatives wanted him to be, but rather as conservative as he was comfortable being—a man who wanted to win on his own terms and integrity.

Ronald Reagan was a singularly unique man and conservative who championed a wildly successful revolution—leading to more freedom and less government for the American people and to the fall of communism, while boosting American morale, which had been his three big goals. He was the first president in many years who believed optimism from the Oval Office had a direct bearing on the affairs of the nation. As a consequence, he left office more popular than when he entered with a whopping 73 percent approval. He is beloved even today as his presidential library is visited far more than any other presidential library, by more than five million people each year. He understood that American conservatism was based upon the individual and not the group. He is still regarded as one of the most admired men in America. The range of Reagan scholarship by virtue of books sold about him continues to grow. In his presidency, he solved the mystery of high inflation that had bedeviled his predecessor, high interest rates, and high gas prices. He created over twenty million new jobs, and the number of American millionares grew from 4,414 to 34,944. He quite literally changed our world for the better and is considered by most historians to be one of our four greatest presidents, along with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt.

Craig Shirley is a New York Times bestselling author, presidential historian, and Ronald Reagan biographer. In all, he is the author of eleven books including six on Reagan and two on World War II. He and his wife, Zorine, worked for President Reagan in Washington in the 1980s. He has lectured many times at the Reagan Library and the FDR Library and has addressed the 2021 national convention of the DAR. His book on Mary Ball Washington won the People’s Choice Award from the Library of Virginia. He has taught classes on Reagan at the University of Virginia and Eureka College, where he was a Trustee. When not at their summer home, Trickle Down Point, the Shirleys reside at their 1730 foursquare Georgian, Ben Lomond in rural Virginia. They have four children and two grandchildren. Zorine edits all Shirley’s writings. Together they enjoy sailing.