InthisambitiousworkDavidT.ByrneanalyzestheideasthatinformedRonaldReagan’spoliticalphilosophyandpolicies.RatherthanappraisingReagan’spersonalandemotionallife,Byrne’sintellectualbiographygoesonestepfurther;itestablishesarationalefortheformerpresident’smotives,discussinghowthinkerssuchasPlatoandAdamSmithinfluencedhim.ByrnepointstothreehistoricalforcesthatshapedReagan’spoliticalphilosophy:Christianvalues,particularlytheconceptofauniversalkingdomofGod;America’sfirmbeliefinfreedomasthegreatestpoliticalvalueanditsaversiontostrongcentralizedgovernment;andtheappeasementeraofWorldWarII,whichstimulatedReagan’saggressiveandconfrontationalforeignpolicy.Byrne’saccountofthefortiethpresidentaugmentspreviousworkonReaganwithanewmodelforunderstandinghim.ByrneshowshowReagantookconservatismandtheRepublicanPartyinanewdirection,departingfromthetraditionalconservatismofEdmundBurkeandRussellKirk.Hisdesiretospreada“KingdomofFreedom“bothathomeandabroadchangedAmerica’spoliticallandscapeforeverandinspiredanewconservatismthatpersiststothisday.
