Reagan

The literal definition of “iconoclast” is idol smasher, which fairly describes Eugene Jarecki's HBO-aired documentary about stalwart Republican President Ronald Reagan, who during the 1980s won the Cold War, restored American confidence, and pumped up the U.S. economy. Today, his name is reverently quoted by members of both parties. But authors such as Edmund Morris and Thomas Frank fault Reagan's economic policies (tax cuts for the rich, reduced benefits for the poor, corporations free to send jobs overseas) for ruining America's middle class, even as Reagan himself remained phenomenally popular with those constituents. Environmental short-sightedness, illegal deals with terrorists, the courting of religious radicals, and massive deficit spending (on behalf of the military, principally) that made government bigger, not reduced it as conservatives claim, are among the other sins laid at Reagan's feet. A biographical arc (with input from Reagan defenders Arthur Laffer and Patrick Buchanan) follows Reagan's career as an affable Hollywood actor and liberal union leader who turned sharply right—coincidentally with his gig as spokesman for GE—and poured his competitive spirit, sense of mission, and actor's gift for oratory into a bid for the White House. Reagan worshippers will doubtless fault this as leftist legacy-bashing, but virulent Reagan-haters could easily list a slew of cabinet misdeeds and scandals left out by Jarecki. Interviewee Ron Reagan Jr. sums up the point-of-view by saying that his father was neither thoughtless villain nor venerable demigod. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)