Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator, Vol. 3: Reagan on Government and the American Dream

This video is the third of a 4-volume set which purports to be "the most comprehensive collection of Reagan speeches ever compiled!" As evidenced by this volume, this claim is a gross exaggeration and profound misrepresentation of the video's actual contents. Buried within the distributor's accompanying press release, we find the series described more accurately as a "collection of Reagan soundbites." Yup: 75 minutes of soundbites, to be exact, encompassing the former President's most significant and meaningful thoughts (or, if you prefer, vacuities) on government finance and taxes, government and American society, the warm and fuzzy feelings engendered by the re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty, and his somewhat bizarre, but nevertheless heartstring-tugging, vision of America as a "shining city on a hill." There is little of informational or study value contained in this volume, and only the most ardent Reaganite could derive any viewing pleasure from it. Other than Nancy, Dan Quayle, and Ollie North, this is only recommended for exhaustive contemporary political science collections. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Rechel)