Dutch - A Memoir of Ronald Reagan by Edmund Morris - Book Report/Review Example

In order to make the biography a success, he had to learn politics. It should have been the cause to worry that Morris was willing to give up the Roosevelt story halfway through.

The memoir is a political biography on the life of Ronald Reagan. It stands as the only biography authorized by a president in office. It tells the story of the personal life and political career of the genial yet powerful and mysterious Reagan. It begins with Reagan’s birth in 1911 in Illinois and follows him through to his presidency.

The author of this book effectively supports his narration of Ronald Reagan’s life with evidence. First, this is the only bibliography authorized by a head of state. Morris was a guest of the white house from 1981 when Reagan became president. In the research period preceding the writing of the book, Morris interviewed Reagan and his family, friends, admirers, and enemies. Reagan approved this so it would be anything but inaccurate.

Edmund excels at the technique he employs in creating fictional characters. Through the eyes of these characters, Ronald Reagan’s life is recounted. This literary device is a stroke of genius. Faced with the relay something of import about Reagan, Morris hits upon the idea in which to mirror the life of one of the world’s greatest leaders. The fictional components are obvious throughout the memoir and do well to achieve their intent.

The Memoir of Reagan succeeds above many other biographies ever written. It succeeds in examining Reagan whose very nature is inherently incomprehensible. However, Morris’s insight reveals that Reagan was out of touch with reality. The president developed fiction about the world that he managed to get those that surrounded him to believe in as he himself believed. The book is rife with examples of Reagan hanging on to his mistaken and delusional guns despite evidence to the contrary. Morris and the Dutch can be hugely accredited with helping the world understand one of the greatest presidents.

Clearly missing in the text is Reagan’s political background leading up to his career. Among key events not mentioned in the book are the PATCO strikes, the Panama Canal Debates the Tax reform bill, or the presidential campaigns. These factors that Morris fails to give mention are key to understanding what made Reagan an influential personality in history. The biography did not live up to its expectations without tackling these factors.

Both secondary and primary sources were used in the research leading to the writing of this memoir. They included one-on-one interviews of Reagan himself, his family, and friends. Morris also had access to Reagan’s personal notes. Also available to Morris were records of the political career of Reagan before and during his presidency. No sources seem to have been left out because they are included everywhere.

The portrayal of Reagan’s politics is from both a real and fictional perspective. However, I would have restricted myself to the actual learned facts from Reagan, the influence his politics had, and the information obtained from those that surrounded him. Read More