The Education of Ronald Reagan: The General Electric Years and the Untold Story of His Conversion to Conservatism

Thomas Evans

Published by Columbia University Press 2006

The Education of Ronald Reagan

The General Electric Years and the Untold Story of His Conversion to Conservatism

Thomas Evans

In the series Columbia Studies in Contemporary American History

https://doi.org/10.7312/evan13860

Overview
Contents

About this book

Based on a newly discovered collection of private papers as well as interviews and corporate documents, Thomas W. Evans links the eight years (1954-1962) in which Reagan worked for General Electric-acting as host of its television program, GE Theater, and traveling the country as the company's public-relations envoy-to his conversion to conservatism. Evans particularly focuses on the profound influence of GE executive Lemuel Boulware, who would become Reagan's political and ideological mentor. Known for his innovative corporate strategies to win over workers and his tough stance against the "excesses" of union officials, Boulware championed the core tenets of modern American conservatism-free-market fundamentalism, anticommunism, lower taxes, and limited government. Building on the ideas and influence of Boulware, Reagan would soon begin his rise as a national political figure and an icon of the American conservative movement.

In October 1964, Ronald Reagan gave a televised speech in support of Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater. "The Speech," as it has come to be known, helped launch Ronald Reagan as a leading force in the American conservative movement. However, less than twenty years earlier, Reagan was a prominent Hollywood liberal, the president of the Screen Actors Guild, and a fervent supporter of FDR and Harry Truman. While many agree that Reagan's anticommunism grew out of his experiences with the Hollywood communists of the late 1940s, the origins of his conservative ideology have remained obscure.

Based on a newly discovered collection of private papers as well as interviews and corporate documents, The Education of Ronald Reagan offers new insights into Reagan's ideological development and his political ascendancy. Thomas W. Evans links the eight years (1954-1962) in which Reagan worked for General Electric—acting as host of its television program, GE Theater, and traveling the country as the company's public-relations envoy-to his conversion to conservatism.

In particular, Evans reveals the profound influence of GE executive Lemuel Boulware, who would become Reagan's political and ideological mentor. Boulware, known for his tough stance against union officials and his innovative corporate strategies to win over workers, championed the core tenets of modern American conservatism-free-market fundamentalism, anticommunism, lower taxes, and limited government. Building on the ideas and influence of Boulware, Reagan would soon begin his rise as a national political figure and an icon of the American conservative movement.

Author / Editor information

Thomas W. Evans, a lawyer and avocational politician, has supervised a successful New Hampshire presidential primary and established a national citizens' campaign organization. A former adjunct professor of education and administration at Columbia University's Teachers College, Evans was chair of the Reagan administration's national symposium on partnerships in education and counsel to the Points of Light Foundation under George H.W. Bush.

Reviews

Ronald W. Schatz:
An important work that ought to be read.

Newt Gingrich:
I recommend strongly that you get the (book).

Emilie Raymond:
Evans provides useful insight into Reagan's GE years and calls attention to the influence of Boulware.

Steven F. Hayward:
Evans is undoubtedly correct to home in on the G.E. years as the key period in Reagan's self education.

[The Education of Ronald Reagan]provides fresh revelations on Reagan's ideological development... a 'must' for any college level collection.

Jacob Heilbrunn:
The Education of Ronald Reagan admirably fills... [a] gap... One of the most illuminating books ever written about Reagan.

Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker:
A better companion to [The Reagan Diaries].... By focusing on the decade or so when Reagan was a traveling spokesman for General Electrica period that he began as a Democrat and ended as a RepublicanEvans does a persuasive job of explaining where Reagan's political views came from.

This fascinating study sheds new light on Reagan's ideological evolution.

Joseph C. Goulden:
Evans's book is essential reading... a reasoned exploration of the shaping of an extraordinary political career.

Daniel Oppenheimer:
[The Education of Ronald Reagan] fills a hole in Reagan's biography.

A.G. Gancarski:
A revelation... Definitely worth reading for those who want to know how Ronald Reagan evolved into the 'Great Communicator' of political yore.

John H. Fund:
An elegant history of Reagan's 'studies' with General Electric.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Part I. Background
1. A New Dealer to the Core Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
2. Politics: War by Different Means Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	24
Part II. A Postgraduate Course in Political Science
3. Boulwarism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	37
4. The Plant Tour Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	57
5. Schools, Classes, and Trains Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	69
Part III. An Apprenticeship for Public Life
6. The Campaign Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	83
7. Allies Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	98
8. The Speech Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	111
9. Two Unions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	126
10. The Art of Negotiation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	139
Part IV. Encouraging an Increasing Majority of Citizens
11. The Campaign Continues Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	157
12. The Presidential Bug Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	185
13. A President’s Vision Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	199
Appendix. Speeches of Reuther, Boulware, and Reagan
Labor and the community Walter P. Reuther Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	224
Salvation Is Not Free Lemuel Boulware Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	229
A Time for Choosing (“The Speech” ) Ronald Reagan Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	238
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	251
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	277
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	285
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	287
Backmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	303

Language: English
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 320
Illustrations
- Other: 6 photographs

eBook

Published: December 5, 2006
ISBN: 9780231511070