Peggy Noonan's masterpiece, "When Character Was King" is one of my favorite biographies of President Ronald Reagan.
By the time you finish reading this classic, President Reagan is not just a great hero, he has become one of your best friends.
The following review by Ed Chinn in Reason Magazine gives a glimpse why. The stories Ed tells are good ones to share with our children.
"When Character Was King"
A Review of Peggy Noonan's Book
by Ed Chinn in Reason Magazine
Peggy Noonan's book, "When Character Was King (Penguin Books), is subtitled 'A Story of Ronald Reagan.' Like the author, this book is warm, energizing and stirring. Although much of the material has been covered before, Noonan manages to capture it as no one else has: Reagan's childhood, the Hollywood years, his marriage and family, his faith, the incredible transition to politics, the Presidency, retirement and life with Alzheimer's.
"When Character Was King is a fast-moving, never boring, cornucopia of great stories and many surprising insights. One of the most surprising, and perhaps the most valuable part of the book, is the incredible view of the mysterious issue of destiny. Here's the story:
"In 1952, Ronald Reagan at 41 and newly married was almost out of work. His movie career was stalled. Facing a very tight financial situation, he was reduced to emceeing a floor show in Las Vegas just to keep groceries on the table and the lights on. The movie star was in trouble.
"Then, in 1954 when he was 43, General Electric offered him a job. Although the most visible part was hosting 'GE Theater,' the real job required him to travel to all 139 GE plants in 39 states. So, here was a former movie star, spending days on the road visiting GE plants, walking miles of assembly lines, etc. It was humiliating. He used to be a movie star; he was now 'a traveling salesman, just as his father had been,' Noonan writes. As incredible as it may seem, at midlife, this future President of the U.S. had ample evidence of personal failure.
"But, he was also shaking lots of hands, asking questions, making speeches, listening to people's concerns. Noonan writes, 'He didn't know it at the time but he was spending his days as modern politicians do, as presidents do.' At 43 years old, he was in basic training for his life's real purpose.
"So, Reagan's story is a vivid reminder that people caught in the grip of destiny often don't (and don't even need to) understand their own path. Their personal hopes and fears are irrelevant; they're just along for the ride. It is far better to just live life straight ahead....
"When Character Was King is a fast-moving, never boring, cornucopia of great stories and many surprising insights. One of the most surprising, and perhaps the most valuable part of the book, is the incredible view of the mysterious issue of destiny. Here's the story:
"In 1952, Ronald Reagan at 41 and newly married was almost out of work. His movie career was stalled. Facing a very tight financial situation, he was reduced to emceeing a floor show in Las Vegas just to keep groceries on the table and the lights on. The movie star was in trouble.
"Then, in 1954 when he was 43, General Electric offered him a job. Although the most visible part was hosting 'GE Theater,' the real job required him to travel to all 139 GE plants in 39 states. So, here was a former movie star, spending days on the road visiting GE plants, walking miles of assembly lines, etc. It was humiliating. He used to be a movie star; he was now 'a traveling salesman, just as his father had been,' Noonan writes. As incredible as it may seem, at midlife, this future President of the U.S. had ample evidence of personal failure.
"But, he was also shaking lots of hands, asking questions, making speeches, listening to people's concerns. Noonan writes, 'He didn't know it at the time but he was spending his days as modern politicians do, as presidents do.' At 43 years old, he was in basic training for his life's real purpose.
"So, Reagan's story is a vivid reminder that people caught in the grip of destiny often don't (and don't even need to) understand their own path. Their personal hopes and fears are irrelevant; they're just along for the ride. It is far better to just live life straight ahead....
"Although Peggy Noonan isn't known as a biographer, she has pulled Ronald Reagan—alive and in full color—out of the black and white of the pages. This is a wonderful book, a compelling portrait of an unforgettable man. The book will stun you, make you laugh (a lot), and occasionally put a rock in your throat.
"Noonan's detailed view of his beloved Rancho del Cielo (the Ranch in the sky) provides some of the most useful and fascinating keys to cracking the code of Ronald Reagan. It's an incredible biographic tool; it is here in chapter six that one really begins to gaze into the character of this man.
"For example, Noonan takes the reader into the master bedroom of the Presidential home. The kind-sized bed is actually two twin beds pulled together, with the bedposts secured by rubber bands! The kitchen is equipped with harvest gold GE appliances...from his days as a GE representative. And, this is the home that the Gorbachevs, Margaret Thatcher, and other heads of state visited! Could it be that this man didn't need to impress anyone? Noonan uses 688 acres, a small and plain house, saddles, ranch hands and other details to reveal the real Reagan.
"When Character Was King is also a very lucid presentation of Reagan's governing philosophy. I was admittedly surprised at how skillfully Noonan captured the details and nuances of Reagan's foreign and domestic policies. She is a very able and articulate defender of Reagan's ideas and historical impact.
"Finally, this book is a gripping reminder that every path to greatness is unique. The womb that produces leadership is an eternal, not an earthly, one. Society may impose certain formulas, paths, job descriptions, and other contextual expectations for greatness. But, in the end, great leaders are assigned by God and as unique as snowflakes.
"For that reason, this is a book to be absorbed and savored by anyone...liberals and conservatives, the politically astute and the disinterested, young and old, moderns and postmoderns. A unique man walked through the earth in the 20th century. The way he walked helps to illuminate our own path into the 21st century."
[Ed Chinn is an organizational consultant and freelance writer. His work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, Relevant Magazine, and other publications. He and his wife live in Fort Worth, Texas.]
"Noonan's detailed view of his beloved Rancho del Cielo (the Ranch in the sky) provides some of the most useful and fascinating keys to cracking the code of Ronald Reagan. It's an incredible biographic tool; it is here in chapter six that one really begins to gaze into the character of this man.
"For example, Noonan takes the reader into the master bedroom of the Presidential home. The kind-sized bed is actually two twin beds pulled together, with the bedposts secured by rubber bands! The kitchen is equipped with harvest gold GE appliances...from his days as a GE representative. And, this is the home that the Gorbachevs, Margaret Thatcher, and other heads of state visited! Could it be that this man didn't need to impress anyone? Noonan uses 688 acres, a small and plain house, saddles, ranch hands and other details to reveal the real Reagan.
"When Character Was King is also a very lucid presentation of Reagan's governing philosophy. I was admittedly surprised at how skillfully Noonan captured the details and nuances of Reagan's foreign and domestic policies. She is a very able and articulate defender of Reagan's ideas and historical impact.
"Finally, this book is a gripping reminder that every path to greatness is unique. The womb that produces leadership is an eternal, not an earthly, one. Society may impose certain formulas, paths, job descriptions, and other contextual expectations for greatness. But, in the end, great leaders are assigned by God and as unique as snowflakes.
"For that reason, this is a book to be absorbed and savored by anyone...liberals and conservatives, the politically astute and the disinterested, young and old, moderns and postmoderns. A unique man walked through the earth in the 20th century. The way he walked helps to illuminate our own path into the 21st century."
[Ed Chinn is an organizational consultant and freelance writer. His work has appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post, Relevant Magazine, and other publications. He and his wife live in Fort Worth, Texas.]
