The second book I read while on vacation was THE PRESIDENT, THE POPE, AND THE PRIME MINISTER: THREE WHO CHANGED THE WORLD by John O’Sullivan (Washington DC: Regnery Publishing, 2006).
Personal Memories
I came of age in the 1980s. Ronald Reagan was the first president I met and is still the epitome of what an American President should be. (I later became member of his church.) Pope John Paul II seemed like he always was and always would be the face of Catholicism. Margaret Thatcher epitomized the United Kingdom by her Churchill-like strength under pressure, strong determination, style, and grace.
The Good Guys
These three individuals wore the white hats; they were the good guys in a worldwide drama, with the Soviet Union cast as the villain. In retrospect, the world was far simpler then. As in a good Hollywood movie, you knew where everybody fit in the story and who would win in the end.
O’Sullivan is the former editor of the NATIONAL REVIEW and the TIMES OF LONDON. He has conservative credentials, so I knew he wouldn’t be doing a “hatchet job” on three of my heroes. For over a year, I had very much awaited reading this book. I just never found the time until now.
And I wasn’t disappointed. His book is a wide-ranging and dramatic account of how these three great individuals changed the course of history. His research was impeccable, and he told their story through the eyes and ears of individuals who knew them.
Revisionist History
Popular history may tell us that the Soviet Union collapsed on its own with assistance from the liberal-minded Mikhail Gorbachev, but the author gives credit where it’s due: President Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
If you’re like me and want a walk down memory lane, if you want to reminisce about how much simpler the Cold War era was and how three great leaders won that war without firing a shot, then this book is for you.
A Must Read
In Part 1 of this series, I mentioned a younger reader who described reading books as “How Twentieth.” This reader and those of a similar mindset probably need to read O’Sullivan’s book more than anybody else. In a time with no heroes, no definition of right and wrong, and with the emphasis on self, reading this book is like having a homemade Thanksgiving feast when one is accustomed only to cheap fast-food.
I recommend it highly!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I thought Gorbachev did bring down Soviet Union (lol). Very good post. I enjoyed reading and will read book. World did seem simpler then because it was. I look forward to reading what you read next on vacation!
Thanks for sharing this book! I had never heard of it before, but just ordered it from Amazon. Can you imagine any of these 3 leaders being caught up a scandal like John Edwards is today? Twenty years seems such a small amount of time, but to go from LEADERS like we had then to the “leaders” we have today is disheartening, discouraging, and pathetic!
I met President Reagan once and Prime Minister Thatcher on several occasions. They both were “class acts.” Regardless of my admiration of them personally, they were talented and gifted leaders (or I suppose as you would say “Vision Casters”).
The world was blessed with leaders of this quality just a short few years ago. I agree wholeheartedly with Lance about how disheartening it is to think of the “free world” being run by the leaders we have today. I am scared as our apparent new leaders are even worse than the current bunch, if that were possible.
Lance and Henry: These are good comments. I want to give you positive reinforcement because your other comments were bad!
Miroslav, ha, ha, ha. Back in the day, you must have been KGB? Now what do you do? Military SPIN? For everybody else, I say this because Miroslav’s website is: http://www.mil.ru (the official site of the Russian Military).
With the news of Russia invading Georgia this last week, your longings for the old Soviet Union and the “cold war” may become a reality.
I am not Catholic. I think of it as a cult that the anti-Christ will be birthed from. If you don’t believe me read “A Woman Rides the Beast” by Dave Hunt or watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Ke7Tn3uOU.
But that being said Pope John Paul II was s decent man and maybe a Christian. He did help end the Cold War along with Pres. Reagan and PM Thatcher.
It is easy for me to paint with a big brush that all Catholics are bad. Thanks for reminding me that some can be good.
You wrote that “[i]f you’re like me and want a walk down memory lane, if you want to reminisce about how much simpler the Cold War era was [then read this book],”
The liberal left wants the return of the Soviet Union to balance the evil America. The Soviet Union wasn’t good. How can you defend your statement as a Christian? It seem indefendable to me.
I am not advocating a return to the “Cold War” nor do I think America is evil and needs to be balanced by the Soviet Union. I was simply reminiscing about what seemed like a simpler time politically and culturally.
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