An Empire of Ideals The Chimeric Imagination of Ronald Reagan [Hardcover]

Justin D. Garrison provides an original and groundbreaking analysis of Ronald Reagans imagination as it was expressed mainly in his presidential speeches. He argues that the predominant strain of Reagans imagination is chimeric, that is, imbued with a high degree of optimism, romantic dreaminess, naivet?, and illusion. 

Reagan spoke often about religion, democracy, freedom, conservatism, progress, Americas role in the world, the American people, the American Founding, and peace. These are for him important symbols, which together express his general vision of politics and human existence.  These symbols have to be analyzed in depth in order to understand who Reagan really was and what he represented to his admirers.  The book concludes that Reagans vision contains many dubious elements that present dangers for practical politics and claims that the popularity of Reagans imagination among Americans suggests a problematic self-understanding.

Surpassing, existing works on Reagans ideas and speeches, this book systematically explains the general quality and major components of Reagans vision, and it draws upon political theory, aesthetics, and American political thought to analyze his imagination.

Introduction: The Enduring Appeal and Importance of Ronald Reagans Imagination. 1. Ronald Reagan: A Biographical Sketch 2. The Imagination: A Philosophical Elucidation 3. A Talent for Happiness: Ronald Reagan, Optimism, and Politics 4. I Hear America Singing: Ronald Reagan and the American People 5. The Mystic Chords of Memory: Ronald Reagan and the American Revolution 6. Puzzle Palaces on the Potomac: Ronald Reagan and Contemporary American Government 7. A Crusade for Freedom: Ronald Reagan and Americas Role in the World 8. A Cathedral of Peace: Ronald Reagan and Peace Among Nations 9. The Land of Limitless Possibilities: Ronald Reagan, Progress, Technolol3t