In this portrait of the president who was one of the most persuasive political speakers of moern times, Paul D.Erickson explores the combination of the extraordinary rhetorical powers of the man and the canny manipulations of his staff that gave him his astounding political success. A penetrating critique of the effects of speechifying, "Reagan Speaks" is also an analysis of the persona of the American public. For if Reagan skillfully altered facts, made history into allegory, created "stock" characters who personified good and evil, and used metaphors, myths and anecdotes to convince the public that his way was the only just and moral way, he also gave us what we wanted. Reducing the unarguably complex issues of our times to simple allegories, he convinced, cajoled and captured the American public with easy answers, a guarantee that America was number one, and the implication, always, that there was a simple way out.