1. A New Dealer to the Core 2. Politics: War by Different Means Part I. A Postgraduate Course in Political Science 3. Boulwarism 4. The Plant Tour 5. Schools, Classes, and Trains Part II. An Apprenticeship for Public Life 6. The Campaign 7. Allies 8. The Speech 9. Two Unions 10. The Art of Negotiation Part III. To Encourage an Increasing Majority of Citizens 11. The Campaign Continues 12. The Presidential Bug 13. A President's Vision Appendix. Speeches of Reuther, Boulware, and Reagan Walter P. Reuther, Labor and the Community Lemuel Boulware, Salvation Is Not Free Ronald Reagan, A Time for Choosing ("The Speech") Acknowledgments Notes References Index

An elegant history of Reagan's 'studies' with General Electric. -- John H. Fund The Wall Street Journal A revelation... Definitely worth reading for those who want to know how Ronald Reagan evolved into the 'Great Communicator' of political yore. -- A.G. Gancarski The Washington Times [The Education of Ronald Reagan] fills a hole in Reagan's biography. -- Daniel Oppenheimer Sacramento News and Review Evans's book is essential reading... a reasoned exploration of the shaping of an extraordinary political career. -- Joseph C. Goulden Washington Lawyer This fascinating study sheds new light on Reagan's ideological evolution. Publishers Weekly A better companion to [The Reagan Diaries]... By focusing on the decade or so when Reagan was a traveling spokesman for General Electric--a period that he began as a Democrat and ended as a Republican--Evans does a persuasive job of explaining where Reagan's political views came from. -- Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker The Education of Ronald Reagan admirably fills... [a] gap... One of the most illuminating books ever written about Reagan. -- Jacob Heilbrunn National Interest [The Education of Ronald Reagan]provides fresh revelations on Reagan's ideological development... a 'must' for any college level collection. The Midwest Book Review Evans is undoubtedly correct to home in on the G.E. years as the key period in Reagan's self education. -- Steven F. Hayward Claremont Review of Books Evans provides useful insight into Reagan's GE years and calls attention to the influence of Boulware. -- Emilie Raymond Register of the Kentucky Historical Society I recommend strongly that you get the (book). -- Newt Gingrich BizVoice An important work that ought to be read. -- Ronald W. Schatz Labor History

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.