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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1989)
Book Review The story of a leader asleep at the wheel By Larry Matthews • The Eagle American U., DC When Jane Mayer and Doyle McManus's Landslide: The Un making of the President, 1984 1988 was released late in November of last year, the White House reacted with disdain and denial. After all, here was a book that portrayed Ronald Reagan as an aloof chief executive in his second term who preferred television over policy matters, who rarely voiced an opinion and frequently sat com placent as his aides discussed issues. One whose advisers were apparently so concerned about the president's state of mind that they briefly considered invoking Section Four of the 25th amendment, which transfers powers from the president to the vice president. Not exactly a nattering portrait. What Mayer and McManus attempt in this book is not simply a barrage of attacks on the president, but an alarming portrayal of an administration's loss of direction in its second term that hopelessly spiraled toward virtual paralysis. Landslide is also a comprehensive examination of the Iran-Contra affair — from its inception to the final issuance of the Tower report — told in vivid, lucid language that might very well be considered the most definitive account of the period yet written. Wall Street Journal reporter Mayer has covered the White House for the last four years. McManus covers Washington for the Los Angeles Times. Together, using extensive interviews and re ports, various books written during the Reagan years and recently de classified documents and tapes, the authors have compiled a rarely seen or heard of view inside the Reagan White House. Perhaps even more disconcerting than the hands-off management style of President Reagan are the references to his successor in the oval office, George Bush, and Bush’s early knowledge of the arms-for-hostages swap with Iran. “He had the entire deal laid before him in clear, unsparing terms; but Bush. .. raised no objections and forced no review of the policy," the authors write. Landslide is not without its White House gossip, including tales of behind-the-scenes man ipulation by Nancy Reagan, the president's laid-back work sche dule and the claim by one of Reagan's children that “he makes things up and believes them." Whether one is interested in such scintillating tidbits, a step-bv-step description of the ill-fated Iran Contra dealings, or in seeing how a once thriving presidency slowly de generated into chaos, Landslide is must reading in light of the newly elected administration. MMIA/G rwr 6Rhd£5 • ; rw<> YfAfr fiAYH Jit- tALi Jvjr fo Wofc' A 5Ht'i Oo“JO-_/{\\ Y». W > iL+too ' Mi ft* tMATHi. .ue o mute /W*. \Jo ifv... V fr* X Mri* 0*^. '-r>s~.<r?*rr/7^r, £ <J*f I 'O/ ^11 Hit! ^U, £ u-ft ^pdf £ two i uhl jnnjj £ Otrl’-f TTTl x - iw>u.itjmJr fun. i iuo+j f " ru» ^ ^ ^<Vl ^ -A /W 7Hi jv«uc . TWf rUcHtY )v/i(,LC. Y)i( U»tJ ******JJ^rrzTtoio* X'rt CMAUflu iiAOY! ^ r X U'4-L X ] tr l \wu*jri hJ > • X X. VV) v T s 11 Vt SHOWN U' * • VA * V V JFK: SEA j ORDi *99 roundtrip airfares on Northwest Airlines. A special offer for students, only for American Express Cardmembers. If mhi want to go places, its time for the American Kxpress* Card Because now sou can take advantage of new travel privileges on Northwest Airlines tmh jnrjuil time stiuUtils il l’ll carry Ilk• \mencan fixfnvsCunl Travel privileges that offer NORTHWEST AIRLINES LOOK TO US lto> fw mutuunf) inters n> to .ms of tlu- mon' than ISO cities served by Northwest in the contigu ous iS I mtiil Stato Unis one ticket mav neuseupersix monuipenou ^k\ utlQUiirkrl\ Xorlhii vsl IksUiuthoit Discounts throu^bnut IWt up to 2s", off the liwest available fare yiHX) hums milt’s in Northwest s 'At tKLDPKKKN' free travel program where onl> JO.lHHi miles gets vou a frtr romultrip ticket to anew here Northwest flits in (lit- contiguous hH I tilled States orhanada Anti, of course, sou llenjov .ill the exceptional knefits and personal service sou would expect from American Express llieonh requirements for privileged travel you must Ih- a (lardmemkr. you must k a full time stu dent, and you must charge tour Northwest Airlines tickets w ith the Card * (letting the (lard is easier than ever because ium you can a|>ph by phone just call I 800 AMEX Ue II lake your application and kgm to process it right awat tt'hal s mure, with our Automatic Approval offers. sou can qualm ihm while you're still III sclweol Apple ihm l ie later for less Apply Now: 1-800-942-AMEX •vxnr imnctiom nut j«>li h>r u.Miiildr ..firf itrUih ^.ill I sou VMKX t urrnil 'Jmlnili jnknrmhm iulonunulU mow r»t. $'« vnu< Im in ll» null rjwu RELATED SERVKFS » 1‘W1! \nitfKjii Txprrv. Ihiwl HrlilrJ vrMml oni[uin Inc
