Lou Cannon

Lou Cannon is a journalist and author best known for his extensive coverage of Ronald Reagan's political career and his comprehensive biographies of the 40th president. As a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News and later The Washington Post, he covered Reagan from his time as California governor through his presidency. His most notable works include "President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime" (1991) and "Governor Reagan: His Rise to Power" (2003), which are considered definitive accounts of Reagan's political life. Cannon also wrote "Official Negligence: How Rodney King and the Riots Changed Los Angeles and the LAPD" (1997), examining the aftermath of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Throughout his career, Cannon earned recognition for his balanced reporting and thorough research methodology. He served as The Washington Post's senior White House correspondent during the Reagan administration and has been cited by historians and journalists as a primary source for understanding Reagan's political evolution and presidency. His work extends beyond Reagan-focused content to include broader California political coverage and analysis of law enforcement issues. Cannon continues to be referenced as an authority on Reagan's legacy and California politics, with his books remaining standard references for scholars and researchers.

Readers consistently praise Cannon's thorough research and balanced reporting style in his Reagan biographies. Many reviews note his ability to present facts without obvious political bias. A reader on Amazon called "President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime" the "most comprehensive and fair account" of Reagan's presidency. Readers appreciate: - Extensive use of primary sources and interviews - Clear writing that maintains reader interest - Detailed context about California politics - Objectivity in covering controversial topics Common criticisms: - Length and detail can be overwhelming - Some sections move slowly with bureaucratic details - Price point of hardcover editions Ratings across platforms: Amazon: "President Reagan" - 4.7/5 (127 reviews) "Governor Reagan" - 4.5/5 (89 reviews) Goodreads: "President Reagan" - 4.2/5 (512 ratings) "Official Negligence" - 4.1/5 (203 ratings) Multiple reviews mention Cannon's personal coverage of Reagan giving him unique insights, though some readers note this occasionally leads to overly detailed accounts of minor events.

President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime An extensive biography covering Reagan's presidency, his political career, and his transformation from actor to political leader.

Governor Reagan: His Rise to Power A detailed account of Reagan's years as California governor and his path to becoming a national political figure.

Official Negligence: How Rodney King and the Riots Changed Los Angeles and the LAPD An examination of the 1991 Rodney King beating, the subsequent riots, and their impact on Los Angeles law enforcement.

Reagan A comprehensive biography covering Reagan's entire life, from his Midwestern roots through his presidency.

Ronnie and Jesse: A Political Odyssey A chronicle of the relationship between Ronald Reagan and Jesse Unruh during California's political transitions of the 1960s.

Police Power: Police Abuses in New York City An investigation into cases of police misconduct and systemic issues within the New York City Police Department.

Robert Dallek writes presidential biographies with deep archival research and examines Cold War era politics. His work on LBJ and Reagan provides similar insider perspective to Cannon's Reagan coverage.

Richard Reeves focuses on presidential administrations through day-by-day accounts based on documents and interviews. His books on Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan parallel Cannon's approach of blending journalism with historical scholarship.

Dan Balz reports on presidential campaigns and American politics as a veteran Washington Post journalist. His books examine modern political movements and campaigns with the same journalistic methodology Cannon used.

H.W. Brands specializes in presidential biographies and American political history with extensive primary source research. His Reagan biography shares themes with Cannon's work while placing events in broader historical context.

Edmund Morris wrote the authorized Reagan biography using White House access and historical records. His trilogy on Theodore Roosevelt demonstrates similar immersive biographical technique to Cannon's Reagan books.