Landslide: The Unmaking of the President, 1984-1988

Landslide examines the second term of Ronald Reagan's presidency, from 1984 through 1988. Through interviews and research, journalist Jane Mayer chronicles the internal workings of the Reagan White House during this pivotal period. The book focuses on the Iran-Contra affair and its impact on Reagan's administration and legacy. Mayer documents the roles of key figures including cabinet members, advisors, and First Lady Nancy Reagan as controversy engulfed the presidency. The narrative tracks how the administration handled mounting challenges and shifting power dynamics in its final years. Drawing from extensive source material, Mayer reconstructs the day-to-day operations and decision-making processes within the executive branch. This account raises broader questions about presidential power, the influence of advisors, and the complex relationship between leadership and governance. The book serves as both a specific chronicle of the Reagan era and a wider examination of American political institutions under pressure.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Jane Mayer's overall work: Readers consistently praise Mayer's detailed research and ability to explain complex political networks and money trails. Multiple Amazon reviews note her "clear documentation" and "meticulous sourcing" in Dark Money. Goodreads reviewers highlight her talent for making dense political topics accessible. What readers liked: - Deep investigative reporting backed by extensive sources - Clear writing style that breaks down complicated subjects - Revelatory information about political influence networks - Strong fact-checking and documentation What readers disliked: - Some find the level of detail overwhelming - Conservative readers often question her objectivity - Several note the books can feel "dense" or "dry" at times - Some want more proposed solutions rather than just exposing problems Ratings across platforms: Dark Money: 4.4/5 on Amazon (2,800+ reviews), 4.3/5 on Goodreads (13,000+ ratings) The Dark Side: 4.5/5 on Amazon (200+ reviews), 4.2/5 on Goodreads (3,000+ ratings) Strange Justice: 4.3/5 on Amazon (100+ reviews), 4.1/5 on Goodreads (1,000+ ratings)

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🔹 The book reveals that Nancy Reagan regularly consulted an astrologer named Joan Quigley to help plan the president's schedule and major decisions after the 1981 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan. 🔹 Jane Mayer, who co-authored the book with Doyle McManus, went on to become a highly respected investigative journalist for The New Yorker and wrote several other influential political books, including "Dark Money." 🔹 The book's title "Landslide" is ironic, as it refers to Reagan's massive 1984 re-election victory but focuses on how his second term became mired in scandal and declining effectiveness. 🔹 The Iran-Contra affair, a central focus of the book, led to the indictment of 14 members of Reagan's administration, making it one of the largest political scandals since Watergate. 🔹 Despite being published in 1988, many of the book's sources spoke on the record for the first time, including several senior White House staffers who had never previously shared their accounts of the administration's internal workings.