Turning Points-Actual and Alternate Histories: The Reagan Era from the Iran Crisis to Kosovo

The legacy of Ronald Reagan is the subject of debate across the political spectrum. But most politicians agree that the modern Conservative movement that has been so successful in American politics in recent years began its rise with the election of Reagan. But what if he hadn't been elected? What if the pivotal events of the Reagan Era - the assassination attempt, negotiations with Gorbachev, Iran-Contra, the Persian Gulf War - had unfolded differently?

The Reagan Era explores a time that saw the rise of the political conservatism that has dominated U.S. politics in recent years, as well as the end of the Cold War, which drove American foreign policy for nearly a half century.

What if Jimmy Carter had successfully navigated the energy shortage and the Iranian hostage crisis? What if the assassination attempt on Reagan had succeed? What if Iran-Contra had not become a scandal? These are among the specific topics examined in the book, which looks at 11 crucial events and speculates on the effects of alternative outcomes. By showing how easily the world might be different, The Reagan Era reveals the lasting impact of that era's defining moments.