From the Publisher
The Working Class Republican is a fascinating, highly readable analysis of Ronald Reagan’s particular brand of conservatism. In Henry’s excellent book, we learn that Reagan was hardly the ideologue many of his biggest detractors (and fans) presume, but felt that energetic government sometimes could and should be deployed on behalf of America’s working class. By shining some much needed light on modern conservatism’s most important figure, Henry Olsen has also showed the Republican Party a way forward.” — J.D. Vance, New York Times bestselling author of Hillbilly Elegy
“An urgent warning for conservatives: If you admire Reagan - listen to him. What you learn will surprise you - and may save you.” — David Frum, Senior editor, The Atlantic
“Henry Olsen’s original and remarkable book argues that the Republican Party can only win national electoral majorities if it goes beyond appeals to ideological conservatism and gains the support of working class voters in the nation’s heartland. These voters, once known as Reagan Democrats, do not look at politics through the lens of political theory, but in terms of “helping people like us.” Abandoned by Democrats and largely forgotten, at least until this year, by Republicans, this voting bloc is the lynchpin of our electoral system. And it was at the core of how Ronald Reagan always viewed the American voter. ” — James W. Ceaser, Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution
Though Ronald Reagan is one of our most beloved presidents, he’s also one of our most misunderstood. In The Working Class Republican, Henry Olsen brings to light the real Reagan. Far from a rigid ideologue or an “amiable dunce,” he was a New Dealer at heart who wanted to make the economy work for all Americans, whether rich or poor. — Reihan Salam , Executive Editor of National Review
“With this nuanced portrait of Ronald Reagan’s political evolution and maturation, Henry Olsen challenges many of his fellow conservatives to rethink, as Reagan did, the art of the possible in the America that the New Deal made.” — George F. Will, Columnist, Washington Post
“Henry Olsen, one of the sharpest and most indispensable political analysts alive today, saw Trump coming when almost everyone missed it. Now he sees in Reagan what others missed. Agree or not The Working Class Republican promises to ignite a whole new fight over Trump, Reagan and the meaning conservatism. ” — Jonah Goldberg, Senior Editor, National Review
Jonah Goldberg
Henry Olsen, one of the sharpest and most indispensable political analysts alive today, saw Trump coming when almost everyone missed it. Now he sees in Reagan what others missed. Agree or not The Working Class Republican promises to ignite a whole new fight over Trump, Reagan and the meaning conservatism.
J.D. Vance
The Working Class Republican is a fascinating, highly readable analysis of Ronald Reagan’s particular brand of conservatism. In Henry’s excellent book, we learn that Reagan was hardly the ideologue many of his biggest detractors (and fans) presume, but felt that energetic government sometimes could and should be deployed on behalf of America’s working class. By shining some much needed light on modern conservatism’s most important figure, Henry Olsen has also showed the Republican Party a way forward.
James W. Ceaser
Henry Olsen’s original and remarkable book argues that the Republican Party can only win national electoral majorities if it goes beyond appeals to ideological conservatism and gains the support of working class voters in the nation’s heartland. These voters, once known as Reagan Democrats, do not look at politics through the lens of political theory, but in terms of “helping people like us.” Abandoned by Democrats and largely forgotten, at least until this year, by Republicans, this voting bloc is the lynchpin of our electoral system. And it was at the core of how Ronald Reagan always viewed the American voter.
Reihan Salam
Though Ronald Reagan is one of our most beloved presidents, he’s also one of our most misunderstood. In The Working Class Republican, Henry Olsen brings to light the real Reagan. Far from a rigid ideologue or an “amiable dunce,” he was a New Dealer at heart who wanted to make the economy work for all Americans, whether rich or poor.
George F. Will
With this nuanced portrait of Ronald Reagan’s political evolution and maturation, Henry Olsen challenges many of his fellow conservatives to rethink, as Reagan did, the art of the possible in the America that the New Deal made.
David Frum
An urgent warning for conservatives: If you admire Reagan - listen to him. What you learn will surprise you - and may save you.
Library Journal
06/15/2017
Few figures in modern American political history are as revered and lionized on the Right and as demonized on the Left as former U.S. president Ronald Reagan. In his first book, political analyst Olsen (senior fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Ctr.) makes a detailed pilgrimage through Reagan's history to illustrate and defend the primary principles of conservativism that he argues Reagan grew to believe in and embodied. Olsen's work intercuts Reagan's achievements with his overarching views and beliefs that represent the leader's legacy. Moreover, Olsen uses these principles to extrapolate the ways the former president would have voted or fallen on current issues, and how he should be interpreted by a modern audience, Republicans and conservatives in particular. He concludes with reviewing prominent members of the current Republican Party and identifying where they fall short in creating a Reagan coalition. VERDICT A solid contribution to the Reagan literature, this book is an appeal to a conservative audience to return to the policies and principles that made Reagan a successful figurehead.—Laurel Tacoma, Fairfax Cty. P.L., VA
AUGUST 2017 - AudioFile
Listeners follow the reasonable argument that by employing sincerity, common sense, and carefully placed enthusiasm, President Reagan successfully attracted both Republican and Democratic voter support. Olsen, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, supports a cogent argument that Reagan’s enthusiastic admiration for FDR and the New Deal strongly influenced his political choices and core beliefs. Derek Shetterly’s workmanlike, appropriately paced narration is highly listenable. While some may find the arguments provocative and controversial, those who don their earbuds with open minds and ears will be richly rewarded with an articulate, stylish, and entertaining political, but quite human, discussion. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
