American Conservatism: An Illustrated History - Hardcover

A popularly written history of the U.S. viewed through a conservative lens, Nagle's heavily illustrated panorama is attuned to the shifting meanings of the labels "liberal" and "conservative." He notes, for example, that James Madison's "liberal" stance favoring a strict interpretation of the constitution is a staple of the modern conservative diet. Nagle, former editor of Human Life Review , claims Abraham Lincoln for the American conservative tradition and offers sympathetic portraits of Barry Goldwater, Reagan, Bush, William Buckley Jr., among others. Ruptures and controversies within the neoconservative movement are delineated. Nagle believes that most Americans are centrists at heart who will give conditional support to either the left or right, depending on which faction they think will respond more effectively to current problems. His narrative is enlivened by an array of engravings, cartoons, broadsides, sketches, photographs and Americana.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This work is comparable to a college textbook on American history, except for its particular emphasis on conservative politics. The narrative begins with an account of Edmund Burke's support in the British parliament of the conservative American rebellion to restore lost rights and it ends with a discussion of the 1988 presidential campaign. A supplemental chapter is included on the historical relationships between American politics and religion. While Nagle's conservative bias is at times evident--despite his stated desire to be as objective as possible--the insights and interesting factual content he provides are excellent. Not detailed enough for use as a reference book in most libraries, but the treatment of the subject, the engaging, readable prose, and the attractive, plentiful illustrations make it sufficiently unique to recommend for public and academic libraries.
- David Steiniche, Missouri Western State Coll., St. Joseph
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.