I didnt think Id experience an unsolicited endorsement for my Age of Reagan
as nice and fulsome as Jonah Goldbergs on The Corner a couple weeks ago, but now Jonah has competition from the Prime Minister of Australia. I was puzzled to have been invited to the White House state dinner for Howard last night--I figured it had to be a computer glitch or some other grand confusion. Just check the guest list and see if you can spot whos out of place.
But then I went through the receiving line, whereupon Prime Minister Howard hears my name and says, "Youre a writer!"
Me: "Um. . . yes."
PM Howard: "The Age of Reagan, right?"
Me: "Why yes. You actually know of it??" (The book has sold exactly 2 copies in Australia.)
PM Howard: "I just finished it."
Pres. Bush: "Is it a good book?"
PM Howard: "Terrific book."
Pres. Bush (to me): "Hes well briefed."
Cue to photographer. Meanwhile, Ive started packing our bags to move to Australia.
Kenny Chesney was good; Bush clearly likes to boogie to country music; he was bipping and bopping in his chair. Other cabinet members who I wont name looked more like Easter Island statues during the set.
P.S. One reason The Age of Reagan tended to escape wider notice (outside of NLT and the Ashbrook Center that is) is that it arrived in bookstores on September 10, 2001, and was, needless to say, overtaken by events, though it did receive good print reviews. Volume 2, on the Reagan presidency itself, is taking me forever to get done for a variety of reasons, but for those of you who keep e-mailing, it is on the way!
Kenny Chesney was GOOD?
I KNOW you have better taste than that!
Chesney might have done a Randy Rogers turn, though. Check him out if youre so inclined:
https://www.randyrogersband.com/index.php
Best thing to come out of Texas... prolly since that band we dragged you to see years ago!
Well sure, Chesney is not my style, but you really dont expect to see Reckless Kelly or moe. or Umhpreys McGee at the White House, do you?
Great story, Steve. (So did Howard buy both copies, is there another Hayward fan in Oz?)