From Ronald Reagan to Rodney King

Chronicling America in the "Age of Optimism"

A giant of political journalism, Lou Cannon rose to prominence as state bureau chief for the San Jose Mercury News in the late 1960s, covering then-governor of California Ronald Reagan. In 1972, he became a political reporter for The Washington Post, one of the top newspapers in the United States, where he would remain until 2008. Best known for his coverage of Reagan's presidency, he also notably covered the brutal beating of Rodney King at the hands of the Los Angeles police department in 1991.

From Ronald Reagan to Rodney King recounts Cannon's lengthy career as a newspaperman during a period when newspapers of record were the most important source of current events. He had extraordinary access to top newsmakers, and his work had a rippling impact—influencing other journalists, sparking coverage on television, and appearing in newspapers around the globe. Some of the stories he covered—such as the end of the Cold War—changed the world. His journalistic influence in the latter half of the twentieth century was deep and wide-ranging.

Cannon is the primary source of his stories, but he was a careful reporter then and a careful historian now. He had the benefit of a written record of every story he covered, and he clearly refreshed his memory when necessary to check the facts. Rather than revealing his own opinions or feelings, Cannon narrates straightforward accounts of what he witnessed on the job. From Ronald Reagan to Rodney King will appeal to historians of twentieth-century journalism, the Cold War, Ronald Reagan, race relations, and policing.

Contributor: John Maxwell Hamilton (Series edited by)

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