VISIONS OF AMERICA: How We Saw the 1984 Election

by William A. Henry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 26, 1985

The ""we"" of Henry's title? Apparently segments of the media that believe many Americans' personal liking for Ronald Reagan is the same as endorsing his policies. Henry, an editor at Time, adopts a vision of America that focuses on narrow-minded, comfortable, suburban, white males. Thus, in Henry's mind, concern for poor people is a relic of the ""shopworn ideology"" of the New Deal. Women, blacks, Jews, Hispanics, other ethnic groups and labor are ""special interests."" Unemployment is the fault of the unemployed, including ""those who stubbornly continued to live in depressed areas.""Henry's characterizations are stereotyped, even bigoted. ""Coercive"" Jesse Jackson ""was born a bastard."" The District of Columbia is ""overwhelmingly black and accustomed to relying on federal handouts."" Hispanics are members of an ""alien culture."" San Francisco gays live ""openly, sometimes flagrantly."" Little Italy in New York City is ""traditionally the Kremlin or Red Square of the American mafia."" Geraldine Ferraro wears a ""virgin's white"" dress for her acceptance speech at the Democratic convention. Occasionally Henry takes swipes at the media and Reagan, but it seems only for form's sake. Usually he treats Republicans and fellow reporters with kid gloves. Reagan is a ""beloved"" and ""grandfatherly"" leader who at times commits ""gaffes"" but has ""characteristic luck"" in extricating himself from any unpleasantness (the ""Teflon"" effect). As for the media, there is little discussion of the ever-increasing, distorting effect of TV on presidential compaigns. Nor is there much examination of the media's 1984 double standard of timidity toward the Reagan White House and a make-them, break-them attitude toward the Democratic challengers. Henry's main concerns are images and personalities, not people and policies. His theme--that Reagan Republicanism is the standard of the land--has yet to be proved. In sum: a casually mean-spirited book that contributes little.

Pub Date: July 26, 1985

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Atlantic Monthly--dist. by Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1985

Categories: NONFICTION