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Like FDR or JFK, Ronald\xa0Reagan\xa0has become more of a symbol for many Americans than a flesh and blood person. For some he\u2019s the embodiment of all that\u2019s good in America, while for others he's the very opposite. But beyond the political divides, who was\xa0Reagan, the man?\n\nMy guest today spent five years researching and writing an epic, non-partisan biography that seeks to bring the abstraction of\xa0Reagan\xa0back down to earth. His name is Bob Spitz and his biography is\xa0Reagan: An American Journey.\xa0\n\nWe begin our conversation discussing how\xa0Reagan\u2019s hardscrabble childhood in the Midwest and his family\u2019s staunch progressive politics influenced his early political outlook. Bob then shares how a young Ronald\xa0Reagan\xa0showed signs of becoming "the Great Communicator" as a young man and how his charm and innate talent for speaking led to a successful career in radio and the movies.\xa0\n\nWe then discuss why\xa0Reagan\xa0went from being a true believing Democratic New Dealer to being a leader in the burgeoning conservative movement in the 1960s. Bob delves into\xa0Reagan\u2019s leadership style as governor of California and President of the United States and the important role Nancy\xa0Reagan\xa0played throughout his political career.\xa0\n\nWe end our conversation discussing\xa0Reagan\u2019s ultimate legacy.\n\nGet the show notes at aom.is/ronaldreagan.