Table Of ContentREAGAN'S
WAR STORIES
REAGAN'S
WAR STORIES
A Cold War Presidency
Benjamin Grififin
NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
© 2022 by the U.S. Naval Institute
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Griffin, Benjamin, 1984- author.
Title: Reagan's war stories : a Cold War presidency / Benjamin Griffin.
Other titles: Cold War presidency
Description: Annapolis, Maryland : Naval Institute Press, [2022] | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022010007 (print) | LCCN 2022010008 (ebook) | ISBN
9781682477786 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781682477793 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Reagan, Ronald--Books and reading. | Reagan,
Ronald--Political and social views. | Politics and literature--United
States--History--20th century. | Politics and culture--United
States--History--20th century. | Rhetoric--Political aspects--United
States--History--20th century. | National security--United
States--Decision making--History--20th century. | United States--Foreign
relations--1981-1989. | Cold War in popular culture--United States. |
BISAC: HISTORY / United States / 20th Century | BIOGRAPHY &
AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Political
Classification: LCC E877.2 .G75 2022 (print) | LCC E877.2 (ebook) | DDC
973.927092 [B]--dc23/eng/20220518
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022010007
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022010008
Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).
Printed in the United States of America.
30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First printing
For Amibeth, Natalie, and Patrick.
Thank you for your love and patience.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: Storyteller in Chief 1
1 Raised on Mars: Reagan and the Power of Narrative 13
2 Friendly Witness: Politics, Belief, and Narrative 37
3 Cowboy Values: Donning a Gray Hat 57
4 Up from the Depths: The Means and the Will 80
5 Techno-Thriller Rising: How to Win the War 107
6 Pebbles from Space: SDI, Cultural Division, and Strategic Success 143
Conclusion Into the Sunset: Illusions of Clean Endings 166
Notes 179
Bibliography 207
Index 217
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I started research for this book in the summer of 1996. It began when my
father handed a book-hungry twelve-year-old a hardback copy of The Hunt
for Red October. I inhaled it and the rest of Clancy’s books, introducing me
to techno-thrillers and spy novels. While I certainly did not think about them
in an academic way at the time, I am very glad to have lucked into a project that
allowed me to categorize rereading them as “research.”
While I was studying at the University of Texas, the faculty and my fel-
low students were incredible. Dr. Jeremi Suri, Dr. William Inboden, Dr. Mark
Lawrence, Dr. H. W. Brands, and Dr. James Graham Wilson served as my dis-
sertation committee and generously provided their expertise and guidance as
the project grew from a vague idea about how fiction shapes thought to this
book. Dr. Susan Colbourn, Dr. Carl Forsberg, Dr. James Martin, Dr. Simon
Miles, and Dr. Emily Whalen all were excellent sounding boards and provided
feedback and encouragement throughout. I am also very fortunate that I arrived
in Austin in 2013, when the Clements Center for National Security opened on
campus. It graciously funded research trips, helped arrange many of the inter-
views I conducted for the project, and have continued to support me long after
I left the Forty Acres.
I taught in the History Department of the U.S. Academy from 2015 to
2018, and my superiors and colleagues there made this book immeasurably
better. Brig. Gen. Ty Seidule, Col. Gail Yoshitani, and Col. Sean Sculley men-
tored me, making me become a better historian and officer. Dr. Stephanie
Hinnezshitz twice ran “writing months” when I was stuck, kick-starting both
the dissertation and book. Dr. Amanda Boczar helped me to frame my argu-
ments better and tipped me off to a number of good sources and opportunities.
Lt. Col. Rory McGovern, Maj. Greg Hope, Maj. Mike Kiser, and Maj. Dave
Krueger are all excellent friends who listened to me talk endlessly about the
ix
x ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
project over drinks and games. Also, the Omar Bradley Foundation graciously
provided a research grant. I am eagerly looking forward to returning to the
department soon to work with such outstanding people again. Teaching some
of America’s finest young men and women is an absolute privilege, and I am
grateful to have the opportunity to do so once more.
Glenn Griffith did an incredible job guiding me through the process of pub-
lishing this book. Ashley Baird, Pel Boyer, Robin Noonan, Jacqline Barnes, Jack
Russell, Susan Corrado, and Adam Kane of the Naval Institute Press helped
shape the book in innumerable ways. I am grateful for their time, expertise, and
patience. I would also like to thank the peer reviewers, Dr. Stephen Randolph
and one who remains anonymous, whose feedback on multiple drafts made this
a much better book.
Most importantly, this book would not be possible without the support of
my family. My wife, Amibeth Griffin, is an incredible woman and mother who
not only showed remarkable patience with me as the project consumed nights
and weekends, but also encouraged me throughout. Her love and support make
me better. Our children, Natalie and Patrick, are joys, and I am proud of the
people they are becoming. I am lucky to have all three in my life.
