A History of the American People

Johnson brings to light the moral dilemma that arose when the American ideals of equality and liberty came in conflict with the economic and social pragmatism of slavery. A moral dilemma that has influenced American ideological, political, social and intellectual history since the country was founded and continues to this day, from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement up to the present banal multiculturalism.

He also rightly points out that attempts to restrict mans freedom through higher tax rates reduce productivity and progress. The increasing government involvement in the economy during FDRs administration probably weakened the economy and extended the Depression. The economy was recovering on its own at the time FDR took office. Johnson points out that the debilitating effects of FDRs interference with the economy remained with us until Reagan reinvigorated not only the economy but also the Ameritech spirit, which unfortunately again is under siege with Clintons administration.

Unlike most modern writers of history textbooks, Johnson gives credit where credit is due to Ronald Reagan for ending the cold war and for demonstrating to the world the inherent bankruptcy of communism and socialism and their handmaiden egalitarianism. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American history without the current politically correct revisionism that permeates most modern treatments of this subject.

But starting with the late 19th Century, the book begins to lose its edge, and at times it seems that even the author is bored. But more than that, he loses his historians sense of balance of major personalities as we enter the 20th Century. Whereas, for instance, Johnson intriguingly explores the brilliance and shortcomings of Jefferson, building a complete picture of the man, we are treated to only half of the picture by the time we reach the 20th Centurys presidents. The only democrat who is spared is Truman, and rightly so. I certainly agree that Kennedy was far less the man than the one painted in our popular culture, but Johnsons attacks on Kennedy for expanding US involvement in Vietnam leaves Eisenhower (who initiated US involvement) curiously uncriticized.

Conversely, Nixon is treated as almost saintly. True, we should give credit to his geostrategic vision, but a reasoned analysis of his pushing the envelope of presidential authority would have been of more use to the reader. To this end, an important thread not wholly explored but culminating in Nixons unprecedented use of presidential authority, is an exposition on why power in the 20th Century was being increasingly abrogated by congress into the Presidents hands.

Instead, for example, we are told that the Reagan Administration was morally no worse than any other administration in circumventing the Constitution in pursuit of covert foreign activity. There is much to praise Reagan for, yet Johnson spends far more time describing Reagans sense of humor than on taking him to task for letting the deficit explode during his tenure, or explaining his role in Iran Contra.

Bush is treated with near derision for not marching into Baghdad (even though his Arab allies threatened to break up the coalition if he did so, a point not mentioned by Johnson). Yet little is said of Bushs management of his administrations reaction to the collapse of the Soviet empire and talk of the expansion of NATO. Bill Clinton is derided for being a sleaze almost as surely as Kennedy was. True, but even with little to show for his foreign policy record even now, Clintons support of an expanded role for NATO, his support for Most Favored Nation Status for China, or his signing of NAFTA, is not mentioned at all. Ultimately, my feeling is that if, say, NAFTA were signed into law by a Republican, Johnson would have spent as many pages on that momentous event as he did on Reagans joketelling.

The narrative moves seemlessly from one important influence and time period to the next, challenging myths and legends of the founders and foundations of the American Republic and debunking current myths about recent political leaders.

Americas uniqe culture and history and important place on the world stage is shown to be a result of the special culture of individual responsibliity and moral and religious underpinnings.

This book has driven me to buy and read the rest of Mr. Johnsons works.

If you buy one book on American history, is should be this one.