Book Review: Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency

Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault that Changed a Presidency by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, Henry Hold and Company, New York, 2015.
Here is a book that tells two biographies; that of Ronald Reagan and that of John Hinckley Jr.  It covers more that just the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.  He also explores their lives in general.  Of course President Reagan dominates the pages, from his acting career, to his being introduced to politics as president of the actor's union, and there also being introduced to the fight against communism.  That would be his biggest legacy.  He aced the way for millions of people to enjoy freedom, from the spark that started when he was an actor.
Reagan failed in his first attempt to win the Republican nomination.  However he won on his second attempt, and would go on to defeat Jimmy Carter in the general election who had defeated President Ford four years prior.  The country made a remarkable turn.  This turn lead to economic growth, and the defeat of communism in Eastern Europe.  However his presidency would have controversy with the Iran-Contra scandal.
President Reagan would eventually succumb to Alzheimer's.  It appears this even effected his memory during the latter part of his presidency.  He retired to his ranch in California.  What effect his fun-shot wound would have on his later health can only be the topic of speculation.
This was a very enjoyable read. 

What Did Reagan Know of Iran-Contra

Unsolved Mysteries of American History, by Paul Aron, Barnes and Noble, New York, 1997.

What Did Reagan Know of Iran-Contra.  The bottom line is President Reagan was blamed for setting an atmosphere where Iran-Contra took place, but not with actually knowing about any specific plans.  Congress had passed laws forbidding the financing of the Contra Rebels in Nicaragua.  Reagan looked to them as fighters against Communism.  He wanted funding to continue, but did not give any specifics, and his hands were tied by congress.  Lawrence Walsh was appointed the independent counsel.  The resulted in criminal charges against fourteen people.  These were crimes like taking an illegal gratuity, withholding evidence etc.  By the end, Wash’s investigation looked much like a witch hunt, as he tried to go after the Secretaries of Defense and State, Casper Weinberger and George Schultz.  President Reagan said he simply could not remember much about the negotiations with Iran to sell arms, to fund the Contras.  Perhaps this was the early stages of Alzheimer’s.