Reagan at Reykjavik: Forty-Eight Hours That Ended the Cold War

by Ken Adelman Narrated by Joe Barrett

Overview

The dramatic, first-hand account of the historic 1986 Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Iceland-the definitive weekend that was the key turning point in the Cold War-by President Reagan's arms control director, Ken Adelman.

In October 1986, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met for a forty-eight-hour summit in Reykjavik, Iceland. Planned as a short, inconsequential gathering to outline future talks, the meeting quickly turned to major international issues, including the strategic defense initiative and the possibility of eliminating all nuclear weapons-negotiations that laid the groundwork for the most sweeping arms accord in history the following year.

Scrupulously researched and based on now-declassified information, Reagan at Reykjavik tells the gripping tale of this weekend that changed the world. Filled with illustrative accounts of the private discussions between Reagan and his team, Ken Adelman provides an honest and up-close portrait of President Reagan at one of his finest and most challenging moments.

Reagan at Reykjavik includes 16 pages of black-and-white photos and 11 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

02/17/2014
Adelman (The Defense Revolution), arms control director under President Ronald Reagan, pulls back the curtain on the dramatic weekend in October 1986 when Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev met in Reykjavik, Iceland, to discuss matters at a sort of presummit meeting. In this firsthand account, Adelman draws on the extensive public record of the event to deliver a comprehensive look at the larger-than-life figures, divisive issues, monumental breakthroughs, and frustrating stalemates, which in his opinion led this to be “the weekend that ended the Cold War.” While he’s quick to acknowledge that the initial responses to Reykjavik were mixed, even disappointing, he tracks the aftermath to show how the seeds for the breakup of the Soviet Union and the impetus for mass nuclear disarmament treaties took hold in Reykjavik. There’s no doubt that Adelman was a Reagan man through and through, but he pays due respect to Gorbachev and other noteworthy Soviets such as Field Marshal Sergei Akhromeyev. Adelman’s style is quick, accessible, and occasionally humorous, giving this tale an almost whimsical feel despite its world-changing subject. Whether or not his thesis is true, this is certainly a uniquely close-range look at a Cold War turning point. Agent: Jay Mandel, William Morris Endeavor. (May)

From the Publisher

This is real history and brilliant analysis, a profound book that could only have been written decades after the Reykjavik weekend, which now can be measured by the outcome. With their large humanitarian vision, it is clear that Reagan & Gorbachev helped make the world a much safer place.” — Bob Woodward

“The weekend meeting in Reykjavik between Reagan and Gorbachev in 1986 marked a significant turning point in the Cold War. Adelman, an active participant in the talks and a gifted writer, has provided a thoughtful account of that episode.” — Henry A. Kissinger

“A riveting history of one of the most important moments of the Cold War. Adelman has written a page-turning narrative that leaves us on the edge of our seats.” — Ken Burns

“Reagan at Reykjavik is a lively, important account of an historic weekend. On a barren island nation in the north Atlantic, the two great nuclear adversaries faced reality—and the world was changed.” — Tom Brokaw

“A fascinating, gripping and essential account of the definitive end-game moment of the Cold War, told by someone who had a front-row seat.” — Christopher Buckley

“With wonderful insight and color, Ken Adelman details the great drama of the Cold War’s most surprising summit. This book is deeply important in an era when Reagan’s art of principled negotiation needs reviving.” — Walter Isaacson

“Ken Adelman has written a genuinely fascinating book—vivid and personal, humorous, full of surprising new details. The book’s portrayals are all memorable, but most so when it comes to Ronald Reagan.” — James Fallows

“A knowledgeable, passionately engaged fly on the wall at one of the least heralded, most productive summits of the Cold War era.” — Ted Koppel

James Fallows

Ken Adelman has written a genuinely fascinating book—vivid and personal, humorous, full of surprising new details. The book’s portrayals are all memorable, but most so when it comes to Ronald Reagan.

Henry A. Kissinger

The weekend meeting in Reykjavik between Reagan and Gorbachev in 1986 marked a significant turning point in the Cold War. Adelman, an active participant in the talks and a gifted writer, has provided a thoughtful account of that episode.

Tom Brokaw

Reagan at Reykjavik is a lively, important account of an historic weekend. On a barren island nation in the north Atlantic, the two great nuclear adversaries faced reality—and the world was changed.

Christopher Buckley

A fascinating, gripping and essential account of the definitive end-game moment of the Cold War, told by someone who had a front-row seat.

Bob Woodward

This is real history and brilliant analysis, a profound book that could only have been written decades after the Reykjavik weekend, which now can be measured by the outcome. With their large humanitarian vision, it is clear that Reagan & Gorbachev helped make the world a much safer place.

Ted Koppel

A knowledgeable, passionately engaged fly on the wall at one of the least heralded, most productive summits of the Cold War era.

Walter Isaacson

With wonderful insight and color, Ken Adelman details the great drama of the Cold War’s most surprising summit. This book is deeply important in an era when Reagan’s art of principled negotiation needs reviving.

Ken Burns

A riveting history of one of the most important moments of the Cold War. Adelman has written a page-turning narrative that leaves us on the edge of our seats.

Kirkus Reviews

2014-03-18
Effectively focused, vividly adept portraits of two newsmakers at the pinnacles of their relevance on the world stage. Not only was he present at the Reykjavik summit in October 1986, in the role of director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, Adelman (Shakespeare in Charge: The Bard's Guide to Leading and Succeeding on the Business Stage, 1999, etc.) has taught Shakespeare and knows a thing or two about drama, character and leadership. He is convincing in his argument that the Iceland weekend of arms control maneuvering between the two superpower chiefs—Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, who was perched precariously atop the geriatric Soviet dictatorship and desperate to enact reform—had enormous repercussions, namely the beginning of the dismantling of the Soviet state. Indeed, both leaders sorely needed to score a coup during this one-on-one weekend. The gathering was supposed to be low-key, with few advisers, but Gorbachev brought along more than 300 officials and his educated, elegant wife, Raisa. The Soviet leader badly needed to rein in Soviet spending on nuclear armaments to keep up with the West—e.g., countering Reagan's much vaunted Strategic Defense Initiative—since the Soviet Union, sprawled across satellite minions, was simply broke. Reagan, for his part, emerges in Adelman's heartfelt yet witty portrait as more in touch than his advisers. However, SDI, or "Star Wars," proved the sticking point to an agreement between the two mostly willing partners: Gorbachev was terrified of it, Reagan agreed naively to share it, while the truth was that it didn't even exist. Yet the weekend, involving the warm, open conversing between the two once-icy contingents, would change everyone, "humanize officials" and bring the much-needed Cold War thaw. More personalities than arms arcana, infused by a deep reverence for his man.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173725240
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/06/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged

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