"The American Experience" Reagan: Part I (1998)

Writers:

Adriana Bosch (writer)
Austin Hoyt (writer)

TV Series:

"The American Experience" (1987)

Original Air Date:

23 February 1998 (Season 10, Episode 11)

Genre:

Documentary | History

Plot:

When he left the White House in 1989, Ronald Reagan was one of the most popular presidents of the century...

Plot Keywords:

Ronald Reagan | U.S. President | Politics | Character Name In Title | USA

Cast

David Ogden Stiers	...	Himself / Narrator
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Baker III	...	Himself
Helen Caldicott	...	Herself
Robert Dallek	...	Himself
Nancy Davis	...	Herself (as Nancy Reagan)
Patti Davis	...	Herself
Michael Deaver	...	Himself
Mikhail Gorbachev	...	Himself
Ed Meese	...	Himself
Edmund Morris	...	Himself
Lyn Nofziger	...	Himself
Maureen Reagan	...	Herself
Ron Reagan	...	Himself
Ronald Reagan	...	Himself (archive footage)
Donald Regan	...	Himself
Ed Rollins	...	Himself
George Shultz	...	Himself
Margaret Thatcher	...	Herself
George Will	...	Himself

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Adriana Bosch		writer
Austin Hoyt		writer

Produced by
Adriana Bosch	....	producer
Josh Clark	....	associate producer
Margaret Drain	....	executive producer
Austin Hoyt	....	executive producer
Austin Hoyt	....	producer
Larry LeCain	....	field producer
Bob M. McCausland	....	field producer
Susan Mottau	....	coordinating producer
Chas Norton	....	field producer
Mark Samels	....	senior producer

Original Music by
Michael Bacon

Cinematography by
Terry Hopkins

Film Editing by
Betty Ciccarelli
Bill Lattanzi

Production Design by
Alison Kennedy		(series designer)
Chris Pullman		(series designer)

Makeup Department
Dianne Marcelli	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Trish Cahalan	....	post-production supervisor
Christine Larson	....	unit manager
Tobee Phipps	....	production manager

Sound Department
Glenn E. Berkovitz	....	field audio
Richard Bock	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Cameron	....	field audio
Francis X. Coakley	....	field audio
Doug Dunderdale	....	field audio
John Haptas	....	field audio
Edward B. Jennings	....	field audio
Alfred Livecchi	....	field audio
Mark Mandler	....	field audio
Robert Marts	....	field audio
Scott Szabo	....	field audio
Les Udy	....	field audio
John Zecca	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
David Eubank	....	assistant camera
Mark Gunning	....	camera operator
Terry Hopkins	....	camera operator
Bob Long	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Maureen Barden	....	post-production coordinator
Frank Capria	....	post-production editor
Doug Martin	....	on-line editor
Mark Steele	....	on-line editor
Mark Steele	....	on-line engineer

Music Department
Michael Bacon	....	series theme adaption
Paula Kimper	....	score preparation
Charles Kuskin	....	music theme

Other crew
Prudence Arndt	....	archival researcher
Michael Azevedo	....	interactive media
Johanna Baker	....	publicist
Adriana Bosch	....	series editor
Judy Crichton	....	executive consultant
Jim Deering	....	on-line engineer
Danielle Dell'Olio	....	interactive media
Ramon Fabregas	....	intern
Nancy Farrell	....	project administrator
Barbara Gregson	....	archival researcher
Barbara Gregson	....	film/photo researcher
Lewanne Jones	....	archival researcher
Janice Kambara	....	archival researcher
Caroline Mudge	....	intern
Daphne B. Noyes	....	publicist
Dan Nutu	....	photo restoration
Mahlon Picht	....	archival researcher
Carla Raimer	....	archival researcher
Deborah Richardson	....	archival researcher
Helen R. Russell	....	project administrator
Nina Schreiber	....	intern
Alison Smith	....	archival research director
Vincent J. Straggas	....	on-air promotion
Joseph Tovares	....	series editor
Paul Wilson	....	photo restoration

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Rocky Collins		multiple episodes
Henry Hampton		creator

Produced by
Rocky Collins	....	producer (multiple episodes)

Sound Department
Doug Madick	....	foley artist (multiple episodes)

Production Companies

• WGBH

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1998) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• American Experience
• PBS Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

WGBH

Very good but it does seem to have a slight bias.

Part One of this biography begins with Reagan's youth and ends early in his first term. In between is a brief discussion of his film and television career, his marriages and his political life. Several of Reagan's children (but, oddly, not Michael) and Nancy are interviewed as are many in politics and the media. In addition, various film clips and photos are used as well as narration by David Ogden Stiers.

This is one of the best biographies of Ronald Reagan. Now I am not saying it's perfect. As some have pointed out, it does appear to have a slight bias against him--particularly in the latter portion of Part One. However, considering how unpopular Reagan was with most of the media during his presidency, this isn't really surprising. What is actually surprising is how after the death of Reagan, folks began talking about him very positively and with nostalgia--and many were the same folks who detested him as President. Odd how time often changes perceptions.

By the way, this is NOT a major gripe, but in talking about the decline of Reagan's film career, the film cited two movies. One was "Bedtime for Bonzo". While this is widely regarded as an embarrassing film for Reagan, most people probably haven't seen it. I have seen it several times and actually found it to be silly and very charming--and well worth seeing. If you get a chance, watch it. Whether or not you like Reagan, it is a cute film.