The Reagan Diaries: Presidential Journals of Ronald Reagan

Content and notable themes

The diaries cover a range of subjects, from routine staff briefings to pivotal Cold War moments. Readers will find material related to relations with the Soviet Union, the Iran–Contra affair, and landmark events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall. Entries mix operational detail—schedules, phone calls and meetings—with short personal remarks and occasional wry asides. Although written during the 1980s, the diaries do not themselves contain later developments such as Reagan’s public announcement about Alzheimer’s disease in the 1990s; that diagnosis came after his presidency.

Publication and editorial history

Douglas Brinkley edited a widely read published edition that made these journals accessible to general readers. That edited edition attracted strong public interest and commercial success. Later publications presented fuller or less redacted material and generated discussion about editorial choices, context and how much to annotate private presidential writings for public consumption.

Reception and significance

Critics and scholars have used the diaries as a primary source for understanding Reagan’s temperament, decision-making style and daily priorities. Journalists and historians alike have pointed to entries that illuminate negotiations with foreign leaders, the internal handling of controversies, and the ways a president recorded events for himself. Some readers prize the diaries for their candid tone; others debate the limits of what edited volumes reveal about private thought.

Where the originals are kept

The physical diaries and related materials are preserved in the Reagan archival collection and parts of the original volumes are on view at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. For further study, researchers consult published editions or contact repository staff to learn about access policies and holdings. For background on Reagan the man and the presidency, see sources on Ronald Reagan and collections about the modern American presidency.

Quick reference

• Subject: personal presidential journals written 1981–1989.
• Editor of popular edition: Douglas Brinkley (edited publication and later fuller releases are noted in bibliographies).
• Topics frequently addressed: Cold War diplomacy, domestic politics, crises and daily White House life.
• Related topics and further reading: Soviet relations, Iran–Contra, the Berlin Wall, and post-presidency health matters such as Alzheimer’s.