Images of Greatness: An Intimate Look at the Presidency of Ronald Reagan by Pete Souza

Images of Greatness: An Intimate Look at the Presidency of Ronald Reagan


by Pete Souza


I remember when President Reagan was giving his farewells to the staff of the White House. He commented about how he had never been alone while there. He stated,

I keep remembering all those magazine photo essays of past presidents. There's always that one shot of the president standing in the Oval Office, silhouetted against the window. He's always alone, and the picture is always taken from behind. And the caption invariably quotes the president as saying that this is the loneliest job in the world or some such thing. Well, I never felt that way. I enjoyed it. I haven't been lonely one minute.

Indeed, this is one of the sacrifices of public service—the public. It is hard to imagine what life as such a public figure would be. It is tempting for us to say, “Well, it is just me” and fail to realize there were at least 54 million other people who voted for President Reagan in 1988. It is hard to fathom just how invasive the life of the President must be from the press, staff, secret service and the public. 

This is a coffee-table style book full of rich photographs by the official White House Photographer, Pete Souza. It contains images that many of us will readily remember from the times when Reagan was President plus some others we may not have seen. Included is forward by Howard Baker who served as Reagan’s chief of staff. It is interesting to note that Baker said he had wanted to be either President (he lost to Reagan in 1980) or the White House Photographer. 

Pete Souza was able to capture several key moments during Reagan’s presidency due to his virtually unlimited access. Plus, the book contains his commentary from his perspective of the events relating to the photographs. Souza, who was not exactly a Reagan supporter, provided insight into Reagan’s utmost respect for the Presidency. He recorded: 

Most executives, I suspect, shed their suit coat as soon as they get to the office every morning. President Reagan never took his suit coat off in the Oval Office. I asked him about it one, and he said he thought to do so would show disrespect to the office of the presidency. (Page 1)

It is a beautiful book suitable for any admirer of the 40th President of the United States. Ronald Reagan was so thankful for being allowed to serve as our President—a man of humility.