Excluding Ronald Reagan’s immediate family, no one knew the former President better than Michael Deaver. Through his thirty years as an aide, adviser, and friend to Reagan, Deaver had, in his own words, a “front-row seat” to history. From that seat, he saw an actor-turned politician navigate the rocky California political landscape, take on a sitting American president in a risky showdown for the Republican nomination, and negotiate with Soviet leaders to bring an end to the Cold War.

In A Different Drummer, Deaver, who passed away in August after a bout with cancer, fondly recalls his time with Reagan while downplaying his contribution to Reagan’s many successes. “All I did,” Deaver claimed, “was light him well.” Maybe so. But along the way, Deaver extensively observed Reagan in public and in private. The uncommon loyalty that he demonstrated uniquely qualified him to write this detailed account, providing a revealing glimpse into Reagan’s political and personal dimensions.

Revealing the Real Reagan
Deaver took it upon himself to publish a book about Reagan in light of the inability of some biographies—specifically, Edmund Morris’ Dutch—to fully comprehend Reagan. Dutch relied on research rather than real-life experience, and the book included some fictional accounts. The product left those who knew Reagan feeling as if the story of the real Reagan remained untold.

Compelled to share his firsthand memories of Reagan, Deaver took it upon himself to pen a collection of his experiences with his boss and friend. While Deaver’s reverence for Reagan may cloud the objectivity of this account, A Different Drummer remains a notable contribution to the evolving question of Reagan’s legacy—even if the book, as Deaver himself admitted, does not solve “the riddle of Reagan.”

A Bond of Friendship
Deaver’s main responsibilities as an aide involved overseeing Reagan’s schedule and advising on public relations matters. Deaver was also the aide closest to Nancy Reagan, who as First Lady was known to be extremely protective of her husband. In Deaver, Mrs. Reagan found an ally, and the pair bonded over their common interest: “Helping her husband do the best he could and to look good while doing it.”

Through his extensive travel with the Reagans, Deaver became a member of the family. This did not, however, keep Deaver from occasionally questioning Reagan. When Reagan sided with Bob Jones University in a case before the Supreme Court, Deaver insisted that some African-American members of Reagan’s staff tell Reagan how people in black churches were reacting. One staffer reported to Reagan that people were calling Reagan “the Devil and the snake.” The reaction of humiliation and hurt that Reagan saw from his own staffers led him to reverse his decision. Deaver’s sensitivity to Reagan’s decision-making process allowed him to influence Reagan, but he always did so with respect for his boss and with an abiding sense of loyalty.

Observing History
The book contains juicy details only Deaver could provide: Reagan’s preferences for lighting and seating during speaking engagements, the types of cocktails that he drank, and the methods that he used to maintain his trademark glow—without makeup—during his most important speeches. More substantively, Deaver tells readers what made Reagan tick, why he was a successful boss, and how he overcame his critics. One cannot read the book without coming away with a renewed appreciation for Reagan’s ability to connect with everyday Americans.

Anecdotes range from the humorous (Deaver using the Heimlich Maneuver Reagan taught him to save the then-governor from an airplane peanut) to the heartfelt (Reagan’s visit with Mother Theresa and her inspiring message to the president) to the harrowing (the uncertainty following the attempt on Reagan’s life in March of 1981).

A Question of Purpose
The fundamental argument of A Different Drummer is aimed where previous biographies such as Dutch had failed—at the core of Reagan himself. Deaver speculated that Reagan was so difficult to understand because he was driven by an internal purpose that only he could sense. Yet that purpose guided Reagan as he made his way through history. Fortunately for us, Deaver, driven by a sense of personal loyalty that is rare in Washington, was at his side all the while to record the journey.¨ ]]>