Bill O'Reilly's "Killing Reagan" dismantled by scholars who have written 19 books on the former president
Not that demolishing works of purported history with 2 1/2 page long bibliographies is that difficult, mind you
Check out this article! https://www.salon.com/2015/10/16/bill_oreillys_killing_reagan_dismantled_by_scholars_who_have_written_19_books_on_the_former_president/
Scott Eric Kaufman
October 16, 2015 9:54PM (UTC)
Shockingly, Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's new book, "Killing Reagan," is about as well-researched as an undergraduate essay written by a lackluster performer with his nose pressed firmly against a deadline.
According to four scholars consulted by the Washington Post -- who have, between them, written 19 books on the former president -- O'Reilly's latest "killing" is a source-bereft mockery of an historical account, with a two-and-a-half page long bibliography comprised of "long-questionable works."
According to these scholars, O'Reilly's book peddles in characterizations of Reagan "as the doodling old fool who spent too much time sleeping at Cabinet meetings and watching old movies," which recent scholarship has "put to rest." It also discusses, at length, Reagan's early promiscuity, which despite O'Reilly's assurance consisted of "double-sourced" accounts that are "all in the back of the book," are neither double-sourced nor in the back of the book.
"The book itself does not make the source clear," the scholars wrote. "This kind of shocking material must be clearly sourced."
Watch a video outlining these errors below via the Washington Post.
Scott Eric Kaufman is an assistant editor at Salon. He taught at a university, but then thought better of it. Follow him at @scottekaufman or email him at skaufman@salon.com.
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