Written primarily by American political scientists and historians, 14 essays reassess the Reagan presidency and its legacy in important areas of national policy, with the exception of an introductory handful that instead concentrate on the development of his political ideas as an ideological system. Chapters cover U.S. relations with the Soviet Union and Europe, taxation, social security, attacks on welfare programs, environmental policy, immigration reform, civil rights, and judicial appointments. The authors generally limit their judgments to assessments of Reagan's effectiveness in advancing a right-wing agenda rather than the larger societal and economic impact of that agenda. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)