"The problem for conservatives is that their distance from the new America has made many in their ranks sour about America itself -- not the abstract idea of the America they celebrate but the actual, living America of the early twenty-first century. This, in turn, has created a deep pessimism in a movement that reached its high point in the glow of Ronal Reagan's radiant optimism. As an electoral matter, angry pessimism rarely triumphs. As a disposition for governing, it will neither unite nor inspire."

This quote nicely sums up the E.J. Dionne Jr.'s main point and the books central thesis. Eisenhower looms large over these chapters, both as an example of what Republicans once were and as a comparison to what they have become.

This book was written before the 2020 election, before the insurrection, before a good chunk of the Republican party stopped playing patty-cake with fascism and embraced it wholeheartedly. If anything, Why the Right Went Wrong is bittersweet, as it illustrates the many moments Republicans could have turned away from this path and embraced Eisenhower's approach -- one where he recognized the popularity and importance of the New Deal but also balanced the budget. ( )

This is a great survey of conservative politics from the time of Goldwater. Unfortunately, the book was published before Trump was actually elected so Trump only receives a minor mention. That said, the book is great for understanding today's political environment. ( )