Plot Synopsis

Directed and executive produced by Matt Tyrnauer, THE REAGANS is a four-part documentary series that explores the many surprisingly unexamined aspects of the Reagan White House, and how Nancy Reagan's paper-doll image was at odds with the power she ultimately wielded throughout her husband's presidency. Featuring never-before-seen material and interviews with the couple's most intimate family and friends including Ronald Reagan Jr., THE REAGANS explores the indelible mark the Reagans left on society, the nation and the world, as well as how their impact resonates in the conservative movement of today. By shining a light on the truths behind the Reagan myth and critically analyzing Ronald Reagan's quest for power, his mode of governing, the ripple effects of his economic policies and the unprecedented role Nancy Reagan played in the White House, the series redefines the Reagans a generation after they stood at the center of the national and global stage. Covering Reagan's rise from movie star to politician and tackling his questionable record on race, the administration's near collapse amid the Iran-Contra scandal, and inaction in the face of the HIV pandemic, THE REAGANS offers an epochal look at a recent past that has much to do with our turbulent present. The four episodes include:

"Part 1: The Hollywood Myth Machine" (Sunday, November 15, 2020): The rise of Ronald Reagan from liberal movie star to an unlikely conservative politician who shocked the nation by capturing the governorship of the largest state. Closely examining American myths and the myth-making so expertly exploited by the Reagans to seize power, episode one also looks at the ruthless rise of the corporate political right, which led Reagan to become an evangelist for small government.

"Part 2: The Right Turn" (Sunday, November 22, 2020): A closer look at Reagan's record on race -- and a re-examination of his history as a law-and-order candidate who effectively used racialist codes as a strategy to win elections. The resonances with today's political landscape and the tactics currently deployed by some in the GOP (and the reaction of the left) are categorical. Nancy starts to come into her own as a political force.

"Part 3: The Great Undoing" (Sunday, November 29, 2020): The triumph of both Reagans is explored as Ronald sets about undoing the New Deal and Great Society, setting off a political chain reaction that reverberates to this day. Nancy struggles with her image, as does Ronald. As they seem to care more about the rich and the military industrial complex than the poor, the fallacy of trickle-down economics is revealed.

"Part 4: In the Stars" (Sunday, December 6, 2020): The Reagans' second term -- and near-collapse of the administration in light of the Iran-Contra scandal -- comes under examination. Nancy's behind-the-scenes machinations reveal her true influence and power: expertly balancing the act of a dutiful wife as Ronald's health declines with her quest to shape the Reagan legacy. The Reagans' tragic inaction in the face of the HIV-AIDS pandemic is assessed with Dr. Anthony Fauci weighing in.