Revolution

A former White House economistpresidential assistant for policy developmentAnderson helped to develop supply-side theory or ""Reaganomics.'' Relating many behind-the-scenes anecdotes, his self-congratulatory, relentlessly upbeat reminiscence credits the Reagan administration with bringing about ``the greatest economic expansion in history'' and praises the President for ushering in ``the largest increases in social welfare spending in any country in history.'' Asserting that the likelihood of an accidental nuclear war escalates with each passing day, Anderson pursues the theory that a missile-defense system can prevent Armageddon. He interprets the Iran-contra affair as ``a clash of good ideas and bad ideas,'' with Reagan betrayed by his advisers. He exaggerates the extent to which China has adopted capitalistic measures. This facile rewriting of history has a hollow ring. (May)