Sagebrush Rebel: Reagan’s Battle with Environmental Extremists and Why It Matters Today

Sagebrush Rebel tells the story of how Ronald Reagan fought the new wave of anti-human environmentalists and managed to enact laws that protected nature while promoting the prosperity and freedom of man. William Perry Pendley draws on historical records and personal experience to document Reagan’s approach to environmental policy.

Pendley argues that Reagan’s environmental legacy has been distorted by critics who portray him as hostile to conservation, when in fact Reagan pursued a balanced approach that recognized both the need to protect natural resources and the importance of economic growth and individual liberty. The book connects Reagan’s environmental battles to contemporary debates about land use, energy policy, and the proper role of government.