In Reagan’s 1968 Dress Rehearsal, Dr. Gene Kopelson examines Ronald Reagan’s first quest for the Presidency in the late 1960s. Reagan’s goal at the time was to prevent a Nixon first-ballot victory. Kopelson reveals the brand new history that behind the scenes, Reagan had a hidden mentor on domestic politics and on world affairs – former President Dwight Eisenhower. Reagan’s public political foe at the time was Robert F. Kennedy. Kopelson's analysis relies on – and his talk will feature – newly uncovered audiotapes from candidate Reagan's days as Governor of California, the Eisenhower-Reagan correspondence and files, Ike's post-presidential diary, and interviews with 35 grassroots Reagan activists from 1968.

During 1968, Reagan emerged as a world statesman and shaped his crusade to restore pride in America. Many of the major triumphs of Reagan's subsequent tenure as President originated during that first campaign – tearing down the Berlin Wall, lessening nuclear weapons, the peaceful defeat of communism, creating a missile defense shield for America, bringing freedom to Eastern Europe, and dealing with hostage crises. Kopelson demonstrates why for Reagan, Ike's tutelage was critical.