Britain in the early 1970s was decayed, ungovernable and globally irrelevant, done in by the cumulative effect of postwar socialist reforms.
Margaret Thatcher, who came to power as the nation's first female prime minister in 1979, returned Britain to the realm of the great powers. Worshiped, feted, loathed and mocked, she is one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century. And now Thatcher, as interpreted by Meryl Streep, will be coming to a theater near you in the movie "The Iron Lady," which opens this weekend.
But even those most sympathetic to her tend to misunderstand her personality, her governing style and her accomplishments. Let's examine these misconceptions.