Martin Anderson: Adviser to Ronald Reagan who wrote extensively on the former US president's legacy

He served Reagan as assistant for policy development and was a major contributor to his economic and missile-defence plans

Anderson: 'Loyal men like him come along very rarely in one's life,' said Nancy Reagan (AP)

Martin Anderson was a leading domestic policy adviser to President Ronald Reagan and the author of several books about his life and legacy. He combined an academic and writing career with work in the political campaigns and presidential administrations of several Republican presidents, including Reagan, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George HW Bush.

In 1967 he began advising Nixon, then a presidential candidate, on domestic policy and especially on ending conscription and moving to an all-volunteer armed force. He grew close to Reagan and in 1980 became senior policy adviser during his first presidential campaign. He served Reagan as assistant for policy development and was a major contributor to his economic and missile-defence plans.

An economist and policy analyst, with his wife Annelise he wrote several books about the former president's legacy and life, many of them including Reagan's own writings. He also wrote on military conscription, welfare reform, economic policy and university education.

"Not only was he one of the founding members of the Board of Trustees for Ronnie's presidential library, but along with his wife, Annelise, he has authored some of the best books that have been written on the Reagan presidency," Nancy Reagan said. "Loyal men like Martin Anderson come along very rarely in one's life." He co-edited several collections of Reagan's writings, including Reagan, In His Own Hand and Reagan: A Life in Letters. His final book co-written with his wife, and titled Ronald Reagan: Decisions of Greatness will be published next month.

Martin Anderson, economist and political adviser: born Lowell, Massachusetts 5 August 1936; married 1965 Annelise Graebner; died Portola Valley, California 5 January 2015.