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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Thanks to the publisher, Henry Holt, for providing a free copy of the book. Thanks also to The History Book Club group for arranging the giveaway and for providing a forum for discussion.
In the past I have read plenty of books about Nixon but it has been several years since I tackled this man and his place in history. There is new information coming out here and there but did I really need to know anymore? Well, I discovered that it's never a bad idea to refresh your memory about events. Time seemed to have softened my view but this book brought everything back in to sharp focus.
He didn't come by the name Tricky Dick by accident. From the very beginning when he was back door dealing to undermine the 1968 peace talks;
It appears Mr Nixon will be elected as the next president, and he thinks it would be good to try to solve the important question of the politcal talks with the next president.-President Thieu
"This is treason," said the president of the United States. "They're contacing a foreign power in the middle of a war."
the secret bombings of Cambodia;
Nixon had asked his ranking generals, spies, and diplomats at that very first National Security Council meeting, "What is the most effective way to bring the war to a conclusion?" No one at the table had any new ideas-except Kissinger. He proposed immense, prolonged and unprecedented attacks by B-52 bombers against North Vietnam's encampments in Cambodia. The planning began immediately.
After three weeks in office, Nixon had decided to do more, much more. But it would best be done in secret. He would henceforth work harder to keep his war plans hidden. Dissent would be suppressed by deception.
to the Watergate break-in and the coverup to follow;
Mitchell signed off on the Watergate break-in Key Biscayne; I think we all reluctantly signed off. None of us were interested in it at the Committee; we were pushed, first by Colson, then by Haldeman. We were continually told that the president wanted it done.-Jeb Magruder
The president, providing guidance, said, "Give them a lot of gobble-de-gook, that's all. Then let them squeal."
There is not much in the way of background biographical information on Nixon, this book deals primarily with the time right before his election up through the resignation. But it is a concise picture of that period and would be well worth your time, for readers new to Nixon or those, like me, who have been around the block a few times.
8/10
In the past I have read plenty of books about Nixon but it has been several years since I tackled this man and his place in history. There is new information coming out here and there but did I really need to know anymore? Well, I discovered that it's never a bad idea to refresh your memory about events. Time seemed to have softened my view but this book brought everything back in to sharp focus.
He didn't come by the name Tricky Dick by accident. From the very beginning when he was back door dealing to undermine the 1968 peace talks;
It appears Mr Nixon will be elected as the next president, and he thinks it would be good to try to solve the important question of the politcal talks with the next president.-President Thieu
"This is treason," said the president of the United States. "They're contacing a foreign power in the middle of a war."
the secret bombings of Cambodia;
Nixon had asked his ranking generals, spies, and diplomats at that very first National Security Council meeting, "What is the most effective way to bring the war to a conclusion?" No one at the table had any new ideas-except Kissinger. He proposed immense, prolonged and unprecedented attacks by B-52 bombers against North Vietnam's encampments in Cambodia. The planning began immediately.
After three weeks in office, Nixon had decided to do more, much more. But it would best be done in secret. He would henceforth work harder to keep his war plans hidden. Dissent would be suppressed by deception.
to the Watergate break-in and the coverup to follow;
Mitchell signed off on the Watergate break-in Key Biscayne; I think we all reluctantly signed off. None of us were interested in it at the Committee; we were pushed, first by Colson, then by Haldeman. We were continually told that the president wanted it done.-Jeb Magruder
The president, providing guidance, said, "Give them a lot of gobble-de-gook, that's all. Then let them squeal."
There is not much in the way of background biographical information on Nixon, this book deals primarily with the time right before his election up through the resignation. But it is a concise picture of that period and would be well worth your time, for readers new to Nixon or those, like me, who have been around the block a few times.
8/10
I know I’m dating myself, but I was born while Richard Nixon was president. Going forward, Richard Nixon was someone who was rarely discussed, particularly in light of the Watergate scandal. Most of the bits and pieces of information that I heard about him were negative. With the declassification of government information relating to Nixon’s presidency in the last few years, several related titles have been published in recent months, I figured that it was a good time for me to learn more about this controversial figure in United States history.
While Weiner does give a brief outline Nixon’s political career up to his presidency, he puts most of the focus on Nixon’s time in the White House, specifically detailing his handling of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. Weiner expresses very little sympathy for Nixon, painting him as a power-hungry control freak who was willing to resort to illegal activities to ensure his election to a second term as President. He does an excellent job documenting the flawed thought process that would ultimately lead to Nixon’s downfall as president and ultimate loss of respect by the American people for both him personally and the office of the President. I highly recommend this read.
While Weiner does give a brief outline Nixon’s political career up to his presidency, he puts most of the focus on Nixon’s time in the White House, specifically detailing his handling of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. Weiner expresses very little sympathy for Nixon, painting him as a power-hungry control freak who was willing to resort to illegal activities to ensure his election to a second term as President. He does an excellent job documenting the flawed thought process that would ultimately lead to Nixon’s downfall as president and ultimate loss of respect by the American people for both him personally and the office of the President. I highly recommend this read.
"Let's bomb the hell out of them." I needed this inside-a-paranoid-president's head view of the early 70s at war with everything.