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Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan & Nixon
A compelling insider’s account by the trusted adviser and confidante to America’s presidential giants and political legends as he draws the curtains back on his most private moments with Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon during revolutionary changes in our economy, politics, communications, foreign policy, and culture.Ken Khachigian has written the most lucid, most important work about the postwar period. For an inside look at how ugly politics can be--and how noble--you cannot miss this book. I still love Ken after fifty years and you will, too, when you read this jewel of a memoir. —Ben Stein, Economist, law professor, multi Emmy awarded actor, speechwriter for Presidents Nixon and Ford, novelist, and screenwriter This is essential reading for anyone wanting to know how Ronald Reagan shaped his crusading message of economic growth through tax cuts and limited government. Khachigian’s is a fascinating account by one who takes you into the rooms where the decisions were made. —Larry Kudlow, Host of Fox Business Network’s “Kudlow” and Former Director, National Economic Council To understand Nixon and Reagan, the two crucial Presidents and coalition builders of the last third of the 20th century, the insights of Ken Khachigian, the confidant who advised them both, seem indispensable. —Pat Buchanan, White House Aide to Presidents Nixon and Reagan Ken Khachigian is a great conservative and patriot, and his book will give you the inside view of a presidency that will go down in history as one of greatness and strength. —Ed Rollins, Ronald Reagan’s White House Political Director Ken Khachigian offers a riveting account of his thrilling journey through American history at the sides of two monumental Presidents. If you care about where America has been, and where it’s going, this is a must-read! —Monica Crowley, Ph.D., Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, News Analyst and Bestselling Author Ken Khachigian will draw you inside a generation of White House leadership and details how Reagan revived the American economy and lit a prairie fire of patriotism across America. —K.T. McFarland, American political candidate, former government official, and political commentator
496 pages, Hardcover
Published July 23, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 9, 2024
An intriguing view of the Reagan presidency through the lens of his speech writer. It orovides a glimpse of Reagan's thought processes as he worked through his agenda.. as a side note it highlights Richard Nixon's political mind still on display after Watergate.
August 30, 2024
While this book provides some new insights and information about Nixon and his unseen but not unfelt influence on Reagan, the author, a speechwriter for both of them and now approaching 80, is apparently insecure about his place in history some 45 years later. It is insufferably self aggrandizing with Khachigian making every effort to place himself front and center as Mr. Indispensable to both presidents while sniping at others who did not treat him as such, James Baker, David Gegan, and others closer to Reagan and Nixon both. As a work of non fiction, the end notes are of no value since virtually none of the textual matter in quotes is sourced or dated, perhaps because they are so self flattering as to question whether they are fiction or fact. In the end, this is a book about "me, me, me" and is written in the style of a National Enquirer ("here, for the first time revealed...etc.) bomblet.
August 24, 2025
The Essential Chasm Between Character and Power
Ken Khachigian’s Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan & Nixon is far more than a collection of well-polished West Wing anecdotes. It is a profound, if perhaps unintentional, meditation on the nature of power and the men who seek it. By providing an intimate, comparative portrait of two of the twentieth century’s most consequential presidents, Khachigian, a trusted aide to both, has crafted a work that reveals a fundamental truth: a leader’s internal order, his personal character, is the ultimate determinant of his public legacy. The book is not about politics in the shallow sense of policy debates and electoral strategy; it is about the stark contrast between two souls and their respective approaches to the immense burden of the presidency.
The portrait of Richard Nixon is a compelling tragedy. Khachigian presents a man of staggering intellect, strategic brilliance, and an almost unparalleled grasp of global geopolitics. Yet, this formidable mind was shackled to a spirit consumed by resentment and insecurity. The Nixon that emerges from these pages is a man perpetually at war, not with his political opponents, but with himself. His brilliance was yoked to a dark pragmatism that viewed every situation as a transactional problem to be managed, and every person as a tool or an obstacle. Khachigian’s account makes it clear that Watergate was not an aberration but the logical culmination of this worldview—the inevitable eruption of a deeply disordered character. It was the public manifestation of a man who could not conquer his own inner demons and thus sought to conquer those he perceived as his external enemies through any means necessary. His post-presidential quest for relevance reads as a desperate attempt at rehabilitation, a search for esteem that could never quite fill the void left by his own self-inflicted wounds.
In Ronald Reagan, Khachigian presents the antithesis. Where Nixon was complex, conspiratorial, and cynical, Reagan was a man of startling consistency and clarity. The book effectively demolishes the tired caricature of Reagan as a detached actor reading from a script. Instead, we see a leader whose actions flowed directly from a coherent and deeply held set of first principles. His optimism was not a performance but the product of his conviction in the inherent goodness of the American project and the liberty of the individual. Khachigian shows Reagan’s strength was not in his mastery of policy minutiae, but in his unwavering moral vision. He understood that the purpose of government was not to manage the affairs of its citizens but to secure the conditions for them to flourish on their own. This fundamental belief shaped everything from his economic policies to his unyielding stance against the Soviet Union. Reagan governed not from a place of insecurity or a desire to dominate, but from a place of profound confidence in the truths upon which the nation was founded.
Ultimately, Behind Closed Doors is a masterful study in governance as an extension of character. Khachigian, in his understated and loyal prose, demonstrates how the passions that rule a man’s heart invariably come to rule his administration. Nixon’s presidency, for all its foreign policy triumphs, was corroded from within by the same paranoia and suspicion that defined the man himself. Reagan’s presidency, for all its challenges, was animated by the same faith, integrity, and good humor that were the hallmarks of his private persona. The book serves as an essential reminder that political philosophy and policy are secondary. The primary question is one of virtue. Does a leader possess the internal fortitude and moral clarity to wield power justly, or will he be undone by it? Khachigian’s invaluable record provides a clear and sobering answer.
Ken Khachigian’s Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan & Nixon is far more than a collection of well-polished West Wing anecdotes. It is a profound, if perhaps unintentional, meditation on the nature of power and the men who seek it. By providing an intimate, comparative portrait of two of the twentieth century’s most consequential presidents, Khachigian, a trusted aide to both, has crafted a work that reveals a fundamental truth: a leader’s internal order, his personal character, is the ultimate determinant of his public legacy. The book is not about politics in the shallow sense of policy debates and electoral strategy; it is about the stark contrast between two souls and their respective approaches to the immense burden of the presidency.
The portrait of Richard Nixon is a compelling tragedy. Khachigian presents a man of staggering intellect, strategic brilliance, and an almost unparalleled grasp of global geopolitics. Yet, this formidable mind was shackled to a spirit consumed by resentment and insecurity. The Nixon that emerges from these pages is a man perpetually at war, not with his political opponents, but with himself. His brilliance was yoked to a dark pragmatism that viewed every situation as a transactional problem to be managed, and every person as a tool or an obstacle. Khachigian’s account makes it clear that Watergate was not an aberration but the logical culmination of this worldview—the inevitable eruption of a deeply disordered character. It was the public manifestation of a man who could not conquer his own inner demons and thus sought to conquer those he perceived as his external enemies through any means necessary. His post-presidential quest for relevance reads as a desperate attempt at rehabilitation, a search for esteem that could never quite fill the void left by his own self-inflicted wounds.
In Ronald Reagan, Khachigian presents the antithesis. Where Nixon was complex, conspiratorial, and cynical, Reagan was a man of startling consistency and clarity. The book effectively demolishes the tired caricature of Reagan as a detached actor reading from a script. Instead, we see a leader whose actions flowed directly from a coherent and deeply held set of first principles. His optimism was not a performance but the product of his conviction in the inherent goodness of the American project and the liberty of the individual. Khachigian shows Reagan’s strength was not in his mastery of policy minutiae, but in his unwavering moral vision. He understood that the purpose of government was not to manage the affairs of its citizens but to secure the conditions for them to flourish on their own. This fundamental belief shaped everything from his economic policies to his unyielding stance against the Soviet Union. Reagan governed not from a place of insecurity or a desire to dominate, but from a place of profound confidence in the truths upon which the nation was founded.
Ultimately, Behind Closed Doors is a masterful study in governance as an extension of character. Khachigian, in his understated and loyal prose, demonstrates how the passions that rule a man’s heart invariably come to rule his administration. Nixon’s presidency, for all its foreign policy triumphs, was corroded from within by the same paranoia and suspicion that defined the man himself. Reagan’s presidency, for all its challenges, was animated by the same faith, integrity, and good humor that were the hallmarks of his private persona. The book serves as an essential reminder that political philosophy and policy are secondary. The primary question is one of virtue. Does a leader possess the internal fortitude and moral clarity to wield power justly, or will he be undone by it? Khachigian’s invaluable record provides a clear and sobering answer.
February 25, 2025
I rarely listen to audiobooks - I prefer reading. However, I picked this up on audible because I had a big backlog of other things I was reading and I had a long road trip to endure. This is one of the few books I think might be just as good on audio. The narrator of the Audible version has excellent voices for Nixon, Reagan, and even Nancy Reagan...and it adds to the already excellent prose.
The book itself is fantastic. Khachigian gives us something really unique here: a speechwriter's inside look at not one, but two important Republican administrations in the second half of the 20th century. The insights into each administration on its own are worth the price of admission, but Khachigian delivers two substantial bonuses - an understanding of the little known connections between Reagan and Nixon (who were two very different men but more connected than I suspect many realize), and an understanding of the importance of speechwriting in Presidential campaigns and administrations.
In my car listening to this book, at multiple points I found myself cheering out loud. At other points I was laughing out loud. And I wasn't even embarrassed doing it alone in my car.
The only reason I took off a star is that the story can drag just a bit in places. But that's a modest criticism. I could have gone with 5 stars pretty easily here, and I think I'll be coming back to this one in the future.
The book itself is fantastic. Khachigian gives us something really unique here: a speechwriter's inside look at not one, but two important Republican administrations in the second half of the 20th century. The insights into each administration on its own are worth the price of admission, but Khachigian delivers two substantial bonuses - an understanding of the little known connections between Reagan and Nixon (who were two very different men but more connected than I suspect many realize), and an understanding of the importance of speechwriting in Presidential campaigns and administrations.
In my car listening to this book, at multiple points I found myself cheering out loud. At other points I was laughing out loud. And I wasn't even embarrassed doing it alone in my car.
The only reason I took off a star is that the story can drag just a bit in places. But that's a modest criticism. I could have gone with 5 stars pretty easily here, and I think I'll be coming back to this one in the future.
December 3, 2024
Mostly Reagan-era speeches, with a bit of the tail end of Nixon's presidency thrown in as well. Khachigian was the Gipper's main speechwriter, but he didn't work for him full time. Instead he tackled the main speeches (inaugurations, some state of the union, foreign trips, etc.). So the book jumps around a bit.
It's really hard to make speechwriting very interesting on the page. You get a lot of talking points--literally. And those are rarely novel or surprising. Khachigian does try to spice things up with some West Wing interpersonal fireworks, but, again, these are bureaucrats we're talking about here. Nothing should surprise you. Nancy Reagan pops in regularly as well. Now there was a unique figure. Totally supportive of her husband, no matter what--and also not very conservative.
Concerning Nixon, the author was the conduit between the 37th and 40th presidents. Many long memoranda from the previous are included in the appendix. Nixon was clearly a first-class political mastermind. His advice for Reagan is priceless, and reading it alone is probably worth the effort of picking up this book.
I'm glad I read this
It's really hard to make speechwriting very interesting on the page. You get a lot of talking points--literally. And those are rarely novel or surprising. Khachigian does try to spice things up with some West Wing interpersonal fireworks, but, again, these are bureaucrats we're talking about here. Nothing should surprise you. Nancy Reagan pops in regularly as well. Now there was a unique figure. Totally supportive of her husband, no matter what--and also not very conservative.
Concerning Nixon, the author was the conduit between the 37th and 40th presidents. Many long memoranda from the previous are included in the appendix. Nixon was clearly a first-class political mastermind. His advice for Reagan is priceless, and reading it alone is probably worth the effort of picking up this book.
I'm glad I read this
March 10, 2025
This is an outstanding book. It was written by the author without a ghost writer. That fact makes it stand out for its detailed authenticity. Ken Khachigian had unusual access to not one President but two of them. His insight into both Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and their relationship to each other makes this book an impossible book to put down. It enthralls you with so many details and nuances of both men. Then there is also all the stories about the palace intrigue of various staffers in the Reagan Administration as many of the staffers represented different factions within the Republican Party. This is a must read for anyone seeking to learn about this extraordinary period in our history and the two giant figures who led us as it all unfolded. This book deserves five stars.
January 29, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
While the author, Ken Khachigian, does a superb job at relating his time spent as a speech writer, I struggled at times to get through it. While it is an interesting read, I think I could have been better served by reading a Reagan biography. The story covered the Reagan presidency far more than Nixon’s. In addition, the story tended to be one-sided, that being the side of the author.
That being said, it does give the reader an in-depth look at the speech making process and the , at times, heated discussions among the top players in the White House staff. It’s a fast read and I do recommend it for those avid fans of Nixon and Reagan history.
While the author, Ken Khachigian, does a superb job at relating his time spent as a speech writer, I struggled at times to get through it. While it is an interesting read, I think I could have been better served by reading a Reagan biography. The story covered the Reagan presidency far more than Nixon’s. In addition, the story tended to be one-sided, that being the side of the author.
That being said, it does give the reader an in-depth look at the speech making process and the , at times, heated discussions among the top players in the White House staff. It’s a fast read and I do recommend it for those avid fans of Nixon and Reagan history.
December 12, 2024
excellent behind the scenes book on two of the great presidents
Nixon sure has a better look about him now that Watergate and that nonsense has been reassessed and largely forgotten. Reagan still resonates with the conservatives and even Democrats and cannot be denied the fact that America is a better place because of him. Good book. Good behind the scenes views and stories of these two men.
Nixon sure has a better look about him now that Watergate and that nonsense has been reassessed and largely forgotten. Reagan still resonates with the conservatives and even Democrats and cannot be denied the fact that America is a better place because of him. Good book. Good behind the scenes views and stories of these two men.
September 12, 2024
This is a wonderful book. Very readable. Khachigian saw so much, and he understands how to communicate it with the reader. Loved this book.
Read
August 21, 2025Interesting insider's look at the oval office through the eyes of Ronald Regan's speech writer. A good read.
September 16, 2024
A truly fascinating insight into the two very different presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. I very much enjoyed hearing about both president’s views of other presidents and political leaders of their day. I also was fascinated by Richard Nixon’s level of engagement and his shadow advice to Reagan, often through intermediaries like Khachigian. Additionally Khachigian’s closeness and political proximity to Reagan during pivotal moments in his presidency helped to humanize Reagan throughout the book.
As someone who loves presidential biographies, this book is a true gem and I highly recommend it!
As someone who loves presidential biographies, this book is a true gem and I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews