Richard Nixon: Speeches, Writings, Documents

by Richard M. Nixon

The first book to present America's most controversial president in his own words across his entire career, this unique collection of Richard Nixon's most important writings dramatically demonstrates why he has had such a profound impact on American life. This volume gathers everything from schoolboy letters to geostrategic manifestos and Oval Office transcripts to create a fascinating portrait of Nixon, one that is enriched by an extensive introduction in which Rick Perlstein puts forward a major reinterpretation of the thirty-seventh president's rise and fall.


This anthology includes some of the most famous addresses in American history, from Nixon's "Checkers" speech (1952) and "Last Press Conference" (1962), to the "Silent Majority" speech (1969) and White House farewell. These texts are joined by campaign documents--including the infamous "Pink Sheet" from the 1950 Senate race--that give stark evidence of Nixon's slashing political style. Made easily available here for the first time, these writings give new depth to our understanding of Nixon.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Law, Classics

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

About the author

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States from 1969 to 1974. During the Second World War, he served as a Navy lieutenant commander in the Pacific, before being elected to the Congress, and then serving as the 36th Vice President of the United States in the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961. After an unsuccessful presidential run in 1960, Nixon was elected in 1968, and re-elected to a second term in 1972. Under President Nixon, the United States followed a foreign policy marked by détente with the Soviet Union and by the opening of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Nixon successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam, effectively ending the longest war in American history. Domestically, his administration faced resistance to the Vietnam War. In the face of likely impeachment by the United States House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate for the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned. His successor, Gerald Ford, issued a controversial pardon for any federal crimes Nixon may have committed while in office. Nixon is the only person to be elected twice to the office of the presidency and the vice presidency, and is the only president to have resigned the office.

Nixon suffered a stroke on April 18, 1994 and died four days later at the age of 81. ' to 'Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States from 1969 to 1974. During the Second World War, he served as a Navy lieutenant commander in the Pacific, before being elected to the Congress, and then serving as the 36th Vice President of the United States in the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961.

After an unsuccessful presidential run in 1960, Nixon was elected in 1968, and re-elected to a second term in 1972. Under President Nixon, the United States followed a foreign policy marked by détente with the Soviet Union and by the opening of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Nixon successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam, effectively ending the longest war in American history.

Domestically, his administration faced resistance to the Vietnam War. In the face of likely impeachment by the United States House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate for the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned. His successor, Gerald Ford, issued a controversial pardon for any federal crimes Nixon may have committed while in office. Nixon is the only person to be elected twice to the office of the presidency and the vice presidency, and is the only president to have resigned the office. Nixon suffered a stroke on April 18, 1994 and died four days later at the age of 81.

Reviews

[Brumaire Bodbyl-Mast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perlstein here curates a perfect selection of his muse’s quotations, all with very well done context. There may be no better selection given the limitations of length that encapsulates Nixon, his psychological profile and political understandings. It feels more intimate than any biography, and perhaps gives a better understanding of Nixon, with the long introduction and brief bits before each section. We can see the development and recurrence of many of nixon’s faults and the through lines which defined his political career and his general politics. Even in his youth some trends politically remain clear, although most of all he is and ever shall be a cynic who was overly obsessed with peace through war and the insurance of American hegemony. Bookending with two of Nixon’s most defeated moments, the dog letter and the mother is a saint speech also perfectly summarizes him as a person, an overly paranoid, self persecuting and aggrandizing momma’s boy.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gets its 4 stars despite (and certainly not because of) the editor, whose intrusive psychological approach got to be a real drag after a while. I skipped all of those italicized intros as best I could (talk about your Nattering Nabobs)...

[Waleed · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive selection of speeches, writings, and documents that shows what a complicated character Nixon was. Excellent introduction by Rick Perlstein.

[Kacper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read better books than this one. I don't think I'll choose this as a book club selection for the library. Nice try though, Richard Nixon ;-)