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The Last of the President's Men
Bob Woodward exposes one of the final pieces of the Richard Nixon puzzle in his new book, The Last of the President's Men. Woodward reveals the untold story of Alexander Butterfield, the Nixon aide who disclosed the secret White House taping system that changed history and led to Nixon's resignation. In 46 hours of interviews with Butterfield, supported by thousands of documents, many of them original and not in the presidential archives and libraries, Woodward has uncovered new dimensions of Nixon's secrets, obsessions, and deceptions.
The Last of the President's Men could not be more timely and relevant as voters question: How much do we know about those who are now seeking the presidency in 2016 - what really drives them, how do they really make decisions, who do they surround themselves with, and what are their true political and personal values?
The Last of the President's Men could not be more timely and relevant as voters question: How much do we know about those who are now seeking the presidency in 2016 - what really drives them, how do they really make decisions, who do they surround themselves with, and what are their true political and personal values?
304 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 13, 2015
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About the author
Bob Woodward
107 books3,220 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Robert "Bob" Upshur Woodward is an assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. While an investigative reporter for that newspaper, Woodward, working with fellow reporter Carl Bernstein, helped uncover the Watergate scandal that led to U.S. President Richard Nixon's resignation. Woodward has written 12 best-selling non-fiction books and has twice contributed reporting to efforts that collectively earned the Post and its National Reporting staff a Pulitzer Prize.
Robert "Bob" Upshur Woodward is an assistant managing editor of The Washington Post. While an investigative reporter for that newspaper, Woodward, working with fellow reporter Carl Bernstein, helped uncover the Watergate scandal that led to U.S. President Richard Nixon's resignation. Woodward has written 12 best-selling non-fiction books and has twice contributed reporting to efforts that collectively earned the Post and its National Reporting staff a Pulitzer Prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 397 reviews
October 16, 2015
Still More To Learn About Watergate
It may not be the definitive book about Alexander Butterfield--who, along with John Dean, represents the true, honest patriots in the horrid administration of Richard M. Nixon--but Woodward's latest book is another reminder that, even decades later, there is more to learn about Watergate.
Perhaps the most telling revelation in the book is that Nixon knew early on that the intensive bombing of North Vietnam was not working and did absolutely nothing to end the tragedy of the Vietnam War: except to kill innocent civilians along with soldiers. The verdict, in Nixon's own handwriting, was, "zilch." Given that knowledge, to continue the heaviest bombing strategy in U.S. history is nothing short of criminal, in my view.
But the focus of this book is Butterfield, the man who first publicly revealed Nixon's secret White House recording system. He is shown in vivid detail to be that great rarity among the president's men: an honest man. He was conflicted about the propriety of many of his actions during his service to the administration, but, when the time came to answer direct questions, under oath, about his, admittedly rather minor, knowledge of Nixon and Watergate, he did not hesitate to answer truthfully.
An honest man--and someone to be admired in the quagmire of a troubling time in our history.
It may not be the definitive book about Alexander Butterfield--who, along with John Dean, represents the true, honest patriots in the horrid administration of Richard M. Nixon--but Woodward's latest book is another reminder that, even decades later, there is more to learn about Watergate.
Perhaps the most telling revelation in the book is that Nixon knew early on that the intensive bombing of North Vietnam was not working and did absolutely nothing to end the tragedy of the Vietnam War: except to kill innocent civilians along with soldiers. The verdict, in Nixon's own handwriting, was, "zilch." Given that knowledge, to continue the heaviest bombing strategy in U.S. history is nothing short of criminal, in my view.
But the focus of this book is Butterfield, the man who first publicly revealed Nixon's secret White House recording system. He is shown in vivid detail to be that great rarity among the president's men: an honest man. He was conflicted about the propriety of many of his actions during his service to the administration, but, when the time came to answer direct questions, under oath, about his, admittedly rather minor, knowledge of Nixon and Watergate, he did not hesitate to answer truthfully.
An honest man--and someone to be admired in the quagmire of a troubling time in our history.
August 5, 2018
Alexander P. Butterfield, assistant to H.R. Haldeman, then FAA Commissioner during the Nixon administration, is the fellow who revealed the existence of the White House voice-activated taping system when directly queried by a lawyer representing Republican investigators--the tapes which led eventually to charges of impeachment and the president's resignation. This book, based on extensive interviews and documents retained by Butterfield, tells the story of his years with Nixon, describing his impressions of Nixon's personality ('weird' aptly sums it up) and Nixon's White House.
November 17, 2015
Alexander Butterfield was President Nixon’s White House Aide, who revealed the existence of the secret recording system in the White House when testifying to the Senate Watergate Committee on July 16, 1973.
The book is well written and researched. Woodward is well known as the journalist that broke the Watergate story. Woodward states he interviewed Butterfield for forty hours and also had access to the Butterfield papers and the national archive of Watergate papers. Before becoming a White House Aide Butterfield was a career Air Force officer. He was a college classmate of H. R. Haldeman. Butterfield left his job as an Aide at the end of Nixon’s first term and went to work for the FAA.
The book provides new information and insight into Nixon and it also amplifies existing knowledge. Woodward also adds his own comments and information that he had gathered and published when appropriate in the story. I was most interested in what Butterfield said about Pat Nixon; that she was a “borderline abused” wife, ignored, or treated with chilly distain by Nixon.
I found this book so interesting I finished it in one sitting. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is short, only six hours but is packed with lots of information. Campbell Scott does a good job narrating the book.
The book is well written and researched. Woodward is well known as the journalist that broke the Watergate story. Woodward states he interviewed Butterfield for forty hours and also had access to the Butterfield papers and the national archive of Watergate papers. Before becoming a White House Aide Butterfield was a career Air Force officer. He was a college classmate of H. R. Haldeman. Butterfield left his job as an Aide at the end of Nixon’s first term and went to work for the FAA.
The book provides new information and insight into Nixon and it also amplifies existing knowledge. Woodward also adds his own comments and information that he had gathered and published when appropriate in the story. I was most interested in what Butterfield said about Pat Nixon; that she was a “borderline abused” wife, ignored, or treated with chilly distain by Nixon.
I found this book so interesting I finished it in one sitting. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is short, only six hours but is packed with lots of information. Campbell Scott does a good job narrating the book.
October 22, 2020
Almost fifty years after the events described, the author takes a look back on one of the country's most controversial eras. The subject of the book is Alexander Butterfield and his claim to fame is that he made known the secret taping system installed in the White House during the Nixon administration. Throughout the book, the author relies on first hand interviews to build up the story-line. Well researched, the most intriguing part of this book, for me, was the plethora of documents related to the Nixon years that are organized in the appendix. A very good read.
January 9, 2016
The fascination of Watergate continues for me, even 40-plus years later. Richard Nixon was a truly bizarre man, and his White House secretive and dysfunctional. How an extremely introverted, awkward and vindictive geek like Nixon ever rose to the presidency is one of the great mysteries of our times.
In Bob Woodward's latest book about Watergate, he highlights maybe the most forgotten player in the scandal. Alexander Butterfield, assistant to H.R. Haldeman (Nixon's de-facto Chief of Staff and right-hand man), was the man responsible for the installation and upkeep of Richard Nixon's secret taping system.
The taping system was known only to Nixon and a couple of trusted aides. As the scandal unfolds and begins to engulf the White House, Butterfield, largely an unknown staffer, was called before the Senate Judiciary Committee investigating Watergate. In the course of the questioning Butterfield reveled the existence of the tapes. The result was a firestorm that had huge consequences for the president, and really our country as a whole. The tapes ultimately proved Nixon's complicity in the Watergate cover-up, and launched what could have been a Constitutional crisis.
This book is certainly not as spellbinding as Woodward's (and Bernstein's) All the President's Men, or the sequel The Final Days. But this is an interesting look at a peripheral character who ultimately leads to Nixon's fall. Many new details of the Nixon White House are reveled, including some about the Vietnam War mess, in addition to Watergate.
In Bob Woodward's latest book about Watergate, he highlights maybe the most forgotten player in the scandal. Alexander Butterfield, assistant to H.R. Haldeman (Nixon's de-facto Chief of Staff and right-hand man), was the man responsible for the installation and upkeep of Richard Nixon's secret taping system.
The taping system was known only to Nixon and a couple of trusted aides. As the scandal unfolds and begins to engulf the White House, Butterfield, largely an unknown staffer, was called before the Senate Judiciary Committee investigating Watergate. In the course of the questioning Butterfield reveled the existence of the tapes. The result was a firestorm that had huge consequences for the president, and really our country as a whole. The tapes ultimately proved Nixon's complicity in the Watergate cover-up, and launched what could have been a Constitutional crisis.
This book is certainly not as spellbinding as Woodward's (and Bernstein's) All the President's Men, or the sequel The Final Days. But this is an interesting look at a peripheral character who ultimately leads to Nixon's fall. Many new details of the Nixon White House are reveled, including some about the Vietnam War mess, in addition to Watergate.
November 1, 2015
I am a Nixon junkie, I admit it. I loved the inside scoop from one of the men closest to this disturbed man. The informant (Woodward always has one) is Alexander Butterfield, who was a Haldeman assistant in charge of keeping the little things moving smoothly in the office and keeping Pat Nixon away from her husband. Butterfield had daily contact, up close and personal, yet was not involved in policy-making (read Watergate) meetings. He was finally (due to Woodward's suggestion) called to testify at the Senate Watergate hearings, and in the pre-interviews with the staff lawyers, finally admitted that there was a taping system, voice activated, recording everything in several locations. He describes his feelings about Nixon and about outing him, and they are not coherent. On the one hand, he harbored many resentments and new that this weirdo shouldn't be president; and on the other hand, he respected his hard work and broad vision. He said he wouldn't have done it unless the lawyers asked the right question, but he also felt it should come out. If Nixon was innocent, the tapes would prove it. He ended up sounding like a pure careerist and a bit troubled himself. But Woodward always makes use of the kind of person who is just out of the limelight and maybe looking for little love.
October 31, 2015
Just when you thought there wasn’t anything left to learn about Watergate, Woodward churns out another missive, this one dealing with Alex Butterfield, Nixon’s personal aide who exposed the secret White House taping system. It’s a quick, light read (Woodward has mellowed over the years), offering some new, interesting facts about a dark time in America’s presidential history. Citing numerous examples, Butterfield helps you understand Nixon’s extreme paranoia and deep-seated quest for revenge against his political enemies. If you’re a political junkie, put it on your reading list.
January 24, 2021
“I’ll get those sons of bitches”, Nixon said it so often that it became an office joke, his nickname. And it was that study of revenge that eventually undid him. Alex Butterfield’s motives in telling Senate investigators about the taping system, and blowing the whole thing open, cannot be convincingly unwrapped either. But I do like the fact that it all hung on an adverb: in a summary of Nixon-Dean discussions, used to discredit Dean, the president’s quoted regarding Hunt’s blackmail, “How could it possibly be paid?” A handwritten note would have omitted “possibly”, so it was verbatim. From a tape. Gotcha.
January 3, 2024
I was inspired to read this after learning (from “Enough”) that Cassidy Hutchinson views Alex Butterfield (the subject of this book) as her guiding star in deciding to testify honestly. Woodward does such a thorough job writing history in a clear and engrossing way. Butterfield broke the news that Nixon had a recording system for all conversations he had in the White House. This revelation led to Nixon’s resignation. Reading the details 50 plus years after the fact was quite an experience. I recommend this book.
October 10, 2017
Even though I majored in History, I never really studied more modern history. All I knew about Nixon was of the "I am not a crook" variety of common knowledge.
This book was great. I was enrapt in the story and I definitely am interested in reading further. The similarities between him and Trump is uncanny in certain respects. 4.5/5
This book was great. I was enrapt in the story and I definitely am interested in reading further. The similarities between him and Trump is uncanny in certain respects. 4.5/5
December 24, 2015
Let me start by making a true confession: in my wild, reckless youth I was a Republican, A conservative Republican. I'm not now and I am still doing penance, but I do have that in my past. And because of that, I met Richard Nixon on several occasions and I've always been interested in books on this strange person who dominated so much of politics for so much of my life.
The first time I met Nixon was when I was 15 years old. I went to the opening of a new addition to the Herbert Hoover Presidential library in my home state of Iowa. Both Eisenhower and Nixon were the guests of honor. I stood in the crowd just behind the security line as Eisenhower and Nixon entered the small Hoover family blacksmith shop on the library grounds. I was a bold kid and I slipped under the security rope, walked right past the guards, and into the blacksmith shop. I found myself alone with Eisenhower, Nixon, and their guide for over five minutes.
I am telling you all this because I went up to Nixon and started trying to talk to him. I will never forget how difficult it was for this man to make small talk with a 15 year old kid who happened to be very precocious politically. The next two times I met him--the same. This guy just could not relate to people. But yet....but yet...he was twice elected President of the United States.
Despite any historical revisionism going on, this man was a terrible President who trampled the Constitution, had no respect for civil liberties, and made a habit of lying to the American people. Woodward's book, in telling the story of Alexander Butterfield, gives a fascinating behind the scenes look at Nixon in the White House. And it is a very ugly scene.
Butterfield was one of Nixon's closest aides, one of the few with unlimited access to Nixon. He is also a key figure in bringing Nixon down by revealing the existence of Nixon's secret Oval Office taping system, which Butterfield had installed on Nixon's orders. Woodward's book is a de facto memoir by Butterfield, written with Butterfield's full cooperation and with access to his very complete personal archives.
For me, just one small revelation in the book justifies its entire existence and makes it very relevant to today. Butterfield reveals a secret, never-before released memo from Nixon in which the President concedes that the massive bombing of North Viet Nam,done over four years by his predecessor, Lyndon Johnson, and continued by Nixon for another four years, "had no effect---ZILCH!--on the North Vietnamese." This memo was written by Nixon at the same time that he was reassuring the American people that the bombing campaign was succeeding. This secret memo should give pause to anyone who this that ISIS can be defeated by carpet, saturation bombing.
A fairly short book, invaluable for what you will learn about Nixon and the men around him and the lies they told.
The first time I met Nixon was when I was 15 years old. I went to the opening of a new addition to the Herbert Hoover Presidential library in my home state of Iowa. Both Eisenhower and Nixon were the guests of honor. I stood in the crowd just behind the security line as Eisenhower and Nixon entered the small Hoover family blacksmith shop on the library grounds. I was a bold kid and I slipped under the security rope, walked right past the guards, and into the blacksmith shop. I found myself alone with Eisenhower, Nixon, and their guide for over five minutes.
I am telling you all this because I went up to Nixon and started trying to talk to him. I will never forget how difficult it was for this man to make small talk with a 15 year old kid who happened to be very precocious politically. The next two times I met him--the same. This guy just could not relate to people. But yet....but yet...he was twice elected President of the United States.
Despite any historical revisionism going on, this man was a terrible President who trampled the Constitution, had no respect for civil liberties, and made a habit of lying to the American people. Woodward's book, in telling the story of Alexander Butterfield, gives a fascinating behind the scenes look at Nixon in the White House. And it is a very ugly scene.
Butterfield was one of Nixon's closest aides, one of the few with unlimited access to Nixon. He is also a key figure in bringing Nixon down by revealing the existence of Nixon's secret Oval Office taping system, which Butterfield had installed on Nixon's orders. Woodward's book is a de facto memoir by Butterfield, written with Butterfield's full cooperation and with access to his very complete personal archives.
For me, just one small revelation in the book justifies its entire existence and makes it very relevant to today. Butterfield reveals a secret, never-before released memo from Nixon in which the President concedes that the massive bombing of North Viet Nam,done over four years by his predecessor, Lyndon Johnson, and continued by Nixon for another four years, "had no effect---ZILCH!--on the North Vietnamese." This memo was written by Nixon at the same time that he was reassuring the American people that the bombing campaign was succeeding. This secret memo should give pause to anyone who this that ISIS can be defeated by carpet, saturation bombing.
A fairly short book, invaluable for what you will learn about Nixon and the men around him and the lies they told.
August 4, 2022
A great book at a man largely overlooked in the watergate scandal. His college pal, the legendary HR Haldeman, hired him as his assistant after butterfield saw haldeman on TV and called him up. Nixon at first distrusted him as he did to most newcomers to his inner circle, and was rude to him on occasion. It nearly led to a resignation out of disgust. He might’ve been lost to history except for the fact that he disclosed the existence of Nixon’s taping system. He’s also responsible for having it installed in February 1971 which I didn’t know.
By the time July 1973 rolled around Butterfield had already resigned his white house position to work for the FAA.
He almost wasn’t called before the watergate committee, and when it happened a young low-level staffer asked him a throwaway question, were you aware of any listening devices in the Oval Office? His affirmative answer sent shockwaves through DC. He appearance shortly after before the full committee and question by Senator Fred Thompson made him a mini celebrity for a brief time.
This is the first book I’ve read by Bob Woodward and he does a good job mixing in history and Butterfields otherwise mundane life story. Butterfield wrote but never published a memoir sometime in the nineties.
Guess you isn’t have to worry about the memoir eh Alex, since Woodward essentially wrote a biography of you lolol.
As of August 2022, Butterfield is still with us age 96. And as for haldeman, in a late seventies interview he still referred to Alex on friendly terms.
All’s well that ends well I suppose. 4.5 stars.
By the time July 1973 rolled around Butterfield had already resigned his white house position to work for the FAA.
He almost wasn’t called before the watergate committee, and when it happened a young low-level staffer asked him a throwaway question, were you aware of any listening devices in the Oval Office? His affirmative answer sent shockwaves through DC. He appearance shortly after before the full committee and question by Senator Fred Thompson made him a mini celebrity for a brief time.
This is the first book I’ve read by Bob Woodward and he does a good job mixing in history and Butterfields otherwise mundane life story. Butterfield wrote but never published a memoir sometime in the nineties.
Guess you isn’t have to worry about the memoir eh Alex, since Woodward essentially wrote a biography of you lolol.
As of August 2022, Butterfield is still with us age 96. And as for haldeman, in a late seventies interview he still referred to Alex on friendly terms.
All’s well that ends well I suppose. 4.5 stars.
November 10, 2015
In his latest book, Bob Woodward has added more insight into the Nixon presidency and the Watergate crimes. Alexander Butterfield, the aide who worked right next to Nixon for three years, was instrumental in his downfall when he disclosed the taping system in the White House.
I remember well those days in 1973 when I was a stay-at-home housewife who sat, day after day, enthralled by the trial. Perhaps for me the most fascinating part of this book are the glimpses of what Richard Nixon was really like as Commander-in-Chief and as husband and father.
The appendix contains numerous documents which add depth to this sad moment in history.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads program for my free copy. I'll be sharing it with friends and family.
I remember well those days in 1973 when I was a stay-at-home housewife who sat, day after day, enthralled by the trial. Perhaps for me the most fascinating part of this book are the glimpses of what Richard Nixon was really like as Commander-in-Chief and as husband and father.
The appendix contains numerous documents which add depth to this sad moment in history.
Thanks to Goodreads First Reads program for my free copy. I'll be sharing it with friends and family.
March 12, 2016
I found this book especially interesting because I was at that time the Assistant Director of the Secret Service, responsible for all protective forces. I knew Alex Butterfield, and have a great deal of respect for him. The book is truly revealing about a sitting president, his attitude toward his staff, and it is unfortunate we don't have this type of information prior to someone taking office. I highly recommend this book.
November 15, 2017
While I enjoyed this, there were several issues that I wish had been addressed such as Butterfield's thoughts about the actions of Haldeman and other staffers. I believe the book would only appeal to people who had a real interest in Watergate or the Nixon presidency.
January 10, 2019
Butterfield's role was the outsider turned insider that never felt like or was treated as a true insider. Maybe that's why he had no problem throwing down the most important piece in the Watergate investigation - the fact that there was a recording system in the Oval Office. Butterfield didn't have the loyalty to the Republican party or Nixon specifically, so when asked the right question, he had no qualms about spilling all the knowledge about the tapes.
This is Butterfield's story, starting from his time as the military aide to the US ambassador in Australia wanting to get back to Vietnam to command an USAF wing or to go to the Pentagon/White House as a military advisor. Unfortunately Alexander Haig got the ear of Haldeman first, so Haig was named as military advisor; however, Haldeman had another role for Butterfield to fill and Butterfield accepted the position and retired from the military to be a White House aide, directly working for Haldeman and Nixon. It was Butterfield's task with getting the recording system in place via the CIA IT department.
Butterfield had no love for Nixon then or now. Nixon was an awkward, rude, paranoid, emotionally unstable man-child and was out for vengeance against anyone who ever slighted him. Butterfield's discussion of the Nixon marriage was something new to me, but seems right in line with Nixon's relationship with anyone. Poor Pat Nixon, being married to a guy who had no problem neglecting her/emotionally passive-aggressive on a daily basis. There was only a slight mention of Spiro Agnew and that was when Agnew was banished to the far side of office buildings as per Nixon's direct orders....the relationship between president and vice-president was almost non-existent. Nixon's relationship with Henry Kissinger on the other hand got several (short) chapters. There is also an account of Nixon making an awkward intimate pass on a White House secretary while traveling from Camp David to the White House - it made me cringe that if not directly a MeToo moment, was certainly uncomfortable for all those involved.
After four years, Butterfield wanted out and went to FAA. He was not part of the Watergate break-in or cover-up, but his spilling the recording system secret made him part of the investigation. After all was said and done, Butterfield was shunned by most Republicans, including Gerald Ford, who went looking for a way/reason to boot Butterfield from the FAA.
This was a quick read and a shorter than meets the eye due to an appendix of nothing but White House documents from Butterfield's time. These documents were explained in the text, but don't add anything that the reader couldn't get from the text. The documents do add another 50 pages to the book - that's it. I do think this book is needed in the Watergate library as a rebuttal to the biographies of Haldeman, Kissinger, and Nixon.
This is Butterfield's story, starting from his time as the military aide to the US ambassador in Australia wanting to get back to Vietnam to command an USAF wing or to go to the Pentagon/White House as a military advisor. Unfortunately Alexander Haig got the ear of Haldeman first, so Haig was named as military advisor; however, Haldeman had another role for Butterfield to fill and Butterfield accepted the position and retired from the military to be a White House aide, directly working for Haldeman and Nixon. It was Butterfield's task with getting the recording system in place via the CIA IT department.
Butterfield had no love for Nixon then or now. Nixon was an awkward, rude, paranoid, emotionally unstable man-child and was out for vengeance against anyone who ever slighted him. Butterfield's discussion of the Nixon marriage was something new to me, but seems right in line with Nixon's relationship with anyone. Poor Pat Nixon, being married to a guy who had no problem neglecting her/emotionally passive-aggressive on a daily basis. There was only a slight mention of Spiro Agnew and that was when Agnew was banished to the far side of office buildings as per Nixon's direct orders....the relationship between president and vice-president was almost non-existent. Nixon's relationship with Henry Kissinger on the other hand got several (short) chapters. There is also an account of Nixon making an awkward intimate pass on a White House secretary while traveling from Camp David to the White House - it made me cringe that if not directly a MeToo moment, was certainly uncomfortable for all those involved.
After four years, Butterfield wanted out and went to FAA. He was not part of the Watergate break-in or cover-up, but his spilling the recording system secret made him part of the investigation. After all was said and done, Butterfield was shunned by most Republicans, including Gerald Ford, who went looking for a way/reason to boot Butterfield from the FAA.
This was a quick read and a shorter than meets the eye due to an appendix of nothing but White House documents from Butterfield's time. These documents were explained in the text, but don't add anything that the reader couldn't get from the text. The documents do add another 50 pages to the book - that's it. I do think this book is needed in the Watergate library as a rebuttal to the biographies of Haldeman, Kissinger, and Nixon.
December 28, 2020
I've been interested in Watergate for years, but I only learned of this book's existence this year. It's extremely short. With the appendix of copies of documents and index, it's 291 pages. But the text is only 182 pages. Therefore, if you have any interest in Watergate, you have absolutely no reason to give this one a quick read.
What this book made me realize is that every single person involved in Watergate has their own story about how they came to work in the Nixon Administration and their career. Until I read this, Alexander Butterfield was just a name. He was the one who revealed in his testimony the existence of the taping system in the White House. I never thought of him as a fully formed person with a career and a life -- just the name.
The book is mostly based on Bob Woodward's interviews of Butterfield. What becomes clear is Butterfield's military background, his eagerness to work in the Nixon Administration, and his mixed feelings for Nixon -- both contempt and admiration. Nixon is a complicated figure. He wanted loyalty from those under him, and Butterfield wanted to be loyal. Although Butterfield is unclear on what his motives were, he did not want to lie when he was asked direct questions which could only be answered honestly by revealing the existence of the taping system. It is also clear that Butterfield feels that Nixon got what he deserved, and he feels bad for those who were punished for their loyalty to Nixon. (Egil Krogh is specifically mentioned, and, if you have not, you should read Krogh's book, too. Integrity: Good People, Bad Choices, and Life Lessons from the White House)
This would not be the place to start if you want to learn about Watergate. If you already have a basic understanding of Watergate, then this is worth adding to your to-be-read list. (Krogh's book would also not be the place to start, but should also be placed on your list after you have a basic knowledge of Watergate.)
What this book made me realize is that every single person involved in Watergate has their own story about how they came to work in the Nixon Administration and their career. Until I read this, Alexander Butterfield was just a name. He was the one who revealed in his testimony the existence of the taping system in the White House. I never thought of him as a fully formed person with a career and a life -- just the name.
The book is mostly based on Bob Woodward's interviews of Butterfield. What becomes clear is Butterfield's military background, his eagerness to work in the Nixon Administration, and his mixed feelings for Nixon -- both contempt and admiration. Nixon is a complicated figure. He wanted loyalty from those under him, and Butterfield wanted to be loyal. Although Butterfield is unclear on what his motives were, he did not want to lie when he was asked direct questions which could only be answered honestly by revealing the existence of the taping system. It is also clear that Butterfield feels that Nixon got what he deserved, and he feels bad for those who were punished for their loyalty to Nixon. (Egil Krogh is specifically mentioned, and, if you have not, you should read Krogh's book, too. Integrity: Good People, Bad Choices, and Life Lessons from the White House)
This would not be the place to start if you want to learn about Watergate. If you already have a basic understanding of Watergate, then this is worth adding to your to-be-read list. (Krogh's book would also not be the place to start, but should also be placed on your list after you have a basic knowledge of Watergate.)
October 1, 2018
An interesting account about Alex Butterfield who served as an assistant to President Nixon. During Butterfield's tenure, and under Nixon's orders, he orchestrated the installation of a taping system in the Oval Office. During the Watergate hearings, Butterfield provided testimony that exposed the system and ultimately led to Nixon's resignation. This book was written after extensive interviews with Butterfield and a thorough review of documents that Butterfield brought from the White House when he resigned. Butterfield was a trusted assistant to Nixon and was able to paint a picture of the President seldom seen by the public. It was particularly interesting to read this during the turbulent political times in which we now live.
August 15, 2018
I was -- am -- a Watergate nerd. I followed all of the Congressional and legal events day by day from the opening session of the Ervin Committee through the night Nixon announced his resignation. I knew the names of all the minor players in CREEP. It's fascinating to me that there are still new books being published with revelations from participants that have not as yet been revealed.
Alexander Butterfield is famous as the man who "let slip" the truth that there was a hidden, voice-activated tape recording system in the Oval Office. This is his story. I came away with less respect, but perhaps a little sympathy for him. Good God Almighty, Richard Nixon was an icky, rude, creepy, nasty man whose only goal in life seemed to be getting back at those who had looked down upon him. And "getting back at" might just be Butterfield's motivation for the way Nixon treated him throughout his four years work in the White House.
Alexander Butterfield is famous as the man who "let slip" the truth that there was a hidden, voice-activated tape recording system in the Oval Office. This is his story. I came away with less respect, but perhaps a little sympathy for him. Good God Almighty, Richard Nixon was an icky, rude, creepy, nasty man whose only goal in life seemed to be getting back at those who had looked down upon him. And "getting back at" might just be Butterfield's motivation for the way Nixon treated him throughout his four years work in the White House.
October 18, 2019
I read this book to determine whether Richard Nixon or the present resident of the White House was the worst president that lived during my lifetime. The author shows Alexander Butterfield was human—-a man with flaws who carried out orders some of which bothered him. As far as his career, he would have been much better off had he not gotten with an old colleague, H.R. Halderman, to get a job in the Nixon Administration. If one read All the President’s Men, one should probably read this book. I better understand Nixon, and he could be brilliant and he was clearly very lonely—-surprisingly awkward for a man elected to the presidency.
March 11, 2019
A very interesting book about the man that brought Nixon's taping system to the knowledge of the Watergate committee and inevitably Nixon's down fall.
The story is told with a style only Woodward has been able to tell. This book isn't so much about the tapes themselves but of the man who spoke up and brought the tapes.
If it had no been for Alexander Butterfield history may have been quite different.
The story is told with a style only Woodward has been able to tell. This book isn't so much about the tapes themselves but of the man who spoke up and brought the tapes.
If it had no been for Alexander Butterfield history may have been quite different.
April 9, 2025
Bob Woodward tells the inside story of Alexander Butterfield, the "right hand man" to Nixon Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman. Butterfield, a man of integrity and honor; and, with the desire to right the recent historical wrongs in which he tangentially participated, revealed the existence of the secret White House taping system to Congressional Investigators. This revelation of the existence of the "Watergate Tapes" by Butterfield lead to the discovery of the "smoking gun" evidence which proved Nixon's direct criminal involvement in the Watergate Cover-up.
Cassidy Hutchinson had Alexander Butterfield's exact job in the Trump White House, as the "right hand woman" to Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Hutchinson, a young woman of integrity and honor; and, with the desire to right the recent historical wrongs in which she tangentially participated, revealed to Congressional Investigators that Trump was directly involved in the perpetuation of the "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was stolen, when Trump himself knew it to be a lie -- the exact "Big Lie" -- his cult following believed (hook, line, and sinker).
Oh, and she also testified that the filthy pig Rudy Guiliani groped her at work. Feeling up the young female White House Senior Staff member -- Family Values? WWJD? Jesus would not feel up a young woman in her mid-20s during working hours. Someone tell this to the Evangelical voters who pull the lever for Trump mindlessly. Please.
She further testified that Trump not only instigated the January 6th Insurrection on Capitol Hill, but perpetrated this treasonous insurrection with malice aforethought. Cassidy Hutchinson then testified that Trump's hell bent desire to lead the January 6th Insurrection at the Capitol itself prompted him to grab the steering wheel of the moving (in transit!) Presidential limo and shout at the driver, "Take Me To The Capitol!" The driver blocked Trump from acting on his worst instincts.
In weighing her decision to testify against the President of the United States and her boss, the Chief of Staff, she turned to this book by Bob Woodward, about H.R. Haldeman, Butterfield, and its recitation of the tough ethical and moral dilemma and hard choices faced by Butterfield -- which were the exact same ethical and moral choices faced by Hutchinson -- as she wrestled with a difficult dilemma of her own.
5 Stars.
History repeats itself, and thank goodness Cassidy Hutchinson did her homework, reading about, and then meeting, her Watergate counterpart -- a good guy on the job (in her job) at the White House 50 years ago. Who knew that a young woman, now in her late 20s, would find wisdom and guidance across the decades from such an unlikely, and little known, historical figure, now about in his early 90s? Fascinating!
Cassidy Hutchinson had Alexander Butterfield's exact job in the Trump White House, as the "right hand woman" to Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Hutchinson, a young woman of integrity and honor; and, with the desire to right the recent historical wrongs in which she tangentially participated, revealed to Congressional Investigators that Trump was directly involved in the perpetuation of the "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was stolen, when Trump himself knew it to be a lie -- the exact "Big Lie" -- his cult following believed (hook, line, and sinker).
Oh, and she also testified that the filthy pig Rudy Guiliani groped her at work. Feeling up the young female White House Senior Staff member -- Family Values? WWJD? Jesus would not feel up a young woman in her mid-20s during working hours. Someone tell this to the Evangelical voters who pull the lever for Trump mindlessly. Please.
She further testified that Trump not only instigated the January 6th Insurrection on Capitol Hill, but perpetrated this treasonous insurrection with malice aforethought. Cassidy Hutchinson then testified that Trump's hell bent desire to lead the January 6th Insurrection at the Capitol itself prompted him to grab the steering wheel of the moving (in transit!) Presidential limo and shout at the driver, "Take Me To The Capitol!" The driver blocked Trump from acting on his worst instincts.
In weighing her decision to testify against the President of the United States and her boss, the Chief of Staff, she turned to this book by Bob Woodward, about H.R. Haldeman, Butterfield, and its recitation of the tough ethical and moral dilemma and hard choices faced by Butterfield -- which were the exact same ethical and moral choices faced by Hutchinson -- as she wrestled with a difficult dilemma of her own.
5 Stars.
History repeats itself, and thank goodness Cassidy Hutchinson did her homework, reading about, and then meeting, her Watergate counterpart -- a good guy on the job (in her job) at the White House 50 years ago. Who knew that a young woman, now in her late 20s, would find wisdom and guidance across the decades from such an unlikely, and little known, historical figure, now about in his early 90s? Fascinating!
December 18, 2015
Washington Post reporter (who with Carl Bernstein helped expose the Nixon era Watergate scandal) Bob Woodward's latest book. Investigative reporting of Alexander Butterfield who was the first to divulge the existence of a secret oval office taping system that provided evidence of Nixon's complicity in the Watergate cover-up. This book covered quite a bit I already knew about, but amplified the defects in Nixon's personality, the total loyalty of those working for him, and that most of Nixon's staff thought loyalty encompassed covering up wrongdoing. Alex Butterfield did not come across as a totally sterling character - his goal was not to be of public service, but to see what he could do to advance himself. He left his Navy career to become to become a stand-in for Haldeman as President Nixon's deputy chief of staff in the White House.
The extent of the defects in Nixons's character and personality were of much amazement to me - had heard all detailed previously, but this retelling was chilling and in greater detail - how such a person was elected president with such a following - and how the country survived his leadership - totally amazing. And we're supposed to be the greatest nation in the world! Maybe there's hope yet?
Butterfield has written an unpublished memoir, is now 89, and working on a Master's thesis. A remarkable man in some aspects, but Woodward's chronicle plants the suspicion that there's something amiss in his personality, although perhaps not to the extent of the deficiencies of other Nixon insiders. This book brought to the fore for me the question of how far loyalty to the person who you work for should go. Was amazing that Butterfield was held in disdain for 'blowing the whistle' when he simply was answering a direct question under oath.
This book will be more interesting to those who experienced the 'Watergate' era, and of course to fans of investigative reporter and author Bob Woodward.
The extent of the defects in Nixons's character and personality were of much amazement to me - had heard all detailed previously, but this retelling was chilling and in greater detail - how such a person was elected president with such a following - and how the country survived his leadership - totally amazing. And we're supposed to be the greatest nation in the world! Maybe there's hope yet?
Butterfield has written an unpublished memoir, is now 89, and working on a Master's thesis. A remarkable man in some aspects, but Woodward's chronicle plants the suspicion that there's something amiss in his personality, although perhaps not to the extent of the deficiencies of other Nixon insiders. This book brought to the fore for me the question of how far loyalty to the person who you work for should go. Was amazing that Butterfield was held in disdain for 'blowing the whistle' when he simply was answering a direct question under oath.
This book will be more interesting to those who experienced the 'Watergate' era, and of course to fans of investigative reporter and author Bob Woodward.
October 29, 2015
As a Watergate addict from 'way back, I had to read this book. It's brief and typical of Woodward's approach, a series of 3x5 cards about the Nixon aide, Alex Butterfield, who ran the taping system and eventually revealed its existence to the Congressional committee investigating President Nixon's crimes. It was the tapes that proved his undoing.
I thought the author padded the book with unimportant detail and unnecessary documentation of his interviews and research. It would have been much more worthwhile had we learned more about Butterfield, the man. Perhaps that was impossible; like many of Nixon's men, and they were mostly men, Butterfield comes across as cagey and duplicitous. But to make this essay book-length (and charge a hefty $28), I think the publishers and Woodward have done this worthy project a disservice.
I thought the author padded the book with unimportant detail and unnecessary documentation of his interviews and research. It would have been much more worthwhile had we learned more about Butterfield, the man. Perhaps that was impossible; like many of Nixon's men, and they were mostly men, Butterfield comes across as cagey and duplicitous. But to make this essay book-length (and charge a hefty $28), I think the publishers and Woodward have done this worthy project a disservice.
August 28, 2016
Just when we think that we have heard everything about the Watergate scandal, Bob Woodward publishes another book, this time a brief examination of Alexander Butterfield who left a career in the Air Force to work for Bob Haldeman in the Nixon White House. Butterfield was promoted to Deputy Assistant to the President from 1969 to 1973 and he paints a picture of Nixon as an intelligent but extremely petty and vindictive man. Butterfield was the staffer who oversaw the installation of the secret taping system in the Oval Office and it was Butterfield who revealed the existence of that taping system to the Watergate Committee on national television. The text is augmented by dozens of documents, most of them originials, that Butterfield took with him when he left the White House to become the chairman of the Federal Aviation Administration.
December 3, 2016
Being too young to have lived through Watergate, I didn't realize how little I knew about it with the exception of a few bullet points. In this account we learn about Alex Buttetfield, Nixon's Deputy Chief of Staff, and how his testimony led to the discovery of Nixon's recording system. Butterfield's detailed account of what happened gives a glimpse into Nixon's peculiar personality. After reading this, I definitely will be adding All the President's Men to my to be read pile.
October 20, 2021
Another audiobook from my walks... this is a fairly short book, as Bob Woodward books go, and one I'd not heard about until browsing my Hoopla library.
Alexander Butterfield was a key witness in the Senate's Watergate hearings back in 1973, the year I graduated from high school (!!!), confirming the existence of a White House taping system, recordings from which ultimately led to the downfall of the Nixon administration. (In our current polarized political atmosphere, it's hard to imagine most of the nation glued to their television sets as a president's crimes were uncovered bit by bit. But I digress.)
Butterfield was basically an outsider who, thanks to having known H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief-of-Staff, prior to the 1968 election, was brought on board as his top assistant. He hadn't been overtly political prior to that, and in soliciting for a White House job, thought it would be a good career move.
A great deal of the book deals with Butterfield's personal history, as well as his interactions with Nixon, stories that confirm what many others have written about his odd and oftentimes paranoid behaviour. There are accounts of Nixon's cringe-worthy dealings with women who were assigned to accompany him on trips, whether to Camp David or to the "Western White House," that I'd not heard before. While he had voted for Nixon, he was not the sycophant that one typically finds this close to the president. That said, his revelation of the secret taping system was not without an internal hemming and hawing. He would only reveal its existence if directly asked about it.
There isn't a great deal revealed in the book that I suppose isn't already public knowledge, but because Butterfield absconded with boxes of documents when he left the White House, there is at least one memo that caught Woodward by surprise, one which dealt with Nixon's assessment of the progress in the incessant bombing of Vietnam as "Zilch."
I found the story fascinating probably because Butterfield mostly was not heard from again after his Senate testimony. As noted in this book, he had started but never finished a memoir, and Woodward includes occasional quotes from that. (It's hard to imagine any White House staff person of consequence from the past four years NOT getting a book deal.) So, as he disappeared from the public eye, I had forgotten about him. Also, I guess I'd not known just how close to the Oval Office he was... at the time of the hearings, I wasn't aware that he was the right-hand man of Nixon's right-hand man.
This has tempted me to re-read (or maybe listen to) All The President's Men.
Alexander Butterfield was a key witness in the Senate's Watergate hearings back in 1973, the year I graduated from high school (!!!), confirming the existence of a White House taping system, recordings from which ultimately led to the downfall of the Nixon administration. (In our current polarized political atmosphere, it's hard to imagine most of the nation glued to their television sets as a president's crimes were uncovered bit by bit. But I digress.)
Butterfield was basically an outsider who, thanks to having known H.R. Haldeman, Nixon's Chief-of-Staff, prior to the 1968 election, was brought on board as his top assistant. He hadn't been overtly political prior to that, and in soliciting for a White House job, thought it would be a good career move.
A great deal of the book deals with Butterfield's personal history, as well as his interactions with Nixon, stories that confirm what many others have written about his odd and oftentimes paranoid behaviour. There are accounts of Nixon's cringe-worthy dealings with women who were assigned to accompany him on trips, whether to Camp David or to the "Western White House," that I'd not heard before. While he had voted for Nixon, he was not the sycophant that one typically finds this close to the president. That said, his revelation of the secret taping system was not without an internal hemming and hawing. He would only reveal its existence if directly asked about it.
There isn't a great deal revealed in the book that I suppose isn't already public knowledge, but because Butterfield absconded with boxes of documents when he left the White House, there is at least one memo that caught Woodward by surprise, one which dealt with Nixon's assessment of the progress in the incessant bombing of Vietnam as "Zilch."
I found the story fascinating probably because Butterfield mostly was not heard from again after his Senate testimony. As noted in this book, he had started but never finished a memoir, and Woodward includes occasional quotes from that. (It's hard to imagine any White House staff person of consequence from the past four years NOT getting a book deal.) So, as he disappeared from the public eye, I had forgotten about him. Also, I guess I'd not known just how close to the Oval Office he was... at the time of the hearings, I wasn't aware that he was the right-hand man of Nixon's right-hand man.
This has tempted me to re-read (or maybe listen to) All The President's Men.
September 5, 2025
“… though it reflected the White House atmosphere of ‘All for the cause’. The prevailing sense that the normal rules and restraints did not apply”. There was an expectation that nothing sensitive would get out.”
This was a great account of Alex Butterfield, a key assistant in the Richard Nixon administration and one of the only individuals to know about the wiretapping of the White House Oval Office. The key figure to blow the roof off the watergate scandal and the momentum starting event cause Nixon to resign. The book is told from the perspective of a 2015 interview. His memory is still very sharp and the stories are very clear.
Nixon was a very interesting individual.. “Nixon was controlled by his various neurosis, the deep, deep, deep resentments and hatred’s. He seemed to hate everybody. The resentments festered, and he never mellowed out”.
I enjoyed listening to this book greatly and it was a perfect ‘epilogue’ of sorts to “All The Presidents Men”.
This was a great account of Alex Butterfield, a key assistant in the Richard Nixon administration and one of the only individuals to know about the wiretapping of the White House Oval Office. The key figure to blow the roof off the watergate scandal and the momentum starting event cause Nixon to resign. The book is told from the perspective of a 2015 interview. His memory is still very sharp and the stories are very clear.
Nixon was a very interesting individual.. “Nixon was controlled by his various neurosis, the deep, deep, deep resentments and hatred’s. He seemed to hate everybody. The resentments festered, and he never mellowed out”.
I enjoyed listening to this book greatly and it was a perfect ‘epilogue’ of sorts to “All The Presidents Men”.
May 25, 2018
A startling, biting portrait of Richard Nixon. Could not help mentally contrasting this book with Fire & Fury. F & F suffers from being an "in the moment" history--lightly sourced and without the strength of perspective. This book is deeply and thoroughly sourced with the advantage of decades of perspective. Both books paint portraits of flawed presidencies and flawed men, to be sure, but this one will stand the test of time while F & F is likely to be supplanted by works of stronger scholarship.
January 24, 2018
This was a great piece of insight into the inner-workings of Nixon's White House through the eyes of Alex P. Butterfield. The book follows Butterfield from his first tense days as a deputy aide to being a member of Nixon's trusted inner circle to the fallout of his reveal of the secret Oval Office tapes. I really like the fact that Woodward humanizes Nixon so well. Over the years after Watergate, Nixon became pretty much a caricature of himself, and it was nice to feel like I got a more accurate picture of this intelligent, driven, yet paranoid and complex man.
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