Richard M. Nixon

The American Presidents #37

by Elizabeth Drew, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (Editor)

The complex man at the center of America's most self-destructive presidency

In this provocative and revelatory assessment of the only president ever forced out of office, the legendary Washington journalist Elizabeth Drew explains how Richard M. Nixon's troubled inner life offers the key to understanding his presidency. She shows how Nixon was surprisingly indecisive on domestic issues and often wasn't interested in them. Turning to international affairs, she reveals the inner workings of Nixon's complex relationship with Henry Kissinger, and their mutual rivalry and distrust. The Watergate scandal that ended his presidency was at once an overreach of executive power and the inevitable result of his paranoia and passion for vengeance.

Even Nixon's post-presidential rehabilitation was motivated by a consuming desire for respectability, and he succeeded through his remarkable resilience. Through this book we finally understand this complicated man. While giving him credit for his achievements, Drew questions whether such a man―beleaguered, suspicious, and motivated by resentment and paranoia―was fit to hold America's highest office, and raises large doubts that he was.

Genres: History, Presidents, Biography, Nonfiction, Politics, Us Presidents, American History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2007

Reviews

[robin friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What If Someone Loved Him?

At the outset of her short biography of Richard Nixon (1913 -- 1994), Elizabeth Drew quotes Henry Kissinger's comment: "Can you imagine what this man would be like if someone loved him"? Nixon served as the 37th President of the United States and as the only president who resigned from office following his efforts, and the efforts of those close to him, to obstruct justice in the wake of Watergate. As the reviews on this site show, Nixon still inspires strong passions, predominantly negative, in many people. And these negative views were undoubtledly earned by Nixon's actions which threatened the rule of law of our political system.

I was alive during almost the entirety of Nixon's political career and able to remember most of it, including the 1960 election and Nixon's presidency. I have always found Nixon an enigmatic figure, and in my younger days admired him more than I should have. Elizabeth Drew's short biography, "Richard M. Nixon" (2007) written for the American President's series is unsparing in its criticism of Nixon. Yet Drew shows some sympathy for her subject and some appreciation of his strengths. Her book was not easy to read, with its reminders of our recent American past and with the appeal Nixon at one time had for me; but I found it rewarding as well as troubling. Drew has, on the whole, tried to present a balanced picture of Richard Nixon.

Drew portrays a Nixon who is introspective and a loner -- he is intelligent, highly driven to succeed, and resilient. The Nixon of her portrait is also an extremely ruthless vindictive and unprincipled paranoid, who drinks to excess, is merciless towards his perceived enemies and opponents, and viciously antisemitic. Drew shows that these aspects of Nixon were inextricably intertwined and operated to doom his presidency.

Drew traces Nixon's complex psychological make up to his days as a child in California growing up in a loveless, poor home with few friends. Nixon became a loner and a fighter -- qualities he was able to recognize in himself. The traits that would doom his presidency -- the corruption and the no-holds-barred dirty campaigning, were evident in his first campaign for Congress in 1946, in his Senate campaign of 1950, and in his activities in securing a place on the Republican presidential ticket in 1952. Many of Nixon's advisers from his early political years found a place in his presidency.

During his presidency, Nixon had a modestly progressive domestic program, for which Drew may not give him enough credit, including substantial environmental reforms, increased aid for the poor, the end of the draft, an activist approach to the problems of Native Americans, and other matters. Nixon was, Drew points out, the last progressive Republican president, although much of this may have resulted from his relative lack of interest in domestic affairs. In foreign affairs, Nixon established detente with the Soviet Union and broached an opening with China -- large accomplishments which Drew justly praises. Nixon had many other foreign policy setbacks, and he protracted the United States involvement in Vietnam which -- together with Watergate -- became the defining aspects of America for an entire generation. Drew briefly but powerfully describes the Watergate story which led to Nixon's disgrace and to his resignation from office to avoid impeachment. It was an extraordinarily difficult time for our country.

There was a quality of grit and fight in Richard Nixon which was a strength as well as the source of his downfall. Thus Nixon was able to surmount any number of setbacks which could have ended his career -- his 1952 "Checkers" speech, the loss of the presidency to Kennedy in 1960, the loss of the California governorship in 1962, and the resignation from the presidency itself. Following his resignation, Nixon attempted to rehabilitate himself in a series of books, speeches, and interviews, and soirees in an attempt to portray himself as an "elder statesman". In part, he succeeded. Nixon was also able to transform his early background of poverty and to use it in terms that resonated with many Americans -- paradoxically in Nixon's criticism of elitism and of those more fortunate than himself whom, he believed, stood in his way. In the turbulent times of the late 1960s, during his presidential campaign, Nixon's slogan was "bring us together." Unfortunately, he was unable to use the gifts he possessed in a constructive way but instead pursued a course that led to a devaluation of our political life and to his own self-destruction.

Elizabeth Drew's book is a good introduction to a tortured man and to his presidency.

Robin Friedman

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! The greed and corruption of the Nixon presidency should stand as a glaring example to the current one. But alas it doesn't. History has taught us if you do not remember the past you're condemned to repeat it. Which is exactly what is happening now. SMH.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Well documented...Hundreds of endnotes document the author's sources.

Nixon fascinates me. Whenever I think about this guy, I wonder:

- How did Nixon develop into the type of person that he became?

- How did this guy, who was never comfortable around people, every get elected President?

- How could a smart guy like Nixon ever get in the middle of Watergate in the first place?

This book addresses the second question in some detail, and covers the third question very well.

The main thing I got out of this book was that the Watergate break-in was just one of many activities that Nixon and his closest advisors at the White House carried out against people he considered his enemies. I was always generally aware that Nixon's people carried out other "dirty tricks," but the author goes into detail about those activities, and it's pretty scary. Essentially, if you were an elected Democrat or campaign contributor, Nixon's people were probably coming after you: IRS audits, tapping the phones, reading their mail, planting phony stories. He also had his own Cabinet members and their staff investigated, because he didn't trust anybody. In fact, nobody in this White House seesms to have trusted anyone else working there, either.

The author cites a source for nearly every assertion she makes about these activities (74 notes on sources for the 35 pages of the Watergate chapter alone), so I'm assuming that most of these activities are well documented, even though I wasn't familiar with them. It also appears that many of these were uncovered during the inquiries made by the Independent Counsel and the House committees, being described by the perpetrators themselves during testimony to the committees.

I mention this because I think that there are many people out there who think that Nixon's offenses weren't that serious, or were blown out of proportion by Democrats in Congress or the media, or that even if one accepts that Nixon's Watergate cover-up was serious, it was an isolated incident.

Well, after reading this book, it seems clear to me that Watergate was one incident among many, and I believe that if Watergate had not been the cause of the scandal that brought down Nixon, some other episode probably would have. One of the most amazing things about this story - not just of Watergate but throughout the four chapters devoted to Nixon's Presidency - is how amateurish the people he counted on most in his Administration actually were.

And this amateurishness sets up a lot of very funny scenes, which made the book a lot more fun to read that I had expected.

Really...this book is funny! The Watergate chapter is particularly humorous...the "plumber" guys screwed up a lot of their assignments, but still took pride in what they did and seemed to almost want to boast about it, especially in Congressional testimony (to the point that Nixon's Republican backers in Congress were appalled by how stupid these antics were, as it showed really bad judgment by the President they were defending).

Out of space...two more quick thoughts:

- Though Drew assigns a source to many statements, she didn't seem to consult too many books overall, and much of the chapter on Watergate comes from her own work. Usually, not a good sign, especially with a subject as voluminously written about as this one.

- I would like to hear from anyone (especially Ginnie from Pasadena and Phillip Jennings, hint hint) who lived through this period and can recall what it was like to read about all this in the news each day. The author does a good job on bringing up the country's reaction to the news of many of these events, but as I didn't live through this period I don't know how accurate she is.

Lots more I wanted to include...bottom line, this is a good starting point for learning about Nixon. I recommend this book, and I think the general reader will enjoy the story and find many parts amusing.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, and it taught me a lot about Nixon. Had a lot of great anecdotes and insights and it was a brief read which as also refreshing. However, Ms. Drew really seemed to hate Mr. Nixon. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he was a good president or anything of the sort, but Ms. Drew really made no effort to look at any sympathetic sides of him at all, so it felt like a big part was missing. Also, when any author disparages someone who naturally doesn't have the chance to fight back, it makes you almost root for them in spite of the author, which is absurdly what I found myself doing here. So thanks for that, Ms. Drew.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to gain a better grip on Nixon. I was too young to really understand what happened during his presidency and what sort of man he was. So, for me, the book is five stars for helping get a pretty firm understanding without piecing it altogether myself. Perhaps it wouldn’t be five stars to someone who more knowledgeable than I am.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard M. Nixon is the thirtieth-sixth book in The American Presidents series – a biographical series chronicling the Presidents of the United States. Elizabeth Drew wrote this particular installment and edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

Richard Milhous Nixon was an American politician who served as the thirty-seventh President of the United States from 1969–1974. A vigorous campaigner for Republican candidates while serving as the nation's thirty-sixth Vice-President from 1953–1961, and as a representative and senator from California, he became the only president to resign from the office due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal.

Nixon's forays into domestic policy matters like welfare and economic reform were eclipsed by his focus on the foreign policy issues he savored. His doggedness produced the twin triumphs of his presidency: the diplomatic openings to the Soviet Union and China. However, he failed to end the war in Vietnam, and his strategic miscues brought about public unrest and sowed the seeds of the Watergate debacle.

Though details of Nixon's personal life are sparse, Drew does a commendable job of conveying his personal quirks, and the chapter on Watergate deftly conveys the angst over White House skullduggery that gripped Washington as the nation began to grasp the enormity of the scandal. Drew's account of Nixon's inglorious departure from public life and his largely successful attempts to reinvent himself, are tinged with both amazement and disdain.

All in all, Richard M. Nixon is a good, albeit concise biography of the thirtieth-seventh President and it is a good continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series of presidential biographies, which I plan to read in the very near future.

[Chris Loveless · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story of Richard Nixon. Growing up he was always trying to be accepted. He felt slighted at times even when desperately trying to be accepted. Went to Whittier college and excelled academically. Got into law then politics and gained valuable experience. Eventually was in Washington DC making a name for himself. Was eisenhowers vice president who did not support him or involve him in much. Ran against Kennedy and lost. First debate he did not take the advice of his advisers and cane across unprepared, dressed badly and looked tired and not well kept. Other debates with Kennedy did better but did not matter. Eventually won the presidency and chose ford as vp. He didn’t like any opposition from anyone. His appointments for various offices were poor but he wanted people who would stand up for him, do what he asked and not ask questions. Vietnam was handled badly, including the protests. A lot of shady stuff he did before watergate and watergate was the icing on the cake. He resigned as opposed to getting impeached. Interestingly he attempted to package up all his documents and all gifts of stuff he received from other leaders but fords team noticed it and stopped it from happening. It was a sad and abrupt end to his presidency for him and his family. Ford pardoned him which might have been the right thing but others paid fines and went to jail. He wrote a lot of books gave advice to other presidents, moved to nyc and was enjoying life with a lot of social gatherings. He would lead various conversations at these parties and came across polished. One thing he did was visit china a bunch and really cultivated that relationship. He made a lot of bad decisions and acted at times immature with all his drinking and backstabbing he did.

[Chase Parsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the "American Presidents" series, writer Elizabeth Drew reveals the personality of Dick "I'm gonna get those bastards" Nixon skillfully in these 150 pages. Nixon's climb to the top of politics from humble beginnings in California was fascinating to read about although it was a shorter part of the book.

The majority of the book is about his presidency. By the end of Nixon's reign, of course, his stock plummets. His two titanic failures were Watergate and the Vietnam War. In essence, the Watergate fiasco, about relentless and illegal spying on his political opponents (including efforts to sic the IRS on them), was a horrible injury to the integrity of the presidency, arguably one that has never healed. The Vietnam War, already a mess when he inherited it, dragged on for longer than it should have, and the promised "peace with honor" never came. Furthermore, although Nixon often gets credit for more moderate/liberal policies, this was partly because of how far to the Left Congress was at the time.

Yet, amazingly, as Drew writes in the last chapter, Nixon's post-presidency reputation massively improved as people increasingly remembered him as an old sage. He teamed with Kissinger to open up China, agreed on anti-nuke (SALT) talks with the Soviets, and was a foreign policy legend. Pretty amazing comeback.

Whatever the case, Nixon was a fighter. He made many mistakes and although I think they outweigh the positives, his career had some value and his legacy is an interesting one to untangle.

[Alex Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure this is the best or worst biography of Richard Nixon. It's not that long. But it is a clear read, although I think perhaps the author didn't like or think much of Richard Nixon. She is not an academic but has written much journalism and books about politics and so on, so perhaps she was contracted to write about Richard Nixon. She certainly wasn't paid by the word! ;)

She paints Nixon as a fairly cautious, cold but also nervous and vain man wanting to win. At some point, he reached a point where he admitted that he took his tactics of winning too far. He was used to being the butt so he fought back, even in sports, and in clubs. He found ways to get elected, to get "on top" and even when he was President he continued those tactics too far. I suppose in way, you could see Donald Trump in this light. But you could also see him as a kind of Andrew Jackson. You could see him as a mafia-boss, a would-be dictator... anyway this isn't about Donald Trump. This is about Nixon. Nixon was nothing if not a fighter. So he fought his way to the top of the country, aligning with the southern conservative dixy-crats and helping to build a more progressive Republican party (like opening the door to China). He lost leadership of that direction with Watergate. So he took his fighting too far. Still, in his retirement he got to play the statemen, criticizing Bill Clinton in the newspaper and visiting foreign leaders. He got to play the wise-old statemen, which he liked.

[Blaine Welgraven · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It has often been said that 'but for' Watergate, Nixon would have been a good, even great, president. Some argue that his achievements in domestic policy, or foreign policy, overshadow the unfortunate denouement of his presidency. Yet aside from the lingering questions about these policies, and however large the achievements were, in this case there is no 'but for.' The events that caused Nixon's downfall commenced as soon as he became president, and came from within his soul."

--Elizabeth Drew, Richard M. Nixon

My introduction to The American Presidents' Series was a good one; Drew displays a remarkable talent for pithy synthetic writing, and Nixon's life provides its own source of tragic fascination.

[Gary Schantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I liked the book, I cannot say the same for liking the author's approach to the subject. I get it, Nixon did things that resulted in him having to resign...but like too many liberals, she writes the book as if we should all be offended for the rest of our lives by Nixon's behavior.

Drew attempts to be impartial but it doesn't really work as she barely mentions his successes such the EPA or ending the Vietnam War. She prefers that people remember the reasons that he resigned over and above any success he had throughout his presidency. For this reason, I gave the book three stars.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nixon is the first president that I can remember since I began the first grade in 1969. With that said I was surprised at how much of especially Watergate that I remembered from my childhood years (for weeks on end it was all that was on the tv!). And, I was pleased at how much that I learned about his five years in office--and previous years--that I did not know.

This is an enjoyable read and an excellent overview of this difficult to know president and challenging days in the life of our nation. I highly recommend this volume--and the whole series, actually--for your reading.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fair to middlin' for this series, I think. It didn't seem to have the coherency of the better books in this series. I got the impression of fact piled upon fact without much explanation. Hence I didn't really have much context in which to place these facts. It did, however, inspire me to read more biography of Nixon.

[Kaleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book as a whole. As I was born in the early '90s I really didn't know much of Nixon's presidency beyond the fact that he resigned and started the EPA. This was a nice brief read on some of the major things that happened as a result of his presidency and a brief look into the man's life. Some of the things that intrigued me the most were his repeated ability to be defeated and come back. Additionally, he just seemed like a guy that was eventually going to do himself in. He seemed to see shadows lurking everywhere. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend if you are looking for a fairly straightforward overview of Richard Nixon's life and presidency.

[Jack Tracy]

If Drew failed to include even one negative criticism of Nixon, you couldn’t prove it. Another entry in the decades-long vilification of the truly flawed President.

[Richard Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and revealing book. Drew did a good job showing the corruption of Nixon. Even with some of the policies that he really enjoyed there was a lot of corruption for example how with the Vietnam War he bypassed advice of the State Department. Some of the things I didn't like about this book is it felt very biased. I am not saying Nixon was a great President or that he was not wrong in Watergate. But the author never made a actual attempt to understand it from Nixon's point of view and I wish she had at least tried to do that. Also at times the book felt very slow. But overall it was still a good read.

[Zach Koenig · Rating 2 out of 5]

This installment is not one of the finest efforts put out by the American Presidents series, for two primary reasons:

1. It is very clear that author Elizabeth Drew has a severe distaste for Nixon. I understand (and appreciate) that everyone has the right to his/her own opinion, but I wish there was SOMETHING in this book that showed Nixon in a favorable light. Was he a bad President? Yes, I think so too. But, there had to be reasons why he was elected not once but twice! Drew never discusses anything like that. Either Nixon was indeed the worst President of all-time, or Drew wrote a very biased book. There is no middle ground.

2. I didn't particularly care for the way this installment was organized. I like a lot of focus on "the man", and Drew doesn't give a whole lot of them. There are some insights here into Nixon's personality, to be sure, but the majority of the book is devoted to administration matters. Those tend to be the type of books in this series that I don't enjoy quite as much. For example, if I wanted loads of detail about Nixon's dealings with "Red China", I would have checked out a book about that very topic. When I read American Presidents series books, I want an overview of the man, a little bit about his past, and the key topics of his time in office.

Overall, then, I was disappointed by this biography of President Richard Nixon. I did glean some useful information about him from the book, but mostly it felt a bit dry and devoid of the type of passion that often defines this series. Almost like the author was trying to prove the thesis "why Nixon was a terrible President" instead of the more traditional "who was President Nixon and what did he do for this country".

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Drew's biography of President Richard M. Nixon is yet one more entry in Arthur Schlesinger, Jr's "The American Presidents" series. One interesting wrinkle. Other volumes in this series have suggested that the incessant critique of certain presidents may have missed other aspects of their work that is not so negative. The works on Warren Harding and Ulysses Grant come to mind. One may well disagree with the authors, but they provide sympathetic--albeit realistic--evaluations of their subjects.

Elizabeth Drew is pretty hard-nosed in her biography of Nixon. The final line is very different than other ill-regarded presidents (Page 151): "[His actions:] leave the historic question of whether this otherwise smart, talented man, but most peculiar and haunted of presidents, was fit to occupy the most powerful office in the nation--and large room for doubt that he was."

The biography begins with an equation of Nixon with a Shakespearean figure (Pages 1-2): ". . .he brought us into his tragedy and made us go through it with him." And the story begins with a childhood that was hard, including a hard to please father and a distant mother. He worked hard, and his native intelligence served him well. But he was himself a remote person, and many of his peers didn't fully understand him. After rather routine military service during World War II, he began his political career soon after war's end. He began with a victory in a House of Representatives race and then for one of California's Senate seats. His campaign style was hard-nosed and brought him the nickname of "Tricky Dick."

Through a series of circumstances, he was named as Ike's Vice-Presidential running mate in 1952. There follows the story of his career as VEEP, his defeat by John Kennedy in 1960, and his subsequent defeat when he ran for governor of California in 1962. His political career seemed over (Nixon himself said in a press conference, when he famously mentioned that [page 18:] ""You don't have Nixon to kick around anymore."). But he began his rise to president shortly thereafter, as he worked tirelessly for the Republican Party and its candidates. In 1968, he was rewarded with the party's nomination and his subsequent election.

Then, his presidency. Drew related his domestic successes and failures, as well as his foreign policy successes and failures. And how his tortured persona affected him (including excessive drinking). There are occasions that I think Drew too harsh. For instance, Nixon may not himself have been serious about his Family Assistance Plan, but this was an innovative effort to attack poverty that still intrigues today. His trip to China and his negotiations with the Soviet Union and the development of the concept of detente were important (whatever one thinks of the wisdom of such decisions, they do represent major achievements). And then, the loss of everything with Watergate. But the road to Watergate was presaged by many other actions. . . .

So, an interesting read of Richard Nixon. Sometimes, I think it quite harsh. On the other hand, history has not redeemed his presidency and he still stands as an example of how personal demons can affect a presidency. A useful biography of Richard Nixon, in short, and one that will provoke reflection of this complex person.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so maybe Nixon was not one of the best liked historical figures of all time. Maybe he had more than his share of personal and ethical flaws. But oh my goodness, was this author slanted! Her intense dislike for Nixon and anyone associated with him was clear on every page. Honestly, her disdain was so strong that I found myself questioning how much was fact and how much was tainted by her opinion.

[Charles Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the biography of choice for 2019. It was alright. Enigmatic character, to some degree admirable but also very awful.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2007, the Political Journalist Elizabeth Drew wrote a political biography of Richard M. Nixon in The American Presidents Series. Drew covered Nixon’s presidency as a political journalist. Similar to other books in The American Presidents series, Drew’s biography of Nixon is short, compelling, and well-researched. Drew’s book is mainly focused on Nixon’s presidency. Nixon’s pre-presidency life is only covered in 17 out of the 151-page book (pages 5-22). Drew’s book has an introduction that introduces themes and the focus of Drew’s biography. The book covers Nixon’s presidential leadership style, Nixon’s domestic policy, Nixon’s foreign policy, the Watergate Scandal, and Nixon’s post-presidency. This book includes a Timeline and selected biblography. I read the book on the Kindle. Drew believes that despite some of the achievements of Nixon’s presidency, such as establishing diplomatic relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China, his personality planted the seeds of the Watergate Scandal from the very beginning of his presidency. Drew writes, "in February 1969, Nixon told his staff that he wanted private political funds to be used to carry out secret White House intelligence operations” (101). Remember that Nixon only became president on January 20, 1969. As mentioned earlier, Drew believes Nixon’s personality undermined Nixon’s presidency (151). I thought Drew’s comment that Nixon was one of the presidents that seemed most like a character from a play by William Shakespeare was insightful (1). On a side note, Steve of the blog, My Journey Through the Best Presidential Biographies has excellent reviews of several of The American Presidents series biographies.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biographer's art is a delicate one, especially when writing about modern, tragic figures. Readers already know how the subject's life turned out, so there can be no narrative tension. Many aspects of the subject's personality and temperament are also well established, and readers may already have unshakeable attitudes about the subject. Rising to these challenges is a tall order. "Richard M. Nixon" by Elizabeth Drew succeeds admirably. It is incisive and fair, and it is so well written it is hard to put down. (I read it in two or three days.) Published in 2007 as part of The American Presidents Series edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., this biography doesn't flinch from Nixon's personal pathologies or moral turbidity, but it does acknowledge his considerable accomplishments in office and his uncanny capacity for reinventing himself, even after resigning the presidency. Drew concludes that Vietnam led inexorably to Watergate, but that Nixon's paranoia was fuel to the flame. "The events that caused Nixon's downfall commenced as soon as he became president, and came from within his soul," she writes. Few persons knew Nixon better than Henry Kissinger, who later remarked: "Can you imagine what this man would have been if someone loved him?" I highly recommend this book, especially for anyone under the age of 50 who lacks direct recollection of Watergate, and especially for anyone who must cope with zealous, malicious, or paranoid leaders.

[Mark Desrosiers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's impossible to be concise about Richard Nixon, but Drew gives it a good shot in under 200 pages. Unfortunately, this book is poorly edited, and Drew seems to be recycling a lot of her past works here. Ye no matter how much she minces him, she still makes you long for this slouching jowly pragmatist, especially when you consider the chipper retard in office now.

Most interesting is her contention that the potential Watergate impeachment -- the fact that the "system worked" for once -- was not inevitable. Apathy, and a pocketed press, could have averted the whole thing. And, in case you were wondering, Watergate was not just a "third-rate burglary", it was a symptom of his thug-and-bug style of governance. He was dangerous, sure, but he was also very bright. Unlike his all-too-impeachable successor number 43.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

In my presidential reading odyssey, this book has to be the most discouraging, frustrating, and unsatisfying one of the lot. I found myself wondering repeatedly, how did such an unprincipled, self-focused, self-serving, unappealing, cold, and ruthless and man make it into the highest office of the land? I found little to admire in his life.

Not only was the subject matter unappealing, but the book itself is written in a jumbled and repetitious way, seems to lack focus, is highly negative (I know it has to be hard to find positives in Nixon's life, but it probably wasn't as bad as the author makes it) -- in short, the author does little to make the journey pleasant or interesting.

Let's just say that I'm glad that this one is done. (So there's your negative review of a negative president - fitting, eh?)

[Jason Chambers · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could only get through half the book, and even that was difficult. The book was so vehemently anti-Nixon that if I cared enough to put the time into it, I'd check and see if Elizabeth Drew was formerly a Humphrey or Kennedy campaign staffer. This is the 2nd I've read in Schlesinger's American President Series - the first was LBJ's. Both books take multiple shots at Bush 43's administration - which is a little out of left field for books about Presidencies from the 60's and early 70's.

I would love to continue using these books as compliments to each of the Presidents memoirs as I read them, but I'm not optimistic that they're worth the time. If you hate Nixon, you'll probably love the book. If you want an objective recording of history, don't waste your time.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone below/before reviewed this as "capturing the essence" of Richard Nixon, and I think that's a great description of this book. How do you write a short biographical sketch of Richard Nixon without dipping a toe into left wing hatchet jobbery - or right wing hagiography? I'm not sure Elizabeth Drew succeeds in keeping her hatchet sheathed, but then I'm not sure it's possible to write about Richard Nixon and not make him sound like at least a little bit of a snake in the grass (apologies to the serpent family). Maybe the "real Richard Nixon" will always allude us, a historical mystery like the Princes in the Tower.

[Timothy McNeil · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I am down on this slim tome, it is because all of the meaningful information appears to be directly lifted from two other books (properly cited, though) while Drew spends most of her own words on denying Nixon any kind of real achievements. This may be fully accurate, but does not feel likely. Nixon goes from being an angry young man to bored Senator to ignored Vice President to crazy guy repeatedly watching Patton over and over again without much development as a person or examination of what he did, save the known embarrassing incidents and bigotry.

There is good information here, but the presentation and depth leave too much to be desired.

[Samuel Lubell]

This was for a book club. There was a debate as to whether this was a hatchet job by a journalist with personal reasons to hate Nixon or if the flaws were a result of the short length of the book. But why would a series of presidential biographies hire a journalist and not a historian, especially for a recent and controversial president? And why such a short book for such a complex man?

[Gary Geiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to give a shout out to The American Presidents biography series. These short books give a good overview of the lives of presidents. They aren't deep but sometimes all you are looking for is an executive summary and something more substantial than an encyclopedia entry. My friend Bob Timmerman reviewed most of these on his blog.

[Alicia Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not like the organization of the book, it made it difficult to understand the timeline of Nixon's presidency. However, I feel like the author was very neutral in his writing as I did not once think that the author had disdain for Nixon until the last two paragraphs, which were very scathing. Bravo to the author for that.