What do you think?
Rate this book
After the Fall: The Remarkable Comeback of Richard Nixon
A Main Selection of the History Book Club!
The Astonishing Comeback of Richard Nixon
On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first and only U.S. president to resign from office—to avoid almost certain impeachment. Utterly disgraced, he was forced to flee the White House with a small cadre of advisors and family. Richard Nixon was a completely defeated man.
Yet only a decade later, Nixon was a trusted advisor to presidents, dispensing wisdom on campaign strategy and foreign policy, shaping the course of U.S.-Soviet summit meetings, and representing the U.S. at state funerals—the very model of an elder statesman.
How did he do it? Nixon leveraged his still sharp mind, his peerless political instincts, his deep connections with foreign leaders—but, above all, his stubborn refusal to accept defeat—to achieve a political restoration as astonishing as the fall that preceded it.
Kasey S. Pipes, advisor to President George W. Bush, tells the fascinating story of Nixon’s comeback. Using unprecedented access to the private post-presidential documents at the Nixon Library, Pipes reveals inside information that has never been reported about Nixon’s successful campaign to repair his reputation and resuscitate his career,
After the Fall is the gripping and never-before-told story of one of the most remarkable reversals of fortune in American political history.
The Astonishing Comeback of Richard Nixon
On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon became the first and only U.S. president to resign from office—to avoid almost certain impeachment. Utterly disgraced, he was forced to flee the White House with a small cadre of advisors and family. Richard Nixon was a completely defeated man.
Yet only a decade later, Nixon was a trusted advisor to presidents, dispensing wisdom on campaign strategy and foreign policy, shaping the course of U.S.-Soviet summit meetings, and representing the U.S. at state funerals—the very model of an elder statesman.
How did he do it? Nixon leveraged his still sharp mind, his peerless political instincts, his deep connections with foreign leaders—but, above all, his stubborn refusal to accept defeat—to achieve a political restoration as astonishing as the fall that preceded it.
Kasey S. Pipes, advisor to President George W. Bush, tells the fascinating story of Nixon’s comeback. Using unprecedented access to the private post-presidential documents at the Nixon Library, Pipes reveals inside information that has never been reported about Nixon’s successful campaign to repair his reputation and resuscitate his career,
After the Fall is the gripping and never-before-told story of one of the most remarkable reversals of fortune in American political history.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published July 23, 2019
19 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 17, 2020
Nixon makes a resilient, interesting subject, and the author crafts vivid descriptions in the beginning. I could have stood for more of that detail is the book went on, although I understand describing Nixon as thinker and writer is probably a challenge.
June 15, 2023
A telling of the final 20 years of president Nixons life 1974 to 1994. Using documents never before released by the Nixon family, it tells of an improbable road to redemption that surprised everyone.
August 2, 2019
Redemption after a fall from grace, and the best post Watergate account of the man I have read.
April 14, 2019
Amazing book, Its a page turner that delves into the daily struggles of the former Presidents journey to becoming one of America's great statesmen. This an easy read that captures the struggles of public service at the highest level.
August 28, 2019
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Richard Nixon. He was the first president in my awareness of what a president was. He was a Republican, as our family was. And when the whole Watergate thing happened, the root-for-the-underdog in me watched his humiliation with sadness. My mom prompted me to write to him as a child, and I treasured the White House booklet he sent me, complete with a photo of his family.
When I saw that a book had come out about Nixon’s life after Watergate, I was intrigued.
“One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been” — Nixon, quoting Sophocles
“After the Fall” doesn’t get into Watergate at all; it begins with Nixon giving his resignation speech. I hadn’t realized, or at least didn’t remember, that Nixon was seriously sick just months after resigning, and almost died. He had phlebitis in his leg and blood clots related to that. I hadn’t realized, probably because I was so young, that Ford’s pardon of Nixon was so unpopular.
Throughout the book, Nixon’s personality comes through. He was not a friendly, outgoing person, but was an intellectual and an introvert — probably well-suited to presidential duties, but not so well-suited to campaigning and that type of thing. He famously struggled with TV appearances.
He seemed to always have a chip on his shoulder, feeling that others were out to get him. Watergate no doubt fed into this in a big way.
“We’re out now, so they try to stomp us … kick us when we’re down … what starts the process, really, are the laughs and snubs and slights you get when you are a kid … You were a good athlete but I was not and that was the very reason I tried and tried and tried … Now some people we both know think that you go stand in the middle of the bullring and cry, ‘mea culpa, mea culpa’ while the crowd is hissing and booing and spitting on you. But a man doesn’t cry.”
Did Nixon realize the problems that caused Watergate? Definitely, and he summed them up with words similar to what I’ve often thought: “My excesses were never greater than any of my predecessors’. Yet I attempted to protect my closest friends and in the process let my country down.”
This book is written in a very readable way; it doesn’t get bogged down in political details that derail many other similar books, in my opinion. I enjoyed it largely because I lived through the entire period of Nixon’s post-Watergate life, and I found it interesting to read about events that had happened in my own lifetime.
The author tells about Nixon’s strong desire to stay relevant and to keep using his influence in his main interest: foreign policy. Indeed, his successors sought out his advice because he had a lot of wisdom in this area. This was true regardless of the presidents’ parties; Clinton greatly respected Nixon’s advice and gave a eulogy at Nixon’s funeral. Nixon was very frustrated by Jimmy Carter, on the other hand, feeling that the presidency was “too big” for Carter and hating that Carter’s inability to handle various situations was hurting the country.
There were many interesting bits involving politicians helping each other out. Hubert Humphrey, who Nixon beat in 1968, called Nixon after his resignation and was concerned by what he detected as Nixon’s depression. Knowing he was near his own life’s end, Humphrey asked Nixon if he would attend his funeral. Nixon agreed, and this appearance helped begin Nixon’s public rehabilitation.
Nixon’s personality comes through in this book. I was struck by his need to always work hard and overcome obstacles, whether real or just perceived. “Even when you’re down and bleeding … you have to get up and fight back. You can always do it. And when you feel you can’t go on, you must do it.” An interviewer said of him, “Here was an extraordinarily powerful and unorthodox intellect which simply had to exercise itself.”
Nixon did keep advising and traveling throughout his life, taking a diplomatic trip to Russia just two months before he died of a stroke at 81.
Giving a eulogy late in his life, Nixon quoted Winston Churchill: “Success if never final and failure is never fatal.” He lived that out in his own life.
4 stars; would have been 5 except for several typos/editing errors, mainly in the 2nd half.
When I saw that a book had come out about Nixon’s life after Watergate, I was intrigued.
“One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been” — Nixon, quoting Sophocles
“After the Fall” doesn’t get into Watergate at all; it begins with Nixon giving his resignation speech. I hadn’t realized, or at least didn’t remember, that Nixon was seriously sick just months after resigning, and almost died. He had phlebitis in his leg and blood clots related to that. I hadn’t realized, probably because I was so young, that Ford’s pardon of Nixon was so unpopular.
Throughout the book, Nixon’s personality comes through. He was not a friendly, outgoing person, but was an intellectual and an introvert — probably well-suited to presidential duties, but not so well-suited to campaigning and that type of thing. He famously struggled with TV appearances.
He seemed to always have a chip on his shoulder, feeling that others were out to get him. Watergate no doubt fed into this in a big way.
“We’re out now, so they try to stomp us … kick us when we’re down … what starts the process, really, are the laughs and snubs and slights you get when you are a kid … You were a good athlete but I was not and that was the very reason I tried and tried and tried … Now some people we both know think that you go stand in the middle of the bullring and cry, ‘mea culpa, mea culpa’ while the crowd is hissing and booing and spitting on you. But a man doesn’t cry.”
Did Nixon realize the problems that caused Watergate? Definitely, and he summed them up with words similar to what I’ve often thought: “My excesses were never greater than any of my predecessors’. Yet I attempted to protect my closest friends and in the process let my country down.”
This book is written in a very readable way; it doesn’t get bogged down in political details that derail many other similar books, in my opinion. I enjoyed it largely because I lived through the entire period of Nixon’s post-Watergate life, and I found it interesting to read about events that had happened in my own lifetime.
The author tells about Nixon’s strong desire to stay relevant and to keep using his influence in his main interest: foreign policy. Indeed, his successors sought out his advice because he had a lot of wisdom in this area. This was true regardless of the presidents’ parties; Clinton greatly respected Nixon’s advice and gave a eulogy at Nixon’s funeral. Nixon was very frustrated by Jimmy Carter, on the other hand, feeling that the presidency was “too big” for Carter and hating that Carter’s inability to handle various situations was hurting the country.
There were many interesting bits involving politicians helping each other out. Hubert Humphrey, who Nixon beat in 1968, called Nixon after his resignation and was concerned by what he detected as Nixon’s depression. Knowing he was near his own life’s end, Humphrey asked Nixon if he would attend his funeral. Nixon agreed, and this appearance helped begin Nixon’s public rehabilitation.
Nixon’s personality comes through in this book. I was struck by his need to always work hard and overcome obstacles, whether real or just perceived. “Even when you’re down and bleeding … you have to get up and fight back. You can always do it. And when you feel you can’t go on, you must do it.” An interviewer said of him, “Here was an extraordinarily powerful and unorthodox intellect which simply had to exercise itself.”
Nixon did keep advising and traveling throughout his life, taking a diplomatic trip to Russia just two months before he died of a stroke at 81.
Giving a eulogy late in his life, Nixon quoted Winston Churchill: “Success if never final and failure is never fatal.” He lived that out in his own life.
4 stars; would have been 5 except for several typos/editing errors, mainly in the 2nd half.
August 5, 2019
Excellent description of the 20 years of Nixon's life after he resigned. Amazing comeback from humiliation, poor health and crippling financial condition. Became a very respected and valued advisor to Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton with his amazing knowledge of world leaders and strategy. Great description of his close relationship with Clinton and Clinton's praise of Nixon's mind. Forgot that Clinton delivered eulogy at Nixon's funeral.
February 7, 2021
This book is Kasey Pipes’ well done story of Richard Nixon’s final and possibly most important 20 years. In several places, Kasey points out that Nixon should be evaluated not just on the basis of Watergate but on the basis of his life as a whole, including the last 20 years. Even President Bill Clinton said as much in his moving eulogy of former President Nixon. Judged on the whole record, Nixon comes out quite well and Kasey’s book helps to see that even more clearly. He does not advocate a position one way or the other. His book is helpful, however, to see various things in place and in perspective. Some of the stories include the kind relationship between former political opponents George McGovern and also Hubert Humphrey; Nixon at a Burger King; and Stephen Ambrose in the opposition (who knew; maybe who cares). Another thing the book does very well is to explain what RN was aiming to achieve with each of his post presidential books. These insights make Kasey’s book a keeper and a resources. Two things. I wonder why Pat Buchanan didn’t seem to have bigger role in the book. And I wonder why Kasey was not better served by his publishers who allowed at least 4 blunders to make their way into this book. Kasey has a great talent at story telling and it will be fun to see what he has to share with us in the future. Great job. JIM
January 30, 2021
Comprehensive and well written, but a bit fawning.
September 7, 2019
I voted for Richard Nixon in 1972 and regretted it soon afterwards. I find him fascinating, though, and thoroughly enjoyed rehashing his accomplishments since his resignation. Quite a comeback.
August 4, 2019
An enjoyable and insightful book, a part of political history that is little known and needed to be told. Well written, intriguing, and historically significant.
August 3, 2019
Wow! What a book! I had no idea who Nixon really was. The book was very well written and easy to read.
December 13, 2019
In addition to writing my book reviews on my blog, I will afterwards publish copies on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. The difference of course is those copies of my reviews don’t come with pictures and video links. This July I was contacted by Jennifer Duplessie of Regnery Publishing. She had seen my review of Conrad Black's A Life in Full: Richard M. Nixon and wanted to know if I would like to have a new book to review and offered this one to me for free on the condition that I review it. I then googled Regnery Publishing to see what they are all about was and was very amused to learn that they were a right-wing publishing company that produces a lot of conservative- leaning works from Republican Party officials and right-wing commentators. I said I was amused because they clearly had no idea what my politics were. Just because I like someone’s biographical work does not mean I would agree with them on all their political positions or even most of them. But hey, free is free and I might enjoy reading something written by the other side and taking it apart. So I said "yes" and received it in the mail a week later. However I was still slogging through Winston Churchill’s World War II memoirs (reviews on that to follow) so was unable to get to it right away.
I began reading this book two weeks ago, reading a chapter or two a day. I have to say I was really glad I did. It is actually a very good book. It offers a view into a period of the life of President Richard M Nixon that is not often covered. Richard Nixon’s political career and presidency is arguably one of the most studied in the 20th century. The only President of the United States who is forced to resign. The resignation and helicopter trip that the Nixons took after being escorted by his successor President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford is usually the end of the story. The pardon is spoken of but mostly in passing. Traditionally the narrative ends with Nixon waving goodbye. In this book that is where the story begins: a disgraced President beginning to look for his road to redemption.
Pipes ‘s writes with a smooth narrative that is easy to follow and understand. The book is broken down to chapters with the first third dedicated to Nixon crawling back into the public consciousness with a series of carefully placed moves that allows him to slowly convince the American public to give him another try.
Before he would begin his public rehabilitation he would first have to survive. Shortly after his resignation Nixon had a health scare that Pipes’s shows nearly killed him and did causing great financial damage as he had no health insurance at the time. This would add to President Nixon’s financial desperation which would be part of the later motivational fuel to get himself reestablished. Now this particular part of Nixon’s life I had read about before as it was covered in Bob Woodward’s Shadow.
Then we arrive at the Frost/Nixon interview. These were a mixed back for Nixon. It did give him an opportunity to tell his side of the story and it was the first attempt to go public again trying to shape the historical narrative of his presidency. Pipes writes that Nixon was a tad bit ill-prepared for the questions on Watergate. While the Frost/Nixon interviews were being done, Pipes explains Nixon had recently been working on his memoirs and he had just gotten to Watergate. He was now re-exploring those memories going over the materials that led to his downfall. Therefore he was not as well versed in everything that was encompassed by Watergate as Frost was. This leading into his stumbled statement of “when the president does it that means not illegal.”
Despite its flaws in the interview that he gave David Frost the exposure would start Nixon on his trajectory toward recovery. He would go on to write nine books, give more interviews, and become a foreign policy adviser for several administrations, not limited to his own party, up until his death.
James Buchanan, who when he left office in 1861 did so with the country being torn in two, in an effort to redeem himself in the public eye wrote and published his memoirs establishing a precedent that most future former presidents would follow. When Herbert Hoover left office in 1933 with the country in the middle of a severe economic depression, in an effort to redeem his image he would establish the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. He was the first president to do such a thing who would then be followed by all subsequent presidents. Now Nixon forced to resign in 1974 was going to create a new type of post-presidency that would be mimicked by his successors.
“In fact, in the first ten years following Watergate, Nixon had done more than just survive as a former president—he had unknowingly established a template for future ex-presidents to follow. Before Nixon, former presidents in the modern era mostly stayed behind the scenes, Truman had returned to Missouri and Ike split his time between his farm in Gettysburg and Gettysburg and summers in Palm Springs. Neither of them made many public appearances or waded into public issues.
“But Nixon, largely because he wanted to rehabilitate his name—and in any case was never one for retirement—chose a different path. He made money from delivering speeches and writing books. He gave interviews with the media in which he tried to shape public opinion on important national issues. He became something of an elder statesman. The Nixon template is the template used by former presidents to this day.” (p.170)
Pipes describes a former president, who is always thinking of history’s judgment, and is working to make sure that the narrative that its very minimum would give him a fair shake. It was a virtual guarantee that his presidency was to be studied he wanted to make sure that it was going to be studied in all its aspects and he would try to influence this by befriending and is sometimes recruiting historians to take up his cause.
“The former president went out of his way to encourage any historian he didn’t think was a liberal. One of his favorites, a former Dole Senate staffer named Richard Norton Smith, burst onto the scene in the 1980s with a biography on Thomas E. Dewey that became a finalist for the Pulitzer. Nixon would write to Smith and compliment him as an ‘honest historian.’ It’s a telling remark that demonstrates how Nixon viewed the rest of Smith’s colleagues.” (p.179)
Nixon would even go so far not only to recruit a historian by the name of Jonathan Aitken , personally edit his work for him, and then go off and try to pitch the manuscript to various publishers. This was a hard sell because of its clear bias. There was one publisher willing to help him out. Any criticism I do have of this work by Pipes is right here. For this is a little bit of shameless promotion because the publisher of this book, Regnery, is the publisher that would ultimately pick Nixon’s biography written by his chosen biographer. Talk about being part of your own story!
“Nixon had feared that a book favorable to him could not win a contract in New York. So he planned accordingly. Having the book published was more important to Nixon than who published it. He urged Aitken to pitch his book to Regnery, the conservative publishing house in Washington. Aitken did so and found success.” (p. 245)
My favorite part about the book is how Pipes shows Nixon’s relationships with the five presidents who followed him into the White House. Nixon was still underground when Ford was in office; he actively worked to replace Carter; was a semi-formal advisor to Reagan until they broke over arms reduction; was cool to Bush; and surprisingly he was very warm with Clinton. The Clinton one is the most surprising, but in some ways understandable both presidents were students of history and could see past political differences.
The only other thing that I felt was missing from this book was there was no mention of President Nixon acting as the arbitrator to settle a strike of professional umpires union against Major League Baseball. The fact that those in power baseball, which is America's past time, felt that he was the person to turn to help resolve one of their most important issues of the day I think is a major statement about how President Nixon was now viewed by the public.
In the end I do strongly recommend this book is a fascinating study and a new look at one of the 20th century’s most important political figures facing a unique challenge and rising to that challenge with great success. President Nixon’s career is one of peaks and valleys and thanks to his tireless efforts he assured for himself that when he died he did so on top of a peak. Now that I read the book I enjoyed it to the point where I regret that I did not get to it right away as it was given to me by the publisher. However with holidays only weeks away and you are struggling gift idea for that history buff in your life this might be a good one.
I began reading this book two weeks ago, reading a chapter or two a day. I have to say I was really glad I did. It is actually a very good book. It offers a view into a period of the life of President Richard M Nixon that is not often covered. Richard Nixon’s political career and presidency is arguably one of the most studied in the 20th century. The only President of the United States who is forced to resign. The resignation and helicopter trip that the Nixons took after being escorted by his successor President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford is usually the end of the story. The pardon is spoken of but mostly in passing. Traditionally the narrative ends with Nixon waving goodbye. In this book that is where the story begins: a disgraced President beginning to look for his road to redemption.
Pipes ‘s writes with a smooth narrative that is easy to follow and understand. The book is broken down to chapters with the first third dedicated to Nixon crawling back into the public consciousness with a series of carefully placed moves that allows him to slowly convince the American public to give him another try.
Before he would begin his public rehabilitation he would first have to survive. Shortly after his resignation Nixon had a health scare that Pipes’s shows nearly killed him and did causing great financial damage as he had no health insurance at the time. This would add to President Nixon’s financial desperation which would be part of the later motivational fuel to get himself reestablished. Now this particular part of Nixon’s life I had read about before as it was covered in Bob Woodward’s Shadow.
Then we arrive at the Frost/Nixon interview. These were a mixed back for Nixon. It did give him an opportunity to tell his side of the story and it was the first attempt to go public again trying to shape the historical narrative of his presidency. Pipes writes that Nixon was a tad bit ill-prepared for the questions on Watergate. While the Frost/Nixon interviews were being done, Pipes explains Nixon had recently been working on his memoirs and he had just gotten to Watergate. He was now re-exploring those memories going over the materials that led to his downfall. Therefore he was not as well versed in everything that was encompassed by Watergate as Frost was. This leading into his stumbled statement of “when the president does it that means not illegal.”
Despite its flaws in the interview that he gave David Frost the exposure would start Nixon on his trajectory toward recovery. He would go on to write nine books, give more interviews, and become a foreign policy adviser for several administrations, not limited to his own party, up until his death.
James Buchanan, who when he left office in 1861 did so with the country being torn in two, in an effort to redeem himself in the public eye wrote and published his memoirs establishing a precedent that most future former presidents would follow. When Herbert Hoover left office in 1933 with the country in the middle of a severe economic depression, in an effort to redeem his image he would establish the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. He was the first president to do such a thing who would then be followed by all subsequent presidents. Now Nixon forced to resign in 1974 was going to create a new type of post-presidency that would be mimicked by his successors.
“In fact, in the first ten years following Watergate, Nixon had done more than just survive as a former president—he had unknowingly established a template for future ex-presidents to follow. Before Nixon, former presidents in the modern era mostly stayed behind the scenes, Truman had returned to Missouri and Ike split his time between his farm in Gettysburg and Gettysburg and summers in Palm Springs. Neither of them made many public appearances or waded into public issues.
“But Nixon, largely because he wanted to rehabilitate his name—and in any case was never one for retirement—chose a different path. He made money from delivering speeches and writing books. He gave interviews with the media in which he tried to shape public opinion on important national issues. He became something of an elder statesman. The Nixon template is the template used by former presidents to this day.” (p.170)
Pipes describes a former president, who is always thinking of history’s judgment, and is working to make sure that the narrative that its very minimum would give him a fair shake. It was a virtual guarantee that his presidency was to be studied he wanted to make sure that it was going to be studied in all its aspects and he would try to influence this by befriending and is sometimes recruiting historians to take up his cause.
“The former president went out of his way to encourage any historian he didn’t think was a liberal. One of his favorites, a former Dole Senate staffer named Richard Norton Smith, burst onto the scene in the 1980s with a biography on Thomas E. Dewey that became a finalist for the Pulitzer. Nixon would write to Smith and compliment him as an ‘honest historian.’ It’s a telling remark that demonstrates how Nixon viewed the rest of Smith’s colleagues.” (p.179)
Nixon would even go so far not only to recruit a historian by the name of Jonathan Aitken , personally edit his work for him, and then go off and try to pitch the manuscript to various publishers. This was a hard sell because of its clear bias. There was one publisher willing to help him out. Any criticism I do have of this work by Pipes is right here. For this is a little bit of shameless promotion because the publisher of this book, Regnery, is the publisher that would ultimately pick Nixon’s biography written by his chosen biographer. Talk about being part of your own story!
“Nixon had feared that a book favorable to him could not win a contract in New York. So he planned accordingly. Having the book published was more important to Nixon than who published it. He urged Aitken to pitch his book to Regnery, the conservative publishing house in Washington. Aitken did so and found success.” (p. 245)
My favorite part about the book is how Pipes shows Nixon’s relationships with the five presidents who followed him into the White House. Nixon was still underground when Ford was in office; he actively worked to replace Carter; was a semi-formal advisor to Reagan until they broke over arms reduction; was cool to Bush; and surprisingly he was very warm with Clinton. The Clinton one is the most surprising, but in some ways understandable both presidents were students of history and could see past political differences.
The only other thing that I felt was missing from this book was there was no mention of President Nixon acting as the arbitrator to settle a strike of professional umpires union against Major League Baseball. The fact that those in power baseball, which is America's past time, felt that he was the person to turn to help resolve one of their most important issues of the day I think is a major statement about how President Nixon was now viewed by the public.
In the end I do strongly recommend this book is a fascinating study and a new look at one of the 20th century’s most important political figures facing a unique challenge and rising to that challenge with great success. President Nixon’s career is one of peaks and valleys and thanks to his tireless efforts he assured for himself that when he died he did so on top of a peak. Now that I read the book I enjoyed it to the point where I regret that I did not get to it right away as it was given to me by the publisher. However with holidays only weeks away and you are struggling gift idea for that history buff in your life this might be a good one.
June 26, 2022
No US president has left the presidency as universally reviled as Nixon, so when I came across this book I knew I had to read it. The first thing that struck me was how eminently readable it was. Pipes keeps the cast of characters short and the narrative strictly focused so that the entire book follows from first to last page. He makes a conscious decision to start with Nixon’s resignation and avoids going back over the events that lead to it, even to justify Nixon’s later behavior. Pipes centers the book on the writing that became the center of Nixon’s life after the presidency, from his books, to his columns and speeches; all of it dealing with foreign policy, on which he was most interested, most insightful and most sought-after. With each passing year Pipes chronicles the remarkable comeback that culminated with the sitting president of the opposing party giving him a eulogy that would have been unthinkable at the time of Nixon’s resignation. It was honestly a fascinating read and one that has made me curious about the post-presidency period in general. Definitely recommend it.
February 22, 2023
After having been re-elected in one of the largest landslides in American history, less than 2 years later, President Richard Nixon, faced with certain impeachment and removal from office by Congress and potential criminal trial, became in August 1974, the first, and only United States President to date to resign. It turned out that after political agents of his re-election campaign had terrorized and later broken into the office of the Democratic National Committee at the Wategate Hotel, he had illegally pressured the FBI and CIA to block the investigations, paid off the burglars with campaign funds, and repeatedly lied to the press and public. Incredibly, he failed to destroy his own tape recordings of conversations that proved his guilt. While there was never any evidence Nixon knew of the burglary and bugging crimes themselves before they happened, there was no doubt he conspired to cover up the crime, and the eastern liberal press, who had always disliked him, particularly the Washington Post, was merciless in hunting him down. Later it turned out that a high ranking FBI official, Mark Felt, who Nixon had refused to make FBI Director, illegally leaked information about the investigation to reporters, but Felt was never prosecuted.
The aftermath of the resignation was that with the possible exceptions of Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson, who were consumed by the arriving then concluding Civil War, when he left office, few Presidents were held in such contempt by the press and public as Richard Nixon.
Yet, little more than a decade later, Nixon began am amazing comeback that saw him become regarded as an elder statesman and even cheered by the public by the time of his death from a stroke at age 81 in 1994. How did he come from being reviled to again almost revered? This readable, extremely interesting books tells the tale.
Upon leaving office, Nixon was essentially broke and near death from multiple health problems including a blood clot in his leg. In fact, his precarious health was one of the reasons President Gerald Ford cited in pardoning him from any offenses conducted while in office, sparing him a criminal trial. The Watergate judge himself sent an investigator to check on Nixon in the hospital and also concluded that Nixon was at risk of death.
Nixon eventually recovered his health and began his "comeback" by authoring his memoirs, which became a best-selling book, and a book still very much worth reading today. With interest in him piqued, he recovered his finances by being paid for a series of TV interviews with David Frost, which a fascinated public devoured, and in fact, a movie was later made about. Despite his Watergate errors, no one ever disputed that Nixon was not one of the great experts on foreign policy, and he remained active in the field, writing several more books, visiting China and the Soviet Union, and later Russia after the USSR's breakup. Nixon began giving speeches and inserted himself as a foreign policy advisor to Ronald Reagan, George Bush and other presidents and leaders. He was building a relationship with Bill Clinton at the time of his death.
As time from Watergate passed, the public too became kinder to Nixon. The truth was, no matter how much they felt Watergate itself was wrong, even in the 1980s and 1990s, Nixon's "Great Silent Majority" was still very much a force in American life. Reality was, many Americans continued to agree with his policies, both domestic and foreign, and admired Nixon as a man who came from the background of a regular person, and who never gave up. As the US press became more liberal and out of touch with mainstream America, and more facts came out about Watergate that showed how biased the media had been against Nixon, the duplicity of Mark Felt, and the harsh reality that releases of additional tapes showed the Washington Post reports often had been exaggerated or simply wrong, more people came to believe Nixon was right to fight the liberal media. This continued long after Nixon's death, and was one of the key tenets of the campaigns and presidency of Donald Trump more than 20 years after Nixon's death.
There are many books on Richard Nixon and Watergate, but very few that speak to Nixon's nearly 20 year career after he was president. This book is worth a careful read for any student of Nixon and any student of American politics. On the presidential/vice presidential ballot a record 5 time, Nixon was one of the most consequential figures in American history during the 20th century.
The aftermath of the resignation was that with the possible exceptions of Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Andrew Johnson, who were consumed by the arriving then concluding Civil War, when he left office, few Presidents were held in such contempt by the press and public as Richard Nixon.
Yet, little more than a decade later, Nixon began am amazing comeback that saw him become regarded as an elder statesman and even cheered by the public by the time of his death from a stroke at age 81 in 1994. How did he come from being reviled to again almost revered? This readable, extremely interesting books tells the tale.
Upon leaving office, Nixon was essentially broke and near death from multiple health problems including a blood clot in his leg. In fact, his precarious health was one of the reasons President Gerald Ford cited in pardoning him from any offenses conducted while in office, sparing him a criminal trial. The Watergate judge himself sent an investigator to check on Nixon in the hospital and also concluded that Nixon was at risk of death.
Nixon eventually recovered his health and began his "comeback" by authoring his memoirs, which became a best-selling book, and a book still very much worth reading today. With interest in him piqued, he recovered his finances by being paid for a series of TV interviews with David Frost, which a fascinated public devoured, and in fact, a movie was later made about. Despite his Watergate errors, no one ever disputed that Nixon was not one of the great experts on foreign policy, and he remained active in the field, writing several more books, visiting China and the Soviet Union, and later Russia after the USSR's breakup. Nixon began giving speeches and inserted himself as a foreign policy advisor to Ronald Reagan, George Bush and other presidents and leaders. He was building a relationship with Bill Clinton at the time of his death.
As time from Watergate passed, the public too became kinder to Nixon. The truth was, no matter how much they felt Watergate itself was wrong, even in the 1980s and 1990s, Nixon's "Great Silent Majority" was still very much a force in American life. Reality was, many Americans continued to agree with his policies, both domestic and foreign, and admired Nixon as a man who came from the background of a regular person, and who never gave up. As the US press became more liberal and out of touch with mainstream America, and more facts came out about Watergate that showed how biased the media had been against Nixon, the duplicity of Mark Felt, and the harsh reality that releases of additional tapes showed the Washington Post reports often had been exaggerated or simply wrong, more people came to believe Nixon was right to fight the liberal media. This continued long after Nixon's death, and was one of the key tenets of the campaigns and presidency of Donald Trump more than 20 years after Nixon's death.
There are many books on Richard Nixon and Watergate, but very few that speak to Nixon's nearly 20 year career after he was president. This book is worth a careful read for any student of Nixon and any student of American politics. On the presidential/vice presidential ballot a record 5 time, Nixon was one of the most consequential figures in American history during the 20th century.
January 23, 2020
This book is written in clear simple language and in simple sentences. I would recommend it for a high school American history book review. For a more serious examination there was little in the first half of the book. A comment on Iran, during the hostage crisis, being a problem for many more years as an example of Nixon's analysis. The later parts of the book with chapters of Nixon's efforts to influence Reagan, Bush, and Clinton are very interesting as are his position on their policies.
I was surprised by the degree of help Nixon gave Reagan including his role in Reagan's appointment of Haig and McFarland. I also didn't know of his meetings and conversations with Clinton. I was surprised he had a high opinion of Clinton but on the other hand suspected Baker's competence in foreign affairs. Of course this is not necessarily exactly how things happened, this is someone's views, second hand.
I was surprised by the degree of help Nixon gave Reagan including his role in Reagan's appointment of Haig and McFarland. I also didn't know of his meetings and conversations with Clinton. I was surprised he had a high opinion of Clinton but on the other hand suspected Baker's competence in foreign affairs. Of course this is not necessarily exactly how things happened, this is someone's views, second hand.
October 19, 2020
I’ve always considered Richard Nixon one of the most fascinating figures in 20th century history. As this book goes to great pains to point out, he did many great things, but also has a tendency to mitigate his dark side. I remember shortly after his resignation I was at a dinner party with an American guest who told me that the time would come when his reputation would be somewhat rehabilitated ‘in the next 10 to 20 years’ and, frankly, I scoffed at the suggestion. How wrong I was. I purchased ‘After The Fall’ because I’d read so little of Nixon’s post-presidency and this book went a long way toward filling in the blanks. It tends toward the hagiographic – the price of admission to access I guess – and the book was close to getting flung against a wall if he’d mentioned one more time about a newspaper reporter ‘sneering’. That said it was an enjoyable read and documents an impressive comeback to say the very least.
November 4, 2019
Nothing personal, as Pipes provides good overview
Kasey Pipes offers a good overview of President Nixon's life after his presidency, although I wish he would have included more information about the personal side of the president. Other books I read but did not go into detail, mentioned how Nixon and his grandson would talk frequently on the phone, while watching a baseball game. Supposedly, the Halloween gatherings the Nixon's held for neighborhood children in Saddle River were legendary. Reagan, after his presidency, visited Nixon in New Jersey. I would have preferred more detail on that meeting. Nixon also got involved in an arbitration case involving Major League baseball umpires, I wish the book had covered. Overall it was a good overview of Nixon after his presidency that could have used an added personal touch .
Kasey Pipes offers a good overview of President Nixon's life after his presidency, although I wish he would have included more information about the personal side of the president. Other books I read but did not go into detail, mentioned how Nixon and his grandson would talk frequently on the phone, while watching a baseball game. Supposedly, the Halloween gatherings the Nixon's held for neighborhood children in Saddle River were legendary. Reagan, after his presidency, visited Nixon in New Jersey. I would have preferred more detail on that meeting. Nixon also got involved in an arbitration case involving Major League baseball umpires, I wish the book had covered. Overall it was a good overview of Nixon after his presidency that could have used an added personal touch .
November 26, 2019
Consider the words of President Bill Clinton at Nixon's funeral: "May the day of judging President Nixon on anything less than his entire life and career come to a close." I voted for Nixon twice, then suffered along with the disillusion, disappointment, and disgust of the country during the Watergate episode. Although I have always tried to keep abreast of current affairs, I must confess that I had lost all desire to hear anything more about Richard Nixon. Reading this book rebuked my attitude in two ways.
First, I learned that the way that Nixon refused to live in defeat and insignificance was remarkable and inspiring. Second, I learned that this man contributed significantly to national and world affairs as a powerful "elder statesman."
So I am glad to have read this account. It balanced out my impression of an important leader of my times.
First, I learned that the way that Nixon refused to live in defeat and insignificance was remarkable and inspiring. Second, I learned that this man contributed significantly to national and world affairs as a powerful "elder statesman."
So I am glad to have read this account. It balanced out my impression of an important leader of my times.
April 24, 2025
In many previous books and documentaries about Richard Nixon, much of his life has been discussed leading up to his resignation as President. Very little, however, about his post-resignation life has been discussed, which is why this book is such a unique one.
I very much enjoyed hearing the many details about how Nixon navigated his life after his resignation. Not just the books he read or the interviews he gave, such as his famous one with David Frost; Nixon's life post-resignation, is of a man who kept active in political matters, and stayed loyal and close to his wife and family.
This book is a fascinating read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this complicated, curious man whose influence in American politics as never totally disappeared.
I very much enjoyed hearing the many details about how Nixon navigated his life after his resignation. Not just the books he read or the interviews he gave, such as his famous one with David Frost; Nixon's life post-resignation, is of a man who kept active in political matters, and stayed loyal and close to his wife and family.
This book is a fascinating read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about this complicated, curious man whose influence in American politics as never totally disappeared.
August 14, 2022
I read this during the anniversary of Nixon’s resignation, a follow-up to the Watergate book I read earlier this year. This is all about Nixon in the 20 years between his fall and his death. I’ve always said Nixon is one of my favorite presidents to read about and this book only confirms that fact. Richard Nixon had a plan. And it was a long plan. Disgraced in 1974, he knew he had to find the way back. And he did. He helped every President behind the scenes, starting with Ford. Carter called. Reagan called. Bush called. And then there was Clinton. By the time he died in 1994, Bill Clinton restored Nixon at his funeral. I always felt it was just Clinton being kind and perhaps it was a bit. In reality, though, it was just the final piece of the Nixon comeback… a masterpiece of Nixon planning. This book tells the story and it’s a great one!
October 23, 2019
A rather interesting look at Richard Nixon's post-presidential life. His foreign policy expertise was nearly unmatched in American politics and the author discusses his triumphal efforts in this regard. I had no problems with his political rehabilitation; his resigning of the presidency and the disgrace that went along with it was punishment enough. I agreed with President Ford's pardon of him, which may have cost Ford the 1976 election. This is a most informative look at a man who rose from the ashes of public life to become someone who had the respect of many people by the time he died.
January 24, 2024
Interesting book but too fawning over Nixon and HIS seemingly being the smartest guy on foreign policy. His methods have always been underhanded, such as finding spy equipment in a pumpkin or by delaying a possible ending of the Vietnam War prior to the 1968 election.
While I appreciated Lear ing his perspective in the book, I would have liked insights taken by our the presidents who did have to make the decisions. Their foreign views and approach were different than Nixon and should be respected.
While I appreciated Lear ing his perspective in the book, I would have liked insights taken by our the presidents who did have to make the decisions. Their foreign views and approach were different than Nixon and should be respected.
August 28, 2019
This is the story of Nixon after he resigned from office until his death. Kasey Pipes received permission from the Nixon family to review and use Nixon's papers and letters contained in the Nixon library. Many people don't realize that Nixon was active in government after he resigned and advised several presidents on foreign matters. A very interesting read about an era in history that is glossed over by many. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 9, 2019
A good read about an incredible come back by Richard Nixon after his resignation from the Presidency but we are left wanting more. I did not expect to finish the book in one day. When Mr. Pipes wrote about Nixon's move to a new office in New Jersey, I had hoped we would see the physical lay out of the office. Just to get a "feel" for the office setup. A detailed complete day in the office too would have been neat. Still it is a good read and very informative.
October 26, 2019
Very Well-written book on Nixon’s time post-presidency. I was smitten with the way that he kept fighting and kept pushing to do things that no other former President had to do. Very inspiring and motivating to see such a public figure fall and be able to rise from the ashes in the 20 years after.
November 8, 2019
Like many, I'm riveted by Nixon and I was excited for this book detailing his comeback after Watergate. It was interesting, but only because Nixon is interesting. I think there were some missed opportunities to go into more detail.
January 30, 2020
An interesting story and interesting timing considering Pres. Trump’s recently impeachment. Nixon was clearly much more intelligent than Trump and Nixon’s troubles came from his loyalty to his friends. At least Trump won’t have that problem.
September 1, 2019
This book on Nixon, as opposed to most books on this subject, focus on his last twenty years. They look at his comeback as an elder statesman.
October 28, 2019
Hated the subject matter, not the writing. I just couldn’t get into it
February 15, 2020
This is an excellent. Book. It shows the often ignored good side of President Nixon and tells a very interesting story of his remarkable return to the World stage. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews