To Set the Record Straight

by John Sirica

Judge Sirica, who oversaw the original Watergate trial, tells his story.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics

357 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Michael Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy book to read. It's interesting to understand Watergate from the judge's perspective. I didn't learn anything new. (I've read a few books on Watergate already.) But it helps to explain the legal process of how the case broke open and got exposed. It was also interesting to understand how important the judge was to Watergate and the decisions he had to make.

[Katy M · Rating 2 out of 5]

2018 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge-A book that takes place in the decade you were born.

Boring and not really all that informative.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Face it, John Sirica could have had the most dignified judicial career in modern times, but no one would have read his memoirs if he hadn't presided over the case that propelled the Watergate scandal into the history books. I don't blame him for writing about it. It was the most bankable event in which he participated. But his participation was due to the fact that there had to be a judge to make the decisions he made. If he hadn't been in that position, someone else would have. And I say that just about any judge would have been required to make the same rulings he did, given the evidence available to him.

[Deb Moehrke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A recounting of the events and trials of the Watergate scandal, from the judicial viewpoint. The author, John Sirica, was the judge sitting on the bench throughout the original trial of the burglars, legal wrangling with the Whitehouse over the extent of executive privilege, and the trial of Nixon's key aides in the coverup. A fascinating recap of one of the worst periods of our American history. At issue was whether or not the President of the United States is above the law. Fortunately h is not, as this book clearly shows.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in the 1990's, and I just now thought to add it to my list. I remember how much I enjoyed reading the good judge's side of the story. This was a very interesting read.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read, well-written by a remarkable man, a Republican who had campaigned when younger for the party and voted for Nixon.

There is a rich American history of powerful politicians and businessmen who have gotten away with worse than Richard Nixon brought forth. Not to mention whatever successful schemes have never seen the light of day. Nixon would not have been brought down but for a web of essential circumstances, one being the determination of Judge John Sirica to dig out the truth rather than to referee blithely the Watergate court battles. Senator Sam Ervin, who chaired the Senate Watergate Committee, admitted "... they almost got away with it."

Counsel for the defendants were some of the nation's best advocates who generally had little basis for argument against the available facts and resorted instead to recurring efforts to rattle the judge into committing errors which might reverse guilty verdicts on appeal. Sirica prepared well and maintained fair courtroom demeanor under the immense stress and was upheld on appeals.

This is not a comprehensive look at the entire Watergate affair but does cover much more than Sirica's court proceedings, providing a good overview.

Sirica was named Time magazine Man of the Year in 1973.

Watergate resulted in heightened scrutiny of public officials, establishment of the Federal Election Commission, and passage of much-needed campaign finance laws, some of which have been debilitated since then.

Sirica gives credit to many others, including Special Prosecutors Archibald Cox and Leon Jaworski; Katherine Graham, owner of the Washington Post, and two of its investigative reporters, Woodward and Bernstein; Sam Ervin; and Peter Rodino, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

At the end of the book Sirica provides a nice epilogue, notes on sources for those interested in further details, transcripts of portions of two Watergate tapes showing Nixon's involvement, and some key court opinions.