Reviews (2)

Perceptive Biography
I found this biography for young adult readers to be a thorough and in depth account.It was interesting and informative.I would highly reccommend it!

The Intersting story of a controversial president.
Randolph tells the story of Richard Nixon,the only president to resign the office of the president.You get a rarely seen glimpse of the president whom history and the public tend to remember as the crook, instead of as theonly president who could have gone to China , or ended Vietnam. It goesinto detail from his childhood in Yorba Linda, California, to his return tothe public life of the eighties. ... Read more

Book Description

A major work of political biography, ixon: A Life will inspire historians to recognize the outstanding diplomatic achievements of a man whose journey from tainted politician to respected foreign policy expert and elder statesman has been nothing short of remarkable. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

This book by Aitken was really excellent - hard to put down
I couldn't recommend this book highly enough if you are interested in Richard Nixon's story/life. Aitken writes in a very entertaining manner and has obviously had access to Nixon that other writers may not have enjoyed. From my perspective as an Australian looking into American politics and history the book was well worth the read.

At last, some balance
As both a non-American and one too young to remember Watergate, I read this book with little of the baggage that I suspect many Americans bring to their assessment of Nixon. What emerges is an insight into arguably the most significant post-War politician in the world - someone who did more to shape the world in its journey from 1945 to 2000 than any other.

Aitken's own fall from grace as a British politician including his criminal convictions make me suspect a particularly strong empathy with Nixon. I couldn't avoid the sense that Nixon's faults were somewhat glossed over by Aitken, but even so the text provided some real balance to the seemingly unethical approach adopted by the press and Democrats to the man when he was President.

Also interesting to compare Aitken's analysis of Nixon in the 1960 presidential election with the subsequent actions of Gore in the 2000 election. Nixon's magnaminity at that time enabled a comeback - Gore has probably blown his chances of the same.

Not touched on by the book but certainly an issue is the constitutional issues surrounding the growing propensity for Congress to impeach Presidents (Nixon and Clinton) when controlled by the other party. According to the book the Democrat congress would have impeached Johnson also, if he had been Republican. America's union of the Head of state and Head of Govt in one position is increasingly fraught. This book may provide an insight into why most (all?) other democracies separate their head of Govt (Prime Minister) from their head of state (Monarch/President).

A great insight into a complex and influential man.

A pretty good perspective
Nixon lovers won't enjoy this book, as the book does not at all apologize or try to legitimize Nixon's fall from grace. Two central comments about the book:

1. Aiken gives short shrift for what readers are probably thirsting for: the time leading up to resignation and Nixon's resignation itself. There aren't nearly enough pages about this in an otherwise good effort by Aiken.

2. The book did not strike me as tremendously biased, and perhaps this is because Aiken is not an American, but British, so perhaps he doesn't have the passion and partisanship that colors many books on our most enigmatic of presidents.

For an excellent, in-depth account of Nixon's final two years in the White House, I would highly recommend Richard Reeves' "Richard Nixon: Alone in the White House." (I have reviewed that book as well.)

Aiken's account is a good overall read on Nixon, but it is by no means exhaustive. I'd recommend it as a good inclusion on a list of books to gain a good overall perspective on Nixon.

Best Biography on Nixon
Finally, an actual scholarly account of Nixon. There are plenty of fictitous and demeaning books on Nixon (Anthony Summers and Stanley Kutler) but it is good to know that there are people like Aitken who try to look at Nixon in the context of his times. Anyone who seriously wants to study the character of Nixon should read Aitken's work and go and listen to the Watergate tapes in Maryland and avoid Kutler's selective editing of conversations. In the end, I believe the student will actually understand what an honorable, hardworking, and brilliant man Nixon was. Also, I reccomend reading Nixon's own books and reading Monica Crowley's works to get an insight into Nixon's personal life. Here you have a man who worked his way through college at Whitier and Duke, served in the Navy, never cheated on his wife, and served his country as commander-in-chief in one of the most turbulent decades of the 20th Century. If you want to understand Nixon, read valid sources, and don't rely on half-truths or assumptions of journalists, biased babyboomers, and politically driven revisionists. After all, some historians believe Nixon was actually a liberal and was about to break the tw0-party system.

Through the eyes of an admirer
Richard Nixon is probably the most controversial figure in modern american politics. The conventional wisdom is that this very smart man, some say brilliant, was so deeply flawed that he caused his own destruction with a mercilessness that fate reserves for the fallen heros of epic dramas. Given this prevailing opinion, it would seem best to approach this human puzzle through the eyes of a friendly biographer, one who instead of demonizing him, as many have, would try to explain how such a volatile mixture of talent and insecurity would come to test the constitutional limits of the US. Unfortunately, Aitken is not just a friendly author. His adoration --if not worshipping-- of his subject is apparent throughout the book. As an example of Aitken's idolizing, here is how he describes Nixon in his post-Watergate rehabilitation years (p. 564):

"Nixon took great care at his dinner parties not to dominate the conversation himself, but he was a powerful conductor of the orchestra, changing the topics, calling the speakers and taking care to bring even the shyest guest into the spotlight. [...]"

To be fair, this corny prose is not an accurate reflection of the entire book. And Aitken does make an effort to maintain a distance of objectivity from his subject, though the tendency to offer excuses, rather than insight, is usually transparent. He submits to the accepted verdict that Nixon must be held responsible for Watergate, but for the lesser crime of cover-up. The fact that many of Nixon's close associates ended up in prison does not seem to strike Aitken as odd, as if it's something that happens in every administration...

This book packs a lot of information in its nearly 600 pages, covering the period from Nixon's birth to the years before his death. At the end, however, it amounts to little more than an encyclopedia of Nixon trivia. The fire that made the man tick remains unexplored. And that's a pity. ... Read more

Book Description

At long last the true Richard Nixon can be revealed. The man known as "Tricky Dick," who is seen today as the greatest villain in the history of American politics, actually began his amazing career as a principled campaigner and a scrupulously honest member of Congress.

Sadly, the first real reassessment of Richard Nixon's early career -- his Congress years -- had to wait until after his death in 1994. Only then was Pulitzer Prize-nominee Irwin F. Gellman able to get the documentary access of which previous Nixon biographers could only dream. Gellman became the first historian to have complete and unfettered access to (among other sources) the 1946, 1948, and 1950 campaign files in the National Archives; papers from the executive sessions of HUAC; and every document dated through July 1952 in the Nixon Library & Birthplace. All told, Gellman scoured millions of pages in dozens of collections, the vast majority of which have never before been used.

Gellman's research revealed that much of the work done on Nixon was not only based on incomplete information but was wrong. The legend of "Tricky Dick" was little more than a series of myths. For example: The "Committee of 100" did not buy Nixon his 1946 upset of Jerry Voorhis. Nixon did not unfairly smear Helen Gahagan Douglas. There was no secret funding of his Senate race in 1950. Nixon did not out-McCarthy McCarthy on HUAC. And finally, Nixon was true to Earl Warren at the 1952 convention -- there was no secret deal made for the vice presidency. As Gellman irrefutably shows, each of these myths has been built on guesswork or faulty sources.

Who then was the real Richard Nixon? Other historians have given us ominous hints and vague charges of financial and moral misconduct. Gellman shows otherwise, and the proof is in the details. In 1946 Nixon used his own meager savings in a shoestring campaign. In 1950, operating with a budget in the low six-figures -- high for the time, but many times lower than other estimates -- he reaped the benefits of his opponent's bruising primary. And the Red bashing? On HUAC Nixon was a moderate who won universal praise for his even-handedness. Behind the scenes he cautioned McCarthy against his excesses.

Even during the incredible success of Nixon's Congress years there are occasional lapses of judgment. But, as Gellman shows, it was innocence and energy -- not deceit -- that made a fresh-faced Richard Nixon the victor against great odds in contest after contest. Here are the triumphs of the early years of a young man that we can unabashedly admire. Here is the rise of Richard Nixon, from nobody to vice president, that makes all previous biographies obsolete. Here is the Nixon that history will now remember. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Penetrating look at the young Nixon
Though there were shades of the later Nixon in the young man, he was not nearly as visceral, vulgar or mean-spirited as he was to become as President. There were tinges of guilt in his make-up when he stepped over the line of decency, and such signs were utterly absent in President Nixon. Gellman is a fluid writer who is painstaking in being fair to Nixon and presenting him as a fairly likeable, though monstrously aggressive Congressman. He maintains that the young Nixon was a good father and attentive husband, thought he evidence for this is grossly lacking. He was the quintessential absentee father who spent almost no time with his daughters. Gellman conveniently ignores this.

More troubling is that Gellman almost seeks to exonerate Nixon from two of the most mudslinging and tawdry campaigns of all time: his 1946 run for Congress against the hapless, though decent Jerry Voorhis, and his inhumane hatchet job against Helen Gahagan Douglas in 1950. Nixon's brutal character assassination of Douglas in conveniently skirted, or excuses are made for RN. Because Gellman frequently falls into the habit of glossing over Nixon's destructive impulses, the book never reaches any grandiose literary heights.

Nixon has been the subject of much nonsense, particularly of the psycho-babble genre. Gellman thankfully doesn't attempt any of this and the book is a better product for it. Ultimately, this is a readable, balanced (overly balanced!) portrait of a young man driven by demons and a lust for power. For anyone wishing to understand Nixon in his 30's, this is an essential study.

In the beginning....
For the record, this is an excellent book, and I too have read almost countless books on Nixon the last 25 years. The research is excellent, and perhaps for one of the first times we get to see Richard Nixon in the early years, without the baggage he is saddled with by people looking back.

Still, there are problems with that: while Gellman can claim the early campaigns were nothing compared to later years, for their time they were shocking. It was a departure from the standards, and he was forever recognized as a campaigner that would go as far as necessary to win. The personal notes Gellman quotes from in the early years are insightful. Unfortunately, personal insights are missing by the end of the book: one wonders if Mr. Nixon stopped writing notes, or just stopped writing such personal ones.

There are a surprising number of grammatical errors in the book (at least 5, perhaps more) but the surprise is due to Mr. Gellman's diligence in his research. Do not let these small errors prevent you from reading one of the few books on Nixon that attempts to provide a fresh look without apology, and without anger.

Epitome of historical research
The Contender is by far the most objective, well-researched, and best historical work on Richard Nixon. Instead of focusing on the slurs and character assasinations that make up most of the present works on Nixon, Dr. Irwin Gellman has restored some integrity to the discipline of history by producing history based on facts (what a concept, hey?). Instead of writing a politically motivated book, Dr. Gellman's goal was to produce a history of Nixon's early campaigns. The chapters on Jerry Voorhis and Helen Gahagan Douglas are extremely sensible and its surprising that it has taken academia this long to figure out the truth about the two campaigns. Instead of the "sinister" Tricky Dick using smoke and mirrors to win seats in Congress and the senate, we have a hardworking, sometimes naive, idealistic, and dedicated young man who wants to make a diference by entering politics. After reading The Contender, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that Voorhis and Douglas lost because they were out of touch with their constituents, their own party abandoned them, and Nixon was a part of a new political movement that wanted to discontinue the excesses of the new deal but keep its practical programs. The left-wing myths created to discredit and smear Nixon will never hold weight again.

A Remarkable Assessment of Nixon's Other Side
Richard Nixon, to most, is America's most controversial president of the last century. An intelligent and competent person (Nixon was awarded a scholarship to Harvard University), and an adept politician, he was also the first American president to resign (announced on 8 August, 1974), the result of his 'Watergate' connection.

Nixon was not a public's darling. His Watergate involvement, his resignation, the "Tricky Dick" image is what most Americans (and the world) remember about the former president. This unfortunate reality is due to the fact that many authors only dare to write about the negative side of the person. But not Irwin Gellman.

THE CONTENDER is a passionate, remarkably intelligent and unmatched account of Richard Nixon's other side- the "other Nixon" every student of politics, whether of the Left, Centre or Right, should understand and appreciate.

Gellman's book is intelligent, impressively researched, and written in a readable manner. The portrayal of the subject is stimulating, balanced and sensible, a portrayal that will surely provoke many readers.

Prepare to be challenged
When you read this book, you should be prepare to be challenged on what you have heard about Nixon before. This book undoes--or purports to--all of the early Nixon myths. It appears to be exhaustingly researched, and Nixon haters can take comfort in the notion that Nixon became the Nixon they hated after the 1960 Presidential Election.

Still, Gellman does sugarcoat some things Nixon does, and appears to draw some charitable conclusions without any backup. It is an interesting read, and a portrayal of what by any accounts is a remarkable journey from unknown to Vice President. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Christopher Matthews, the Washington bureau chief for the San Francisco Examiner and a former aide to Tip O'Neill, offers a fascinating look at the connections between the two most well-known politicians in the last 40 years. He traces the symmetries of their beginnings--both were elected to the House of Representatives in 1946 and assigned to the same committee--as well as their similar thirst for power. While both men's rise and fall, events that had profound effects on America, have been well chronicled, Matthews' book is one of the few, if not only, that places the two in parallel historical context. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Think You Know These Two?
You might be surprised after reading Matthews' fascinating story on the friendship and rialry between these icons of post-WWII America. Having read numerous books on Nixon, and a few on Kennedy, I began reading without much expectation that I would walk away with any new insights or knowledge. How wrong I was.

What surprised me most was the number of similarities between Kennedy and Nixon's political views. From their ardent anti-communism to their disdain for the prevailing purveyors of liberalism, it's easy to see how they forged a friendship upon their election to Congress in 1947.

Kennedy and Nixon also shared a strong desire to move ahead and gain the ultimate prize - the Presidency - and this evenaully lead to their rivalry and ultimate disdain for one another. I never realized how Kennedy (and his family) consumed and impacted Nixon's political and physical psyche. But given Teddy Kennedy's significant behind-the-scenes involvement in Nixon's ultimate downfall, fully chronicled here, he had good reason.

If you're searching for a fresh analysis and interpretation of these two icons in American history, this is the book for you.

A Star-Crossed Rivalry!
This book is a fascinating look at the long term connections between two politicians whose presence stood like a giant shadow on the post-war period. As Matthews chronicles, Jack Kennedy and Richard Nixon entered Congress together in 1946 and from the day they met had a love-hate relationship. Nixon, pathologically jealous of Kennedy's family conncetions, style and grace, nonetheless deeply admired him. Kennedy was more contemtuous of Nixon but, nonetheless, his family gave money to Nixon's Senate campaign. When both Nixon and Kennedy served in the Senate, their offices were right next to each other. Nixon was invited to Kennedy's wedding in 1953 but was required to play golf with President Eisenhower instead! The anectodes from this period show Nixon's warm affection for Kennedy. When Kennedy was near death from back surgery, Nixon broke down in tears. The relationship changed when the two opposed each other for president and as Matthews demonstrates, when Nixon narrowly lost, he was devastated. Kennedy's death in 1963 tormented Nixon but according to Matthews, it led to the transfer of the rivalry from JFK to his brothers. First, in 1968, Nixon was deeply afraid that Bobby Kennedy would get the nomination and beat him. More importantly, in 1972, Nixon was desparately afraid that youngest brother Ted would suddenly appear on the scene to take what he had won. According to Matthews, this may well have been the real reason for the Watergate break in. While it is difficult to understand why a super popular Nixon in 1972 would so fear defeat that he would go down the path of Watergate, I think it is far fetched to state that his pathological fear of defeat by the Kennedy's was the prime motive. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the book at all. Both Nixon and the Kennedy's are fascinating larger than life people and their unique friendship/rivalry is virtually unheralded in American history. The story makes for a great read.

A Political Page-Turner
This book on mid-twentieth century politics reads like a page-turning novel. It follows Kennedy (and Kennedy's brothers, after JFK's assassination) and Nixon from World War II to Watergate, providing many little-known details and stories about the two men, meaning that both political junkies and people only moderately interested in politics will find the book both informative and entertaining. It is a great introduction to American political history of the 1950s and 1960s.

Political Rivalry/Tragedy Recalled in "Kennedy v. Nixon"
MSNBC host and news columnist Christopher Matthews charts the rivalry of "Kennedy v. Nixon" as backstory and inspiration behind most of America's post-World War II history. His meticulous research and breezy storytelling style creates a psychological/historical drama mixed with Shakespearean tragedy and some hilarious, touching anecdotes.

In it, Richard Nixon, the 37th president who resigned under pressure from the Watergate scandal, battles the ambitions, then the "Camelot" mythology of President John F. Kennedy, who defeated Nixon in 1960's close, contested election. Nixon is then shadowed throughout his political life by memories of the slain president: first by brother Robert, (a likely 1968 candidate before his assassination), and finally youngest brother Edward Kennedy.

"Kennedy vs. Nixon" tells a story of personal friendship souring under political differences and career paths. It shows how these cordial political colleagues who shared a hallway both opposed what they saw as Yalta's squandered victory after World War II, and fought Communist insurgency and infiltration domestically and internationally. Matthews traces their roles in the era's major events, all playing against a Cold War backdrop: tacit support for Joe McCarthy's investigations, distrust of Alger Hiss as Nixon prosecuted him, 1952's infamous "Checkers" speech preserving Nixon's vice-presidential candidacy even as President Dwight Eisenhower coldly minimizes Nixon's accomplishments and even attempts to remove him.

During these chapters Matthews reveals the start of Nixon's legendary personal distrust, hinted when vanquished Congressional opponent Helen Douglas branded him "Tricky Dicky." Here Matthews also introduces characters (Archibold Cox, Charles Colson, Larry O'Brien) who became household names less than 15 years later as henchmen for or targets of Nixon's need to retain power . You also see the slow roots of America's painful Vietnam involvement, and how it helped fuel Nixon's 1968 comeback victory.

The core of the book is dedicated to 1960's presidential election and TV's major role in its presentation and outcome. Matthews meticulously retells 1960's "Great Debate" and how Nixon's TV image which, compared to Kennedy's carefully crafted public persona (and what Nixon saw as creative counting) painfully cost him that election. But recounting private taped and untaped unconversations, you sense both men's anger and frustration against enemies foreign (Kennedy's Bay of Pigs, and 1963's assassination of South Vietnam president Ngo Dihn Diem) and domestic (Nixon's "Saturday Night Massacre," his palpable need to discredit Ted Kennedy even after 1969's Chappaquiddick tragedy ended any hopes for his presidential run.)

Matthews effectively argues Ted Kennedy's threat as fueling Nixon's self-destruction, but adds Nixon's suspicions were justified. From being used by Kennedy's wealthy father as pawn for President-elect Kennedy before the inauguration, to investigated for loans given Nixon's brother Donald (for "Nixonburgers"), to Ted Kennedy's role in prosecuting Watergate, Nixon felt constantly chased by Kennedy legacy and perceptions he only held space until another Kennedy "restoration" and couldn't compete with Kennedy' carefully written legacy. This leads to several bitter but even hilarious anecdotes (the ones about the phony train conductor, the pregnant woman and the beach photo opportunity being three favorites).

Even in Nixon's declining, post-retirement years, his foreign policy expertise respected and presidency re-examined, he couldn't hide antipathy for his 1960 rival and events leading America to the Vietnam war always associated with Nixon's presidency. Even his 1994 death was shadowed a few weeks later by that of President Kennedy's widow Jacqueline (with whom Nixon shared sweet and sincere correspondence after Ms. Kennedy's family visited Nixon's White House in 1971.) It is a somber, fitting ending to Matthews' remarkably told story, whose details provided deeper, long-missing reasons behind some of history's tragic, yet seismic events. "Kennedy vs. Nixon" is a recommended story addressing personal and political clashes between two of American history's most significant, forever fascinating figures.

An uneasy friendship
A compelling account of the friendship and rivalry between two men who changed the face of American political campaigning in the Cold War era. Matthews charts their long friendship, which was seriously challenged in the 1960 Presidential election that pitted them against each other. Along the way, they had used many of the same techniques (one might say dirty tricks) to elevate themselves onto the national stage. In the limelight of national television, Kennedy clearly got the better of his opponent, and their relationship took on a more adversarial tone after that. Matthews covers the campaign with great relish.

One senses a certain sympathy with Nixon, speaking of his earlier campaigns against Voorhis and Douglas in a defensive tone. Conversely, Matthews challenges the myths that surrounded the Kennedy persona, noting his "fighting conservatism," which often found him at odds with liberal establishment, especially in regard to Joseph McCarthy, whom Kennedy thought "might have something."

Nixon comes across as the underdog, able to eventually overcome his handicaps and attain the office he so long desired, even if it came at a heavy price with Watergate. One senses the tragic figure in Nixon. On the one hand, wanting to be a part of the intellectual elite, and on the other hand, dispising its condescending attitudes. He seemed to view Kennedy in the same way Nick viewed Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby" (which Matthews alludes to). But, Kennedy seemed to think little of Nixon in turn. In the end, Nixon was a terribly bitter man, but much of this was his own undoing.

The book covers a lot of ground, skimming over some parts of their lives, providing valuable insights into others. It is a timely comparison of these two men, as many of the same themes have resurfaced in recent years. Clinton clearly modeled himself after Kennedy, and Bush seems to have gleaned much from Nixon. ... Read more

Book Description

This book examines Richard Nixon within the context of the emerging revisionism that his place in history should not be defined entirely by Watergate. It assesses his many achievements and explains his equally numerous shortcomings. Nixon himself was assidious in taking advantage of changing perspectives to remodel his shattered image and portray himself as a great leader brought down by one mistake. While most historians resisted this revisionism during his lifetime, a growing number have called for his achievements to be reassessed since his death in 1994. It is time to look again at the Nixon presidency and, without falling into the trap of apologia, try to discern how Nixon's reputation has evolved and how far it corresponds to his actions and their effects. Can we give credence to his self-promotion as 'world statesman'? Should we re-evaluate the domestic record of a president whose policies had more in common with those of his liberal predecessors than his conservative successors? These and other issues that contribute to a fresh understanding of the ways in which Richard Nixon's historical image has been fashioned are at the heart of this incisive new study? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Richard M. Nixon : Excellent political memoir
"Even Richard Nixon has got soul", wrote Neil Young in his song 'Campaigner'. This book chronicles Richard Nixon's rise and fall with candid honesty and demonstarates a warmth and human falibilty that does indeed afirm Young's lyric.
I was surprised at Mr. Nixon's book in that I was unsympathetic at the time with his handling of Vietnam and felt he was out of touch with the vast anti-war movement in the USA. I feel now that he was harshly judged and that he should be saluted for his untiring efforts to maintain freedom and democracy in Asia.
The best parts of the book are when he describes meetings with other world leaders and provide a fascinating insight into the process of diplomacy at the highest level of goverment.
The Watergate sections are complicated and one is left with the impression that he got into a hole and could'nt stop digging.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the machinations of high politics and anyone who wishes an insight into a turbulent period in American history.

Historically, a first rate book
Richard Nixon experienced a "comeback" in the late 70's and throughout the 80's, and it started with this excellent book. In it, he goes through all of the relevant things concerning his family experiences, and, of course, his politcal life, culminating in the Presidency and then complete disgrace. But this book isn't really a "downer," and it has wonderful Historical value. It is an excellent read as well as a terrific buy. ... Read more

Book Description

RICHARD NIXON Timeless history recorded live...Tom Wicker discusses the life and character of Richard Nixon

The bestselling author of One of Us: Richard Nixon and the American Dream, novelist and veteran New York Times columnist Tom Wicker lends his unmistakable voice to the groundbreaking Character Above All audio series with an illuminating examination of one of America's most infamous Presidents.

Recorded live at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, Wicker continues a series of lectures delivered by a team of historians, biographers and journalists assembled by Robert Wilson to explore the Presidential character. Sharing their insight into the Presidents they have written about, these authors and scholars address the larger issue of the impact of the Presidential character on leadership and the creation of trust.

Wicker explains that Nixon was an ambiguous character -- talented, suspicious, and a loner, an anomaly in a successful politician. In the end, he was neither evil nor a victim -- except of himself.

Character Above All is incomparable audio, crackling with the energy and excitement of a great mind at work and the intellectual urgency befitting a topic of lasting national importance. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Richard M. Nixon
Well researched and presented, in a somewhat interesting style, the details of Nixon's life . Book includes an index, further reading, internet sites and a timeline - useful for students engaged in a research assignment. Good black and white illustrations and recommended reading for students from the 7th grade up, as well as for the techers. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Personal and Analytical
Since the former president granted my request and sent me a personal autographed copy absolutely free I am biased about this book. I think it is well-written, insightful, personal, and philosophical all in one package. His approach to life was essentially life it to the hilt, have something to show for your existence, hence the title. He was not hesitant to enter "the arena." In fact, his life was lived in the arena. President Nixon was both a thinker and doer.

While he lived adventurously on two levels, the mental and physical, he was somewhat neglectful of the spiritual arena. He talks about his Christian parents, especially his mother, but he doesn't address spiritual matters in his personal life in any great detail. I know he was on friendly terms with both Billy Graham and Norman Vincent Peale. I'm sure they had some Christian influence on him.

In this book, the president looks back on life as an elder statesman. Some of the advice he gives is pertinent to any arena. When he talks about living with a purpose that transcends self, the focus is beyond political. He devotes time to the human condition, overcoming personal challenges, victories, defeats, and renewals. This is a well-thought out book. Any open minded reader would be stimulated by it.

Another Piano Recital at the Grand Ol' Opry
Presidential memoirs need to be judged under a different literary standard than other works of non-fiction, laden as they are with a tradition of wordiness, self-aggrandizement and exculpatory statements. This memoir is definitely better than Carter's (unintelligible), Ford's (would you buy it?), Johnson's (defensive), Bush's (which is only an edited letters collection) and Reagan's (totally ghosted).

And there are some passages in here that are vintage, vintage Nixon. E.g. the long panegyric for his sainted mother, the (fully deserved) tribute to the long-suffering wife and - piece de la resistance - the chapter on "Temperance." And RN's bitterest recollection, that when he resigned the press had the temerity to wheel out Alger Hiss to comment on the occasion.

There are also bits that make you wonder. E.g. his protest that Ferdinand Marcos probably did "the right thing" for his country by declaring martial law - even though RN had nothing to do with it.

Nixon buffs - lovers, haters, and the just plain curious - will do well to read this.

Nixon Looks Back at a Rich Life in the Arena
"Life is a roller coaster, exhilarating on the way up and breathtaking on the way down." -Richard Nixon, In the Arena

Richard Nixon spent most of his eighty-one years "in the arena," serving his country as Congressman, Senator, Vice President, President, and, finally, elder statesman and foreign policy mandarin. He was one of the most controversial figures in American public life; "Tricky Dick," the man you loved to hate. He started his career as a hero to conservatives, a dedicated anti-Communist, the vanquisher of Helen Gahagan Douglas and Alger Hiss. Later he enraged many those same supporters by imposing wage and price controls and opening China to the West. He was the leader of the Silent Majority, the ender of the Vietnam war. He was also crippled by disgrace; the only President forced to resign his office.

In the Arena is not a conventional memoir. Nixon already covered the essentials in his 1978 volume, "RN." Rather, this is more of an introduction to the man himself; a personal, intimate, conversational book about how he felt and thought, and what he believed. It is a reminiscence about the major points in his life, both high and low-the subtitle of the book is "A Memoir of Victory, Defeat, and Renewal"-and a commentary on some of the events that have occurred since his earlier autobiography. This is by no means the definitive book on Nixon, but it does provide intriguing insights into the mind of a most intriguing man.

Some of the more interesting revelations in the book are Nixon's personal dealings with and reactions to the famous men he knew and met in his life. Herbert Hoover, MacArthur, Churchill, de Gaulle, Adenauer, Kennedy, Eisenhower, and many others. He had their respect, if not their friendship, and he was able to deal with them as an equal, both before and after his presidency. He relates engaging impressions and revealing insights of these Titans of history. Gorbachev, he reveals, was better educated and more charismatic than Brezhnev so he came off as being a benign presence, but, in truth, he was no less ruthless. "[B]eneath the velvet glove he always wears, there is a steel fist." Mao told Nixon that he preferred "rightists" like him because "those on the right can do what those on the left can only talk about." Chou En-Lai was a ruthless negotiator with an all-encompassing understanding of international affairs. MacArthur was the most fascinating speaker he ever met, able to deliver, off the cuff, hours of brilliant, hypnotic rhetoric. The only leader Nixon ever met who could equal him was Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore.

Nixon also writes about Watergate, although, predictably, he makes no stunning confessions or apologies. He admits his responsibility for the cover-up, but denies having any role in the crime itself. He also continues to emphasize the political aspects of the scandal. He paraphrases Talleyrand: "Watergate was worse than a crime-it was a blunder." He reveals that even he did not know about all that was going on. He did not give the matter sufficient attention because he was preoccupied with his China initiatives and his efforts to end the war in Vietnam. He admits regret for considering options that were clearly illegal. Ironically, his order to kill the investigation, the famous "smoking gun" which ultimately led to his resignation, was disregarded. He also discusses his agonizing over accepting the pardon offered by President Ford. "Next to the resignation, accepting the pardon was the most painful decision of my political career." Ultimately, though, he concluded that the continuing obsession by the people with Watergate was crippling the nation. That and his own "desperate financial situation" left him with little choice.

Nixon also writes passionately about his role in the Vietnam War. "A day did not pass during my years in the White House that I did not hate the war in Vietnam." Nixon's mother, of course, was a Quaker and his upbringing had to influence the way he felt about such things. He especially loathed the tremendous human suffering caused by war. Still, he felt that the nation's course was a necessary one and that our goals in Indochina were "worthy and honorable." "I would have done anything to achieve them by peaceful means. But no such options were available." He believed that it was "imperative both morally and strategically" to help free the countries of Indochina, but that did not "lessen the burden [he] felt from leading our nation in war." As always, Nixon remained committed to the ideal of "real peace", that is, an end to war. We cannot achieve what he calls "perfect peace"-an end to conflict-because conflict is the natural state of affairs in the world. However, real peace is obtainable, if only we can take the profit out of war. He believes that this is possible because the destructiveness of nuclear weapons has made world war prohibitively expensive, and because increasing world prosperity has drastically reduced the desire of nations to increase their wealth by acquiring more territory and resources.

NIXON REFLECTS ON LIFE AND POLITICS
This is an excellent book. Well written and compact. No wasted words in this story.

It's vintage Nixon and he's at his best. It's full of fascinating stories and hard, tough insights into power politics. His core belief is that your life needs to be dedicated to some cause greater than yourself. It's an idea well worth pondering.

Probably the biggest weakness is the masterful spin on any of his problems. It's almost as if he's running a political campaign. Every controversial issue is turned into a positive reflection on his career. You know he's got to be lying at least a little bit, but you just can't figure out where. Oh well.

A book for everyone, not just political enthusiasts.
First, let me say that I rated this book at 4 stars. In my ranking system, a 4 is a very good score. I rarely ever give a 5, because it implies perfection.

With that said, I do believe that this book is worth reading for anyone interested in bettering themselves. Whilst the subject is about politics, many of the stories revolve around human nature and Richard Nixon gives some utterly insightful advice.

It is definitely worth reading. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Scrutinizes the lasting impact of the Nixon presidency
Compiled, organized and edited by Russ Witcher (Assistant Professor of Journalism, Tennessee Tech University), Articles, Interviews, And Book Excerpts (1976-2000) On Richard Nixon's Legacy is a series of articles drawn from magazines such as "Time," "Newsweek," "U.S. News & World Report," and others, arranged in date ranging from the late 1970's to 2000. Each article scrutinizes the lasting impact of the Nixon presidency as revealed through journalism. Essays, insights and more offer a diverse and highly recommended historical cross-study of a complex American political figure, including both his failings as well as his most notable achievements. ... Read more

Book Description

Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon are two of the most important and controversial figures of the twentieth century. Although fame came to them in very different ways, they rose from very similar backgrounds of poverty to seek the American Dream. These two remarkable men both had to face falls from grace, but while Nixon rebounded from Watergate to regain a reputation as a distinguished elder statesman, Elvis was destroyed by the pressures of fame, only to have his image restored after his death. Here, for the first time, the remarkable parallels in their lives are examined, balanced on the point of their historic December 21, 1970, meeting. Their similarities and differences as American icons are analyzed, and numerous photographs, including all those taken during their meeting, are included. Together, the stories of these two men form part of the essence of American culture. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Truth is stranger than fiction!
This book tells of two men who made history , One in politics and the other of course in music, Both lives of these two men who met are explored into great detail with some simarlarites ??

You will have to buy the book to understand that one ? This is a factual account of then President Nixon and Elvis Presley meeting not once but twice to discuss the direction of America?

Enjoy!

This is a fun book!
Although my mom wrote this book, don't take my review as biased. It is just a really good book! Anyone who wants to know more about Elvis and Nixon should read this book. Although I am not much of a non-fiction reader, I found this book to be informative, enlightening, and a little bit amusing. The reason I say "amusing" is because picturing either of these so-call "distiguished" men doing the things described in this book is enough to give anyone a good chuckle. This book is a quick read, has great information, and is very well put together. The whole experiance of reading this book is fun!

A lot of Nixon in an Elvis-book
This book by Connie Kirchberg and Marc Hendrickx examines thelives of two Americans fulfilling the so-called AmericanDream.

Both made it from rags to riches. There are a lot of similarities in the way these two persons made it to the top, but of course also differences. This book handles both. By writing the biographies of these two people who briefly met in December 1970, the authors try to paint a picture of two lives which seem to have a lot more in common then expected. For us, more familiar with Elvis than with Nixon, there were some interesting eye-openers on the last one. Although we couldn't get rid of the idea that some of the comparisons are a bit sought for. More interesting than the exact comparisons between the two man making it to the top in their own field (becoming 'The King' and the president of the USA), are the differences after making it to the top and what happened then.

As we all know Elvis made it to the top and lost his spot at the top because of the addictions that led to his death. The last couple of years only his loyal fans kept him 'on top' by still buying his records and going to his shows (even if they were not the quality they once had).

We also know the story of Richard Nixon, making it to the top of the (Capitol) Hill and tumbling down on the other side as a result of the 'Watergate' scandal. Both persons made a 'comeback', and we're not referring to the TV special with the same name. But there are differences. Nixon became a 'respected elder statesman' and was rehabilitated in the eyes of the general public. He lived to enjoy that. Elvis' rehabilitation came after his death. There are three moments most people remember what they were doing when it happened: the first man on the moon, the shooting of Kennedy and the death of Elvis, this does say something on the man and his achievements. Unfortunately he wasn't able to enjoy it.

A great pro of the book is that describing the lives of these two people from birth we also get a lot of information on Elvis parents, something which isn't seen in too many books and a nice extra for Elvis fans to complete their 'picture' of Elvis' entire life. Another nice feature of the book is the appendix in which a lot of documents and pictures surrounding the Presley - Nixon meeting are presented...Our conclusion:

'Elvis Presley, Richard Nixon, and the American Dream' is an interesting book since it goes into the backgrounds of the lives of two men we all know, the 'American Dream' is the red line used to tell the stories of these two people. These backgrounds add some interesting views on the youth of Elvis dealing with a lot of rumours surrounding his upbringing. Besides that, the view from which this book is written is different from other Presley-books which makes it also interesting. For those like us, primary interested in Elvis, we must mention there's a lot of 'Nixon' in this book about Elvis' life and achievements, but we admit to be narrow-minded...

Astounding parallels between the lives of Nixon and Presley
This book gave me a great amount of insight into the lives of both Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon which I did not know before reading. The lives of Presley and Nixon, from their upbringing to their metoric rise to fame and success, had many surprising, unseen parallels which this book explained very well. The way the book is written, comparing the lives of Presley and Nixon as they grew and evolved, really illustrated to me how similar the course of events which lead to their rise and fall were to each others. This book is an interesting read as well as a thoroughly researched text which I would recommend to not only the Elvis or Nixon buff, but any person who wants insight into the climate of the late twentieth century ... Read more