Nixon: A Life

First, the book is a page turner. It is well written and entertaining. If you read this book for anything else, read it for its readability. I like the fact that the book paints Nixon as a person. I really enjoyed his early life stories and his pursuit of Alger Hiss. His life throughout the book is nothing less than a raw determination to succeed with all its ups and downs. As most biographies focus on a characters one major event for 3/4 of the book, this book covers his life with good balance.

Richard Nixon will forever be associated with Watergate, but as Jonathan Aitken shows us, there was so much more to his life. Throughout this thoroughly researched study of the most villified American President in modern history, Aitken shows that view only scratches the surface of the real Richard Nixon. Aitken takes the reader through RN's modest upbringing in rural California, to his noble service in WWII, up to the Checkers speech, through the historic Kitchen Debate, and to his amazing politcal comeback in 68'. Aitken makes the reader feel as if they were there, backing up his writing with irrefutable evidence, experiencing these amazing events in person. The author's account of RN's historic trip to China, which brought about the normalization of relations, is worth the price alone. The back-channeling required and near disasters are riveting. These revelations only confirm the enormous part RN played in ending the Vietnam War as well as the Cold War. No Nixon book could be complete without addressing Watergate. Aitken, with his unequaled research, provides new insight as to who was responsible for what. Did Nixon give any orders? Who is Deepthroat? Did the plumbers go further than they'd been authorized? What about the missing minutes on the tapes? All these questions are answered in the fairest way, with thorough supportive evidence. If you're looking for an insight into one of the most infamous presidents in American history, this book is for you. Whatever your preconcieved notions are, you'll have to agree that this is the most unbiased book ever published about the 37th President of The United States Richard Milhous Nixon.

After reading this book, one can't help but be able to dispell the negative image associated with this brilliant president. Aitken does a remarkable job of objectively writing this book without being too much for or against Pres. Nixon. This will be a terrific book for both those that are fans of Nixon, and those that are not, or if you would like to know more about a true genius of our time.

The book in question is a beautifully written, well organized, thoroughly researched account of the man who would change America's history forever. It corrects the flaws of other books on Nixon, by not concentrating primarily on Watergate; instead, it includes his most essential contribution to America, his work on foreign policy. It is enthralling, appealing, intriguing, and over all, wonderful. As a freshman in high school with a tendency to daydream when reading, I simply could not put this book down, nor could I stop thinking about it when I DID put it down. An excellent book appropriate for Nixon fans or Nixon haters.

The book was very well written and shows Nixon from his roots and strong family ideals. The book was very in depth and showed Nixon's growth from an outsider to his great rise to President. Brought a new light to Nixon and surely future will treat Nixon with more diginity and show him as great diplomat despite his downfall