Customer Reviews

Nixon: A Life

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This generally favorable treatment of Richard Nixon does a nice job of offering his own words to explain the thoughts and emotions behind his fascinating political career. There are not a lot of outside sources used to add perspective, but those who are used lend some needed credibility. Overall, this won't open very many new windows into the Nixon White House, but it does answer the pressing question of what RMN himself thought about issues of the day and how things were allowed to get out of control.

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.

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.

Jonathan Aitken provides a good description of Nixon's early years, and this part of the book, in my view, provides the sharpest perspective on the personnality of R. Nixon. When the key topics, such as Watergate are approached, I felt that the narration lost its direction, and focused too much on conjecture. In the midst of uncertainty, giving the benefit of the doubt to Nixon might be generous, but not always justified. Nevertheless, this book is unique, and for those who enjoy this style of biography, a good introduction to Nixon

Aitken clearly writes a sympathetic biography of Nixon. Sometimes he goes too far toward apology for Nixon, whitewashing his obstruction of justice during Watergate and other crimes as being unimportant because they were unsuccessful. He portrays Nixon as almost always sinned-against, instead of the sinner.

Nonetheless, this is one of the better things that I have read about Nixon because it portrays him as a person instead of the personification of evil. You learn about his character, his motivations, his family, and his many important achievements in foreign policy (such as triangular diplomacy).

The strength of the book is Aitken's access to Nixon through several interviews, as well as interviews with many other key Nixon associates--a hostile biographer was never going to have this kind of access. The author does an excellent job explaining how Nixon transformed US foreign policy from the bipolar, anti-Soviet approach of Eisenhower, JFK, and LBJ into a sophisticated and much more effective triangular diplomacy. He provides much interesting material about Nixon's Quaker background and his spiritual ups and downs through out his life. Finally, he provides a good analysis of Nixon's well-planned and deliberate comeback after his resignation.

The weaknesses should also be mentioned--Aitken often portrays Nixon's views of his opponents as objective fact, and he too often assumes that conspiracies against Nixon explain away his misdeeds. He excuses Nixon's rough political campaigns as either a reaction to his opponents or as a result of the atmosphere of the times.

Overall, the writing is interesting, although it does not rise to the level of gripping. The book reveals several key facets of Nixon that are usually overlooked, and an intelligent and thoughtful reader can see through the apologetic elements. Although not perfect, it's still the best book or article that I have read on Nixon.

Nixon was hardly an angel, but he was never the evil man that many so-called biographers have portrayed him to be. This book is an excellent read for people that are interested in Nixon the President and Man as opposed to Nixon the Beast. He WAS human by the way.He had failings and personal demons to be sure, but this book doesn't harp on these failings as being the WHOLE story of Dick Nixons life. Nixon's admirable qualities do come through in this book instead of being buried or ignored. Nixon's rise to power was the product of his intellect and just plain hard work. There was never a silver spoon in Dick Nixon's mouth for sure, and he never forgot it. This was his strength and in the end his weakness. He always seemed to resent the "silver spoon" crowd and they returned the favor in spades. That crowd still finds it necessary to trample on his grave every chance they get. The negative books are still coming. The hatred is still there. It's sad that they still find the need to attack him all of these years after his death. Dick Nixon would find it gratifying that he still has that effect on them. Read the book, it's great.

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