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Richard M. Nixon: Our Thirty-Seventh President (Spirit of America: Our Presidents)

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When it comes down to who are the two most important American Presidents in the 20th century the only possible choices are Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard M. Nixon. At first glance it would seem the choice for the top spot would obviously go to FDR. After all, he had to deal with both the Great Depression and World War II. But in terms of the events of my lifetime it is equally clear that Nixon had the greater impact, changing American politics because of the Watergate scandal and eventually redrawing the map of the world because of his foreign policy of detente. Young readers might not really appreciate the idea that "Only Nixon could go to China," but they will get a sense that despite the flaws in his character, Richard Nixon's presidency had a big impact on the country and world in which they live.

Ann Graham Gaines begins this juvenile biography of Nixon for the Our Presidents series with the fact that this was the first president of the United States to resign from office, but that he is remembered as an important leader. Nixon's life is divided into four chapters: (1) Young Nixon covers his childhood, education, marriage to Pat Ryan, and his military service in World War II; (2) Early Political Career traces his rise from Congressman to Senator to Vice-President for Dwight Eisenhower; (3) President Nixon begins with his lose to John F. Kennedy in the 1960 election and ends with him being reelected to a second term in 1972; and (4) Nixon Resigns tells why all of his accomplishments were washed away by a political scandal. It is not surprising; therefore, that Gaines spends more time explaining Watergate and how the cover-up rather than the burglary that eventually forced the President to resign. Given what young readers may now about the Clinton impeachment, they will certainly find this an interesting story to read about.

Given my own thoughts about Nixon this book certainly conforms to my expectations. Although it touches on the Vietnam War, the two things young readers will get from this volume is that Nixon established relations between the United States and both China and the Soviet Union, and that Watergate ended his presidency. The result is a competent introduction to Nixon's life, which is really too full to be handled in a volume this small, but Gaines hammers home the basics. The book also contains detailed sidebars on Pat Nixon, The Office of Vice President, and Nixon in China, while the margins are filled with Interesting Facts (e.g., Nixon visited every continent except Antarctica as Vice-President). Illustrations consist of both color and black & white photographs detailing Nixon's personal and political life. Final Note: The policy in these books is to refer to the subject by their first name, which I understand, but it sure is strange to see Nixon referred to as "Richard" the entire book, and anybody in school during his years in the White House will understand exactly why that is the case.