Customer Reviews

Watergate

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great book that became the basis for the Discovery Channel's 5-part documentary on Watergate. It is an extensive examination of the entire Watergate episode based on interviews with the relevant participants (excluding Nixon and Mitchell). In fact, Emery was one of the last people to interview Bob Haldeman before he died in 1993. If you don't believe what Emery writes or what Nixon's men said, I'd suggest viewing the Discovery Channel's documentary and you can see Haldeman, Erlichman, Colson, Magruder, LaRue, Dean, Liddy, etc... admit to what was going on in and around the White House.

If you're looking for a very readable and historically accurate account of Watergate, this is an excellent choice. No preposterous theories are advanced here, such as those in presented in Silent Coup. Instead, this book is based on interviews with the participants, the actual Watergate tapes, and tedious documentation of White House memos from the Nixon years. Emery also points out and attempts to resolve the many contradictions that exist among the published accounts of many of the Watergate players. While those that know all the secrets of Watergate are becoming fewer and fewer each year, this account is fairly difficult to dispute.

Finally, ignore the review written by True_Blue. Every one of his/her points are addressed in the first 100 pages of Emery's book. Based on the criticisms in that review, it is obvious that he/she never read this book.

As a Watergate junkie, I long had been frustrated that no one had written a comprehensive, chronological exposition of the scandal. I have read many of the personal accounts, and Woodstein, but, until this book, there was no single, all-encompassing narrative of Watergate. Emery's book is excellent, although it gets bogged down at times in the welter of minutiae that his exhaustive research, and the tapes, and all of the other books, provide. What this book exposes most starkly is the incredible arrogance and disdain for the law that President Nixon and his cohorts, including the Attorney General, exhibited with barely any second thoughts. The book also succeeds in telling the story of one of the greatest triumphs of American constitutional history -- the peaceful removal of a corrupt President and the orderly transfer of power. To my mind, the Watergate saga is a highlight of American democracy, and Emery's book reveals that.

I lived Watergate. I was a teen in McLean, Virginia when Nixon resigned. One of my classmates was a son of Robert Bork. Yet, after many years, I had to admit I didn't know much of what the fuss was about. This fine, objective book changed all that. Emery has consolidated the facts, identified the sources, and presented the alternate views that, within his sense of reason, deserve consideration. This is journalism as it should always be and, sadly, was not in the early '70s.

As you choose books about Watergate, consider this: When I started to read this one, in the Fall of 2000, I got only a few pages into it when I realized I was doing something important. I got out of my chair, locked my study door, turned off the phone, and sat back down to read. Only Shirer's book about the Third Reich has also induced such a feeling of moment.

After reading Emery's book, I must say he has an amazing grasp of the complex. It is rare that one author can provide such a gripping account of an event that is itself full of contradictory accounts. As the participants run for cover and attempt to discount each others testimony, Emery maintains one voice and keeps the reader on track.
This should be read by anyone who's knowledge of Watergate is limited to a viewing of "All the President's Men". Emery has done us a great service by producing such a readable account of THE American scandal.

This is a great book. It covers all aspects of Watergate from beginning to end. If you want to know how Watergate happened and who all of the players are, this is the book. The author also explained quite well all of the contradictory statements by those involved. An excellent definative account.

THis books presents clear and convincing evidence about the Watergate break-in. The analysis is first-rate and the author does an excellent job of showing the whos and whys behind Watergate. Read this if you only read one book.

A gripping and informative book. Whatever your views on Nixon and Watergate, this should enhance your understanding of events. Emery is extremely balanced and fair. His ability to take complex events and make them readable is nothing short of outstanding.

If you want an up-to-date account of the worst abuse of political power in the history of the United States, you have found your book - go ahead and place your order. As far as the "Silent Coup" book is sometimes referred to is sold at Klu Klux Klan rallies and appeals the extremists on the right. They would have you believe that Nixon, Liddy, Halderman, etc. were not the real criminals but that John Dean was(! ). John Dean has successfully sued the authors of the discredited (and, not surprisingly, out-of-print) "Silent Coup."

Those three traits seem to be the overriding factor in the downfall of our 37th president. The sheer size of corruption exhibited at THE highest level of our executive branch of government is striking and terrifying. At times, I had difficultly believing that so many intelligent people participated in what seems like endless felonies. This book is thoroughly researched, from Nixon's tapes to Halderman's diary, and is HIGHLY recommended by this very satisfied reader. Well worth the price!!

This is a terrific look back on the Watergate scandal. Emery writes that his purpose is to tell the story for those who did not live through Watergate, and in this he achieves success. The account is direct, informative, and accessible. I was in primary school during the time of Watergate and understood nothing of what was going on (despite my father's assurances to me during the Ervin hearings that I was watching history being made). The only flaw, if one could call it that, in Emery's approach to the book is his failure to recognize that his intended audience has difficulty regarding Nixon as exceptional among American presidents. For those of us who came of age during the presidential scandals of the 1980s and 1990s, it is hard to resist the idea that what makes Nixon different is that he was foolish enough to ensare himself through the secret taping system. Apart from that, the pattern of Nixon deceptions parallels that of Clinton and, one doesn't really doubt, other presidents who have managed to keep their political secrets. All that said, this is a fascinating book, and I recommend it to anyone in the post-baby boom generations who wants to understand why Nixon resigned.