Watergate: The Presidential Scandal That Shook America [Hardcover]

Keith W. Olson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2003

Arguably the greatest political scandal of twentieth-century America, the Watergate affair rocked an already divided nation to its very core, severely challenged our cherished notions about democracy, and further eroded public trust in its political leaders.

The 1972 break-in at Democratic National Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel--by five men acting under the direction of a Republican president's closest aides--created a constitutional crisis second only to the Civil War and ultimately toppled the Nixon presidency. With its sordid trail of illegal wiretapping, illicit fundraising, orchestrated cover-up, and destruction of evidence, it was the scandal that made every subsequent national political scandal a gate as well.

A disturbing tale made famous by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in All the President's Men, the Watergate scandal has been extensively dissected and vigorously debated. Keith Olson, however, offers for the first time a layman's guide to Watergate, a concise and readable one-volume history that highlights the key actors, events, and implications in this dark drama. John Dean, John Ehrlichman, H. R. Haldeman, G. Gordon Liddy, John Mitchell, Judge John Sirica, Senator Sam Ervin, Archibald Cox, and the ghostly Deep Throat reappear here--in a volume designed especially for a new generation of readers who know of Watergate only by name and for teachers looking for a straightforward summary for the classroom.

Olson first recaps the events and attitudes that precipitated the break-in itself. He then analyzes the unmasking of the cover-up from both the president's and the public's perspective, showing how the skepticism of politicians and media alike gradually intensified into a full-blown challenge to Nixon's increasingly suspicious actions and explanations.

Olson fully documents for the first time the key role played by Republicans in this unmasking, putting to rest charges that the liberal establishment drove Nixon from the White House. He also chronicles the snowballing public outcry (even among Nixon's supporters) for the president's removal. In a final chapter, Olson explores the Cold War contexts that encouraged an American president to convince himself that the pursuit of national security trumped even the Constitution.

As America approaches the thirtieth anniversary of the infamous Watergate hearings and the overreach of presidential power is again at issue, Olson's book offers a quick course on the scandal itself, a sobering reminder of the dangers of presidential arrogance, and a tribute to the ultimate triumph of government by the people.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this brief but excellent volume, University of Maryland historian Olson (whose The G.I. Bill: The Veterans and the Colleges was runnerup for the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize) provides an elegant, succinct account of the event that took center stage in American political life some 30 years ago. Providing what he calls "a layman's guide to Watergate," Olson does a first-rate job of narrating the White House-approved break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington's Watergate complex and its aftermath-most importantly, the dramatic proceedings of the Senate Watergate Committee, chaired by Sam Ervin-in a vivid, engaging and readable manner. Olson is a natural storyteller completely at home with one of the great tales of American politics in the late 20th century. The cast of characters is fascinating: the so-called "Plumbers," who executed the break-in, including the mercurial but brilliant former CIA operative, E. Howard Hunt; the hungry muckrakers Woodward and Bernstein; the nebulous "Deep Throat" (about whose identity Olson makes no guesses); the indefatigable Judge John J. Sirica; and Nixon henchmen Charles Colson, John Ehrlichman and H.R. Haldeman. Though not as in-depth as Stanley Kutler's benchmark Wars of Watergate: The Last Crisis of Richard Nixon, Olson's book provides an excellent, compact narrative of a crucial moment in the history of the American presidency. 20 photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Watergate remains the most dramatic, sensational and, ultimately, significant political scandal in American history. Keith Olson's tightly-woven narrative recounts that infamous story with verve and a sharp eye for telling detail. His book should appeal to a wide readership.--Stanley Kutler, author of Wars of Watergate: The Last Crisis of Richard Nixon

A smart, well-written, concise critique of the dark unraveling of the Nixon White House. A truly wonderful read.--Douglas Brinkley, author of American Heritage History of the United States

Olson's taut and telling overview of the Watergate debacle provides a masterful recounting of Richard Nixon's self-immolation.--David Farber, author of The Age of Great Dreams: America in the 1960s

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Kansas (May 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700612505
• ISBN-13: 978-0700612505
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,925,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history on Watergate fiasco, August 1, 2007

By 

Michael A Neulander "Political Philosophy" (VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watergate: The Presidential Scandal That Shook America (Hardcover)

Read this for graduate American history course.
Keith Olson's book "Watergate" describes the events that led up to the scandal that shook the American public like nothing it had ever experienced. When the public elects officials into office they do not anticipate such scandalous happenings as the one that tore our nation apart. The Watergate scandal left the American population feeling distrustful and pessimistic at one of the most vulnerable times in this nation's history. Everyone wondered how the nation would recover from something as tragic and polarizing as Watergate.

Nixon detested the media. He sought to control everything the press had to report about him and his administration. Nixon's turmoil began when he insisted that the Pentagon Papers stay out of the press. Despite his efforts, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment took precedence over what Nixon maintained was a compromise of national security. While the Pentagon Papers tainted some officials' reputations, there is no evidence to suggest the papers were a threat to national security (18).

Nixon's grave concern regarding re-election in 1972 was driven by three characteristics: his concern about public image, his desire for knowledge about the plans and activities of his opponents, and his heavy reliance on public opinion polls in order to gauge public reactions and to guide future decisions (23). He relied heavily on his White House staff to obtain the information he thought necessary to attain his goal of being re-elected.

Although Nixon's aides took great initiative in attempting to thwart any chance of the Democratic Party winning the election, they crossed the fine line which separates what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. The Plumbers, who were initially formed to stop unauthorized leaks of government information, overstepped their bounds which led to the Watergate scandal (18).

Nixon was overwhelmingly reelected in 1972. This pushed Watergate out of the mind of the public. However, in January the defendants were on trial. Judge Sirica concluded that the defendants of the Watergate break in were withholding knowledge. He threatened stiff penalties if they did not cooperate. Resignations of Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Dean and the acting director of the FBI were the result of James McCord (chief security for CREEP)disclosing information. (CREEP) was the Committee to Re-elect the President.) McCord testified against dean to receive a lesser sentence. Dean turned over names and as a result wanted immunity and continued to give information.

The Washington Post was the major paper that covered Watergate. Watergate played no role in the 1972 elections. People did not yet equate Nixon to Watergate. The journalists reported that CREEPfunds helped pay for Waterate.

The Watergate break-in was initiated by the Plumbers with G. Gordon Liddy, who had been hired by John Mitchell, at the helm. Although Nixon was unaware of the events at the time they occurred, he did learn of the burglary shortly thereafter. His reluctance to handle the scandal at the beginning resulted in the beginning of the end. President Nixon was so driven by secrecy that it clouded his judgment of right and wrong. When the major participants, John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. Haldeman, John Mitchell, Charles Colson, Robert C. Mardian, and Gordon C. Strachan, had to share information with President Nixon he should have immediately done the right thing.

Instead, the cover-up began. President Nixon was in complete denial. He managed to encumber the Watergate investigation for two years with his refusal to cooperate and turn over the necessary information. By hindering the process, President Nixon only hurt the nation by not allowing the scandal to come to a close. Furthermore, the American population saw the President behave in such a manner which tarnished the image of the highest position in the nation.

Due to President Nixon's poor judgment, eighteen of his aides went to prison and he narrowly avoided impeachment. His reliance on advisors and his own poor judgment cost him the presidency. Had he cooperated initially with the judicial system the ramifications and embarrassment would have not been as damaging. The fact that President Nixon never believed he did anything wrong crippled the government. The American people lost faith in the government because no one would have suspected the nation to be susceptible to such a crime. Olson's interpretation appears unbiased and gives a complete account of the events that led to President Nixon's downfall. His inclusion of what the media believed enhanced the book by explaining to the reader what the public opinion was in regards to the Watergate scandal. He continued to include the media's reaction to the events as they progressed, which showed how the public's reaction changed as the scandal continued. I found this to be an important aspect of the book because it provides the reader with a complete view of every angle of the Watergate scandal and demonstrates how much it affected the nation.

As a graduate student in philosophy and history, I recommended this book for anyone interested in American history, and Watergate history.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pointless, December 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Watergate: The Presidential Scandal That Shook America (Paperback)

As someone who has read several books on Watergate, I have to ask: why was this published? It contains no new research, no new interviews, no revelations. The entire book is cobbled together from other books, which means that far too many important points and details are glossed over or ignored. What's worse is Olson's prose, so flat and lackluster that it reads like a description of a Senate Appropriations Bill, rather than as the story of the greatest constitutional crisis of the 20th century. Don't be fooled by the inexplicable raves on the cover-this is barely adequate at best. For a thorough and compelling read on Nixon's downfall, read Fred Emery's Watergate instead.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Read "Nightmare" by Lukas instead!, March 18, 2009

By 

Homer Simpson "DOH!" (Springfield) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Watergate: The Presidential Scandal That Shook America (Paperback)

I agree with the "pointless" review here, but want to suggest starting with the incredible Anthony Lukas book "Nightmare" before Emery. THE LUKAS BOOK IS SIMPLY THE BEST INTRODUCTORY BOOK ON WATERGATE EVER WRITTEN. For those who seek a deeper understanding after Lukas, turn to Kutler.

This book is horribly conceived, organized, and written. It is a travesty that any hungry student should swallow this tripe when much better books are out there!