Pat and Dick: The Nixons, An Intimate Portrait of a Marriage
Presidential biographer Swift (The Roosevelts and the Royals, 2004, and The Kennedys amidst the Gathering Storm, 2008) typically views his subjects through the lens of specific eras, events, or relationships. This time he focuses on the spousal team of Pat and Dick Nixon, zeroing in on the incredibly strong marriage that sustained them through both personal and political triumphs and humiliations. Although not without its struggles, disappointments, and detractors, their 53-year union was built on mutual respect, affection, and loyalty. This intimate portrait into their marriage not only humanizes their carefully constructed and often maligned public image but also illuminates the strong ties that irrevocably bound the private couple. Admire Nixon or revile him, his biggest success in life was forging a long-term marriage and fostering the devotion of his indomitable family unit. --Margaret Flanagan