Nixon's White House wars
Subtitle: the battles that made and broke a president and divided America forever
By: Patrick J. Buchanan
Edition: First edition.
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 436
ISBN-13: 9781101902844
Subjects: Politics and government; Political culture; Friends and associates; Speechwriters; Presidents; Political consultants; Staff; Crisis management in government; Biography; History
Description: "From Vietnam to the Southern Strategy, from the opening of China to the scandal of Watergate, Pat Buchanan--speechwriter and senior adviser to President Nixon--tells the untold story of Nixon's embattled White House, from its historic wins to it devastating defeats. In his inaugural address, Nixon held out a hand in friendship to Republicans and Democrats alike. But by the fall of 1969, massive demonstrations in Washington and around the country had been mounted to break his presidency. In a brilliant appeal to what he called the 'Great Silent Majority,' Nixon sent his enemies reeling. Vice President Agnew followed by attacking the blatant bias of the media in a fiery speech authored and advocated by Buchanan. And by 1970, Nixon's approval rating soared to 68 percent, and he was labeled 'The Most Admired Man in America.' Then, one by one, the crises came, from the invasion of Cambodia, to the protests that killed four students at Kent State, to race riots and court ordered school busing. Buchanan chronicles Nixon's historic trip to China, and describes the White House strategy that brought about Nixon's 49-state landslide victory over George McGovern in 1972. When the Watergate scandal broke, Buchanan urged the president to destroy the Nixon tapes before they were subpoenaed, and fire Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, as Nixon ultimately did in the 'Saturday Night Massacre.' After testifying before the Watergate Committee himself, Buchanan describes the grim scene at Camp David in August 1974, when Nixon's staff concluded he could not survive. In a riveting memoir from behind the scenes of the most controversial presidency of the last century, Nixon's White House Wars reveals both the failings and achievements of the 37th president, recorded by one of those closest to Nixon from before his political comeback, through to his final days in office"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 422-424) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: Nixon in the 60s; title: Left behind; title: Storm warnings; title: "The great Silent Majority"; title: Agnew's hour; title: American kulturkampf; title: The Nixon court; title: The second reconstruction; title: Converting the Catholics; title: Cambodia and Kent State; title: The seven weeks war; title: The Pentagon papers; title: Nixon in China; title: "Turn all the dogs loose"; title: St. George & the dragon; title: Watergate erupts; title: "Burn the tapes!"; title: Before the Watergate Committee; title: Saturday night massacre; title: Final days; title: Ex-president, 1974-1994; title: Appendix.