Nixon Volume III: 1973-1990 Recovery

Stephen E. Ambrose's Nixon: Ruin and Recovery, 1973-1990, is the concluding part of his widely acclaimed biography of Richard Milhous Nixon, a man often regarded as the most intriguing politician in American history. Few individuals have held the world's attention to the degree that Nixon did, as he was both admired and despised, revered and cursed. Drawing on Nixon's own words, personal writings, and recorded conversations, Ambrose skillfully portrays the man and his contradictions as he confronts the Watergate scandal and its aftermath, depicting the arduous journey back into public life.

Watergate is a tale of high stakes and underhanded tactics, of deceit and bribery, of greed and a hunger for power. At its core lies the nation's and much of the world's fixation on President Richard Nixon himself. It is an exceptional narrative of reckless courage, as Nixon gambles it all in an attempt to salvage his dignity and hold onto his position, fully aware that he alone possesses the ability to shape the outcome of the scandal, whether through resignation, confession, destruction of evidence, or defiance of the courts and Congress.

Ambrose delves into how Nixon's downfall was self-inflicted, resulting from a combination of hubris and indecisiveness, which allowed a seemingly insignificant break-in to snowball into a scandal that overwhelmed his presidency. Nevertheless, even in the face of exile from Washington and the Republican Party, and despite the overwhelming national outcry that tarnished his name, Nixon refused to fade into obscurity. Ambrose provides a vivid portrayal of an older Nixon residing in San Clemente, revealing his unwavering determination and setting the stage for an improbable resurgence - an unexpected return to the political arena. Despite all odds, Nixon transformed from an outcast to a respected elder statesman, esteemed both at home and internationally, even by those who had previously been among his fiercest critics.

Nixon's final disgrace and astonishing recovery form the core of this remarkable narrative, shedding light on a man who faced redemption amidst the ruins of his own making.

product information: