The Nixon Tapes: 1971-1972 Simplified

Originally published in The Boston Globe, these transcripts provide an insider's view of the Richard Nixon presidency over a two-year period. They are the well-known and notorious Nixon White House tapes, which offer an uncensored and unfiltered look at President Richard Milhous Nixon in his own words. Nixon's voice-activated taping system recorded every conversation in the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, key White House locations, and at Camp David, capturing a total of 3,700 hours of recordings between 1971 and 1973. However, less than five percent of these conversations have been transcribed and published to date. Historian Luke Nichter's extensive work to digitize and transcribe the tapes has made it possible for the world to finally access an unparalleled account of one of the most significant and controversial presidencies in US history. This volume of The Nixon Tapes features compelling excerpts from the period during which Nixon established relations with China, negotiated the SALT I arms agreement with the Soviet Union, and achieved a resounding victory in his reelection campaign. Throughout these achievements, the looming presence of Watergate and Nixon's ultimate political downfall continued to draw closer. The Nixon Tapes offers a never-before-seen glimpse into the flawed president's hubris, paranoia, and political acumen, making it "essential for students of the era and fascinating for those who lived it" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

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