Watergate as a Historical Event

Finally, a book with an analysis of Watergate as a historical event. The problem with previous books about Watergate is that they were all written from the perspective of the author and his/her view of reality. Kutler writes as a historian. Attempting to set the stage for the event and detailing the issues with careful analysis. It is an amazing work really. Sunday historians or "picture-book" readers will lose patience with the work due to the painstaking detail of the book. Kutler starts with a careful analysis of Nixon's political past then moves on to the reasons (or lack thereof) for the arrogrant presumption that whatever the President does is OK (except perhaps for getting a BJ in the White House). Since the President is basically in charge of National Security issues, he cannot break the law in protecting those interests. Until reading Kutler's brilliant book, I was confused as to where this concept originated and how Nixon and his staff could be so stupid to justify the actions surrounding Watergate. Kutler puts it all into perspective. It can be a tough read, however, since Kutler assumes that the reader knows something about 20th Century American History as well as posessing a basic understanding of the american political system. If you are looking for a "light" read, pass this one by. If you are prepared to be engrossed in the Watergate saga through a well-written, intelligent, and researched book, then buy this one. You will be happy you did.

The best book on the Watergate Scandal

This book goes into more detail than any others I've read. Putting Watergate into the wider context of an administration and President that is paranoid about secrecy, all the while taping his personal conversations. This book provides important details about all the major players in this drama from the powerful Haldeman, the petulant Gordon Liddy to the aspiring young attorney John Dean, there is an abundance of interesting drama in this tale, and you have to remind yourself that this actually happened. The new chapter of this book in hopefully a next edition will deal with the role played by "Deep Throat" Mark Felt of the FBI.

One of the more disturbing scenes for me in this book is the vote by the Congressional sub-committee for impeachment. Looking at the damning evidence that Nixon clearly obstructed justice, there were still numerous Republicans voting no for impeachment, among them a young congressman named Trent Lott. His sanctimonious blustering in the Clinton impeachment proceedings made my skin crawl knowing his own hypocrisy.

Anyone interested in American history should have this book in their collection.

A gripping review of the Watergate crisis

There is no scholar better versed in the matters of Watergate than Stanley Kutler, and this is his definitive account of the subject. In it he lays out in painstaking detail the course the crisis took, from its origins in the Nixon presidency to its legacy today. I expected such an account to be dull; instead, I found it impossible to put down. No reader can walk away from this book - with its extensive evidence and clearly-reasoned arguments - and not have a deeper understanding of what Watergate was and how it effected the nation, both then and now.