Richard M. Nixon

When it comes to the art of political warfare, the epithet “Nixonian” is reserved for those figures suspected of playing the dirtiest tricks or harboring the most paranoid and destructive beliefs. The term’s progenitor, Richard Milhous Nixon, fit the bill perfectly. A socially awkward, deeply introverted man, Nixon had few friends, was virtually incapable of small talk, and despised meeting people, or “pressing the flesh,” as he put it. He was insecure, self-pitying, vindictive, angry, suspicious, and yes, sometimes Nixon was literally paranoid. He was capable of holding and nurturing grudges and resentments for years, periodically lashing out at his enemies, both real and perceived.

But as veteran Washington, D.C., journalist and author Elizabeth Drew writes in this penetrating and surprising new biography, “Nixon was much more than the cartoon figure with the perpetual five o’clock shadow.” Indeed, though his presidency is seen almost entirely through the prism of Watergate and impeachment, Nixon accomplished far more than he is usually given credit for. Furthermore, despite his legendary sense of self-pity, Nixon was “amazingly resilient to the end.” Not only did he survive vast and resounding defeats—nearly all of which would have completely crushed most other politicians—but he kept returning to the political stage, creating multiple “New Nixons” for the public, some of whom loved him, some of whom loved to hate him.

How did this difficult and politically improbable figure become America's 37th president? Drew argues that in addition to his remarkable political and emotional resilience, “Nixon displayed extraordinary grit.” He was a tireless worker, a politician who studied and memorized the country on a district-by-district basis, always doing favors for other politicians, and always expecting their support as payment.

Tracing Nixon’s career from his California youth to his rise within the ranks of the Republican Party and his growing reputation as a fierce political fighter and outspoken Cold Warrior, Drew also devotes significant attention to Nixon’s more progressive legacy, including most notably his creation as president of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

But as Drew argues, the seeds of Nixon’s downfall were sown from the start. “The mixing of his psyche with the presidency,” she writes, “made for a poisonous brew, with tragic consequences, as he became the first president to be driven from office.”

A provocative and highly revealing portrait of one of America’s most controversial and divisive leaders, this riveting volume is a superb addition to the acclaimed American Presidents Series.