Twenty-five years after Richard Nixon resigned from office, his
legacy remains shrouded in controversy. His was a complex,
inconsistent, and even contradictory presidency, shaped by the
man's personality and political practices and played out during one
of America's most turbulent eras. Melvin Small now draws on the
latest archival releases to take a fresh look at Nixon and place
his administration in proper historical perspective.
Nixon once predicted that by the year 2000 scholars would begin
to evaluate his presidency more favorably. Small, however, steers a
steady course between Nixon's detractors and apologists to offer
the most balanced and thorough coverage yet available of the man's
character and accomplishments. He notes many of the solid
achievements of Nixon's domestic programs while criticizing some of
his more celebrated foreign policies, especially concerning the
Third World, and illuminates Nixon's broader influence on American
political institutions and culture.
Small's topical approach permits readers to observe the
development of an entire domestic program or international
relationship over an extended period, making it easier to
understand such drawn-out issues as reforming welfare or ending the
Vietnam War. Regarding Vietnam, Small integrates military and
diplomatic policy with Nixon's efforts to neutralize the antiwar
movement. His coverage of White House operations and Nixon's war
with the media precedes a particularly insightful chapter on
Watergate and the threat of impeachment. A closing chapter on
Nixon's post-presidential years reveals facts about his health and
his "blackmailing" of both Presidents Bush and Clinton, and a
bibliographic essay provides an extensive survey of the Nixon
literature.
He was the first president to travel to China and to call for
welfare reform, and although he left Washington under a cloud, many
of Nixon's ideas and policies have been embraced by Americans-a
legacy few presidents can claim. Small's book is a lively and
anecdotal account that looks at the many sides of Richard Nixon and
comes to grips with both the man and his presidency.
General
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