U.S. v. Richard M. Nixon: The Final Crisis

by Frank Mankiewicz

In the end, the "system" with all its imperfections, worked. It had been corrupted and brutalized by "high crimes and misdemeanors" beyond anything in our history. But the institutions of government, prodded by elements of the inquiring press and indignant popular response to the disclosure of extraordinary presidential misconduct, moved inexorably to The Articles of Impeachment, and the resignation of Richard M. Nixon.

In his earlier book, Perfectly Clear: Nixon From Whittier to Watergate, Frank Mankiewicz described Richard Nixon's political career in all its shabby detail from the day he entered California politics to the day - in 1973 - he faced an astonishing catalog of accusations. Mankiewicz reviewed the evidence and the statutes and flatly urged impeachment. There were those who thought he had proposed too strong a remedy. Yet, the events that followed in swift succession confirmed his foresight and the correctness of the remedy he proposed.

Mankiewicz now presents a fresh and provocative examination of the post-Agnew chronology: "The Saturday Night Massacre"; the Cox Affair, and a particularly rewarding explanation of Leon Jaworski's role; the Tapes, missing, erased, subpoenaed; the Tax Story; Operation Candor, dissecting the "truth" of each Nixon statement; the Hughes/Rebozo money, including the best explanation to date for the original burglary; the Indictments, guilty pleas, trials and convictions; public opinion and press/media coverage in a uniquely extensive review; and the impeachment process.

Genres: Politics, History

276 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Frank Mankiewicz (1924 – 2014) was an American journalist, political adviser, president of National Public Radio, and public relations executive.

He was the son of screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and the nephew of director Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Reviews

[Judith Klein-dial]

I really like this, thought I'd read everything that came out at the time, but I missed this one. His premise, that the prosecutors & Congress were looking at the scandal as a LEGAL issue and the White House as a POLITICAL one makes a lot of otherwise seemingly bizarre behavior by the White House sensible. The book was a great Aha! for me, much like when I heard Haldeman say something like, "There was no conspiracy per se. My job was to make whatever happened that day appear to be the best I could."