Watergate

De: Garrett M. Graff

Narrado por: Jacques Roy, Garrett M. Graff

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “Do we need still another Watergate book? The answer turns out to be yes—this one.” —The Washington Post * “Dazzling.” —The New York Times Book Review

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky, comes the first definitive narrative history of Watergate—“the best and fullest account of the crisis, one unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)—exploring the full scope of the scandal through the politicians, investigators, journalists, and informants who made it the most influential political event of the modern era.

In the early hours of June 17, 1972, a security guard named Frank Wills enters six words into the log book of the Watergate office complex that will change the course of history: 1:47 AM Found tape on doors; call police.

The subsequent arrests of five men seeking to bug and burgle the Democratic National Committee offices—three of them Cuban exiles, two of them former intelligence operatives—quickly unravels a web of scandal that ultimately ends a presidency and forever alters views of moral authority and leadership. Watergate, as the event is called, becomes a shorthand for corruption, deceit, and unanswered questions.

Now, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Garrett M. Graff explores the full scope of this unprecedented moment from start to finish, in the first comprehensive, single-volume account in decades.

The story begins in 1971, with the publication of thousands of military and government documents known as the Pentagon Papers, which reveal dishonesty about the decades-long American presence in Vietnam and spark public outrage. Furious that the leak might expose his administration’s own duplicity during a crucial reelection season, President Richard M. Nixon gathers his closest advisors and gives them implicit instructions: Win by any means necessary.

Within a few months, an unsteady line of political dominoes are positioned, from the creation of a series of covert operations code-named GEMSTONE to campaign-trail dirty tricks, possible hostage situations, and questionable fundraising efforts—much of it caught on the White House’s own taping system. One by one they fall, until the thwarted June burglary attracts the attention of intrepid journalists, congressional investigators, and embattled intelligence officers, one of whom will spend decades concealing his identity behind the alias “Deep Throat.” As each faction slowly begins to uncover the truth, a conspiracy deeper and more corrupt than anyone thought possible emerges, and the nation is thrown into a state of crisis as its government—and its leader—unravels.

Using newly public documents, transcripts, and revelations, Graff recounts every twist with remarkable detail and page-turning drama, bringing readers into the backrooms of Washington, chaotic daily newsrooms, crowded Senate hearings, and even the Oval Office itself during one of the darkest chapters in American history.

Grippingly told and meticulously researched, Watergate is the defining account of the moment that has haunted our nation’s past—and still holds the power to shape its present and future.

©2022 Garrett M. Graff. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

I can’t get over how good this is

The deep dive into the full range of sources, compiled into a beautifully sequenced work and masterfully narrated with appropriate dispassion - it’s a brilliant treatment on this most challenging of subjects in modern American history.

Best Watergate book I’ve read (heard)

I have read several Watergate books, and this one is by far the easiest to understand. The author really made Watergate come to life and made all of the confusing pieces fit together.

Wonderful!!!!

So good that within the year I hope to listen to this again. Watergate and the cover up is complicated, and this book, laying out the players and facts in a logical and compelling way, was so helpful to me. Great narration. So many details, and still the book is compelling and interesting.

The Depth

I appreciated the depth the author achieved with the complex situation. He was able to clearly present a multi layered story that has profoundly affected US politics for decades since.

The long version

Seems like a complete story of the goings on in this event. Told from the perspectives of the inner most characters. A long listen…..it answered for me some of the questions about this event.

Fantastic - the only Watergate book you’ll ever need

I started reading this as an admirer of the author’s method that combines oral history and comparisons of existing statements and memoirs. This is the most entertaining objective record of Watergate I’ve come across The sprawling timeline and long list of players makes Watergate a difficult read anywhere, this is not.
Excellent performance by the voice actor bringing the reader into the story.
Loved this.

Very interesting

For whatever reason I enjoy the history of watergate. This book is comprehensive and well crafted. It’s an amazing piece of American history.

A Captivating Watergate Narrative

I am delighted to listen to the history Watergate being told with so many documentable events. The people involved in this historic event changed our nation. The echoes of these events reverberate in our nation’s political life. I’d recommend this book to anyone concerned with the welfare of our country.

Such an incredible history told here!!!!!

I just loved this book. I loved to here how our constitution survived and to see that everyone was help accountable for their choices. It’s a shame though that after all this, Nixon still didn’t think he had done anything wrong. That’s a major problem in our nation— no one takes accountability for the poor choices they make. We love to blame others or make excuses instead of holding ourselves accountable. What a complex and convoluted story, and also such an important one. It really held my attention. Great writing. Great narration.

Thorough but captivating

A book this length about a “third rate burglary” could be boring but the pacing was good, writing clear and compelling and narrator was excellent.