In the Shadow of the White House: A Memoir of the Washington and Watergate Years, 1968-1978

By: Jo Haldeman

Narrated by: Jo Haldeman

Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

For her first 40 years, Jo Haldeman’s life followed a conventional path. While her husband, Bob, built his career in advertising, Jo comfortably settled into her role as mother of four, housewife, and community volunteer.

In 1968, Jo’s world changed dramatically. Richard Nixon was elected President of the United States, and Bob was offered the job of a lifetime - White House Chief of Staff. As Jo and Bob discussed the opportunities and challenges that this move would entail, little did she anticipate the course that her life, and her relationship with Bob, would take over the next 10 years.

In this insightful, poignant, and guileless memoir of those 10 years, Jo shares her story as the wife of H. R. Haldeman, often referred to as the second most powerful person in the White House. She offers a window into the world of trips on Air Force One, weekends at Camp David, and events at the White House, as well as family vignettes and the growing stresses of her husband’s demanding job.

Then a bungled burglary at the Watergate erupted into a national scandal. The news began to feature the Haldeman name. Blaring headlines and vicious political cartoons accompanied new revelations of a cover-up. Multiple investigations and Senate hearings followed. Criminal proceedings loomed.

Jo’s compelling account takes the listener on her journey from the heady heights of Washington life through an excruciating public resignation and trial to her husband’s conviction and imprisonment. In a true period piece, Jo illuminates the story of the "woman behind the man" and personalizes the Watergate experience.

©2017 Jo Haldeman (P)2017 Jo Haldeman

I love this memoir!

I have listened to this memoir at least six times. Haldeman’s style is so persuasive and familiar. After reading so many tomes in which her husband Bob is portrayed as an almost-monster, it is helpful to have an account that humanizes him and demonstrates what a loving family they have. Kudos to Jo for providing a portrait of her life that resonates with us all!

Authentic

Jo Haldeman's sincerity and authenticity won me over. She had an obvious bias, but it is understandable. Listening to her story-the rollercoaster of Watergate-was compelling.

The Most Personal Watergate Memoir Ever

Jo Haldeman, wife of the late H. R. Haldeman, writes what is perhaps the most personal account of Watergate. Written from her perspective, it is more a tale of two people, herself and her husband, than Watergate or the Nixon administration. In fact, Mr. Haldeman's experiences in the White House play a supporting role to the central character, their marriage.

Anyone familiar with Watergate knows what happened, but Mrs. Haldeman writes in the present tense, as the events unfold. She is unaware of what is to come as Watergate unravels, a perspective we can't possibly have 47 years later. Mrs. Haldeman writes so well, and narrates with such feeling, that it is hard not to forget this is a true account, not a novel.

I hate to say anything critical because Mrs. Haldeman writes from her heart, sharing her feelings and fears, all of which are uniquely hers. The book drags a little during her recounting of visits to her husband in prison. They obviously were important to her and the development of their marriage. I also found it hard to be sympathetic for their financial woes while he was unemployed. They managed to fly back and forth across the country, keep a gardener on staff, and continue to send their children to private schools.Those bits aside, the book is nearly flawless. I recommend it to students of history and to anyone who wants to see a marriage that is strong and can withstand the ultimate test that prison and national ridicule can bring.

Fascinating story read by the author

Very interesting memoir of wife of President Nixon's chief of staff who went to prison.

A painful story written in detail

I was amazed at the amount of time taken to compile this account. You feel drawn into the story and you quickly care about them. It's a very sad account, of course, but you also get lessons of resilience and family unity. I feel so bad for them and it frustrates me that so often the news media only wants to tell what is sensational and sells--not always concerned about accuracy or truthfulness or how they can hurt people by their words.

It takes a while to adjust to Jo's reading, but give it some time to adjust. She does a good job!

This is well worth the read.