The Final Days

De: Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein

Narrado por: Holter Graham

“An extraordinary work of reportage on the epic political story of our time” (Newsweek)—from Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Pulitzer Prize–winning coauthors of All the President’s Men.

The Final Days is the #1 New York Times bestselling, classic, behind-the-scenes account of Richard Nixon’s dramatic last months as president. Moment by moment, Bernstein and Woodward portray the taut, post-Watergate White House as Nixon, his family, his staff, and many members of Congress strained desperately to prevent his inevitable resignation. This brilliant book reveals the ordeal of Nixon’s fall from office—one of the gravest crises in presidential history.

Outstanding

This is a wonderful read. It captured the corruption, dishonesty, recklessness and pettiness displayed by Nixon and his aides. But it's also a sad story of a man who fell so far so quickly. Nixon's political career was about projecting strength and fighting impossible fights. The book lays out how hard he pressed his aides for "options" before bowing to the pressure to resign. At the end, he was even bracing himself for jail time.

As unforgivable as Nixon's conduct was, I was struck by what an unlikely sequence of events - the arrest of the watergate conspirators, E. Howard Hunt's push for cash and clemency, Dean's cooperation with investigators and the exposure of the taping system - was needed to bring Nixon down. It's very easy for me to imagine Nixon having skated by if all these pieces hadn't come together in exactly the worst way for him.

The book also has some good lessons for lawyers with clients that are hiding things from them. Nixon wouldn't talk to his own lawyers, and he wouldn't let them listen to the tapes. I'm sure these were "red flags" but then again any lawyer would expect that the rules of the game would be different if your client is the president.

I'd be curious to know what (if any) parts of the book have been refuted by more recent evidence. As with any Woodward/Bernstein project, the book feels very meticulously put together.

I'd also be curious to know if there are scholars who would still argue on separation of powers grounds that Nixon would have been within his rights to burn the tapes, or not produce them. It would be the contrarian view, of course, but its not totally crazy. Or maybe it is crazy. I'm not sure.

It gave me a lot to think about, and I'm grateful to Woodward and Bernstein for the many enjoyable hours of listening.

Watergate and Beyond...

A part of history that we seem to be reliving in 2018. A painful but necessary read/listen for those of us who lived it as well as a new generation living it now...

Tremendously good

The reality of what went on with all the players in the Nixon family and White House and especially with Nixon himself is a truly mesmerizing account. One of the best I’ve listened to.

Gripping overview of Nixon’s Last Year

This book picks up where All The Presidents Men left off. It is meticulously researched and based on interviews with key White House staff, congressional leaders, and Nixon family members who played roles during the months leading up to Nixon’s resignation. The book is always interesting and enhanced by a great reader. A must read for anyone interested in Watergate and presidential history. Highly recommend.

Different Look

This book gives a different perspective on those final days of the Nixon Presidency from the News coverage of the day. I found the reading of the book by Holter Graham to be very good. I ended the book having found Nixon to be a sad individual looking for constant approval. Great book and great presentation. If you love political history, this book is a must and listening to it after having read it many years ago, I came away with a different perspective on this period in our history.