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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.
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Release date
February 15, 2022 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797131061
- File size: 732304 KB
- Duration: 25:25:37
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 1, 2022
The 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, part of a suite of "dirty tricks" employed by President Richard Nixon and his supporters, is upon us, leading to a flurry of titles exploring numerous facets of the events that led to Nixon's downfall. In his latest, historian and journalist Graff (The Only Plane in the Sky) explores the Watergate conspiracy in fascinating detail, covering the full scope of the scandal, from the leak of the Pentagon Papers to the break-in and its aftermath. A colorful cast of players emerges, from the White House "plumbers" to Judge John Sirica to Nixon himself. Narrator Jacques Roy strikes the right tone for an audiobook of this size and scope. His straightforward narration uses tone and pace to keep the narrative moving at a brisk clip. Listeners won't find cheap Nixon impersonations or unnecessary bombast, but that's not needed here. The story, bizarre as it is, takes center stage, as it should. At just over 25 hours, it's a significant investment of time, but listeners will emerge with a new understanding of Watergate and its ramifications for our current political moment. VERDICT Listeners with an interest in American history and politics will relish this excellent production of Graff's meticulously researched, comprehensive book.--Nanette Donohue
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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