Nixon's darkest secrets - The Inside Story of America's Most Troubled President

The most recent in a big stack of books exposing former President Richard M. Nixon as dishonest and dangerous. During Nixon’s presidency, longtime White House reporter Fulsom wrote about him for United Press International. Here the author pulls together previous research by other authors, mixing in occasional material newly released from archives, including memos written by FBI agents.

Among other indictments of Nixon, Fulsom alleges more extensive ties to organized crime than previously acknowledged; a homosexual relationship with Bebe Rebozo, one of Nixon's links to organized crime; vocal expressions of homophobia and anti-Semitism, taking hypocrisy and hatred to unprecedented levels within the White House; physical abuse of his wife, as well as abusive treatment of White House and political campaign aides; involvement in actual and planned murders of politicians and journalists considered to be enemies; and treason committed during the Vietnam War.

Many of Fulsom's allegations—some of which can fairly be labeled sensationalistic—are difficult to evaluate because they rely on a mixture of direct evidence, circumstantial evidence, rumor and gossip. For example, some researchers have found FBI memoranda to frequently contain factual and contextual inaccuracies as a matter of course; the author does not meaningfully address the reliability and validity of some of what he presents as evidence.

Though flawed, Fulsom's indictment is too extensive and potentially important to be relegated to the dustbin of recent history. The author is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of Nixon's crimes. A troubling exposé that might lead to conclusive proof of misdeeds currently suspected but not definitively researched.

Pub Date : 31/01/2012
ISBN : 978-0-312-66296-7
Publisher : Dunne/St. Martin's
Review Posted Online : Nov. 13th, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue : Dec. 1st, 2011
Author : Don Fulsom