The most recommended Richard Nixon books

Who picked these books? Meet our 31 experts.

31 authors created a book list connected to Richard Nixon, and here are their favorite Richard Nixon books.
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Book cover of The President's Man: The Memoirs of Nixon's Trusted Aide

Geoff Shepard Author Of The Nixon Conspiracy: Watergate and the Plot to Remove the President

From my list on recent books about Richard Nixon.

Why am I passionate about this?

I joined the Nixon administration as a White House Fellow upon Harvard Law School graduation in 1969, so I wasn’t part of Nixon’s 1968 campaign. I served for five years, rising to associate director of the Domestic Council and ending as deputy counsel on Nixon’s Watergate defense team. Given my personal involvement at the time, coupled with extensive research over the past fifteen years, I’m among the foremost authorities on the Watergate scandal, but essentially unknowledgeable about people and events preceding the Nixon presidency. My five recommended books have nicely fill that gap – principally by friends and former colleagues who were actually “in the arena” during those heady times. 

Geoff's book list on recent books about Richard Nixon

Geoff Shepard Why did Geoff love this book?

Dwight Chapin joined former Vice President Richard Nixon’s staff in 1962, in connection with his unsuccessful California gubernatorial run. He functioned as Nixon’s personal aide for the next decade, spending hours and hours as his “body man.” I knew and worked with Dwight for the four years of Nixon’s first term as president, but worked on domestic policy initiatives and never had the “face time” with the President that he did.

Dwight’s book reflects fifty years of musings about one of our greatest presidents, yet one who resigned in disgrace because of Watergate. His stories, his insights, and his understandings of our 37th President are without parallel. 

By Dwight Chapin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The President's Man as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In time for the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's epic trips to China and Russia, as well as his incredible Watergate downfall, the man who was at his side for a decade as his aide and White House Deputy takes readers inside the life and administration of Richard Nixon.

From Richard Nixon's "You-won't-have-Nixon-to-kick-around-anymore" 1962 gubernatorial campaign through his world-changing trips to China and the Soviet Union and epic downfall, Dwight Chapin was by his side. As his personal aide and then Deputy Assistant in the White House Chapin was with him in his most private and most public moments. He…


Book cover of Watergate: A New History

James M. Banner Jr. Author Of Presidential Misconduct: From George Washington to Today

From James' 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Historian Institution-creator Political activist Outraged citizen

James' 3 favorite reads in 2023

James M. Banner Jr. Why did James love this book?

This is the best book on the first great American political crisis of recent memory. It’s unlikely ever to be surpassed. 

Its author, an experienced journalist, offers up almost 700 pages of propulsively brisk prose about the astonishing corruption, amateurishness, and stunning incompetence of the presidential administration of Richard Nixon. Even for someone who knows much of the scandal, it’s revelatory.

Were the book’s characters for real? Why did such a natively intelligent president fall prey to such destructive paranoia and surround himself with such fools?

Read as an adventure story, the book equals such rip-snorting classics as Treasure Island, such noir novels as the best of Raymond Chandler, and such comedies as those of the preposterous ones of P. G. Wodehouse. Hard to put down, it’s as close to being definitive as possible. Unfortunately, it remains timely.  

By Garrett M. Graff,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Watergate as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From Garrett Graff, 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 entered six words into the log book of the Watergate office complex that would change the course of history:…


Book cover of Campaign of the Century: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Election of 1960

Geoff Shepard Author Of The Nixon Conspiracy: Watergate and the Plot to Remove the President

From my list on recent books about Richard Nixon.

Why am I passionate about this?

I joined the Nixon administration as a White House Fellow upon Harvard Law School graduation in 1969, so I wasn’t part of Nixon’s 1968 campaign. I served for five years, rising to associate director of the Domestic Council and ending as deputy counsel on Nixon’s Watergate defense team. Given my personal involvement at the time, coupled with extensive research over the past fifteen years, I’m among the foremost authorities on the Watergate scandal, but essentially unknowledgeable about people and events preceding the Nixon presidency. My five recommended books have nicely fill that gap – principally by friends and former colleagues who were actually “in the arena” during those heady times. 

Geoff's book list on recent books about Richard Nixon

Geoff Shepard Why did Geoff love this book?

Gellman is a nationally-recognized historian, whose writings reflect thorough and insightful research. His earlier books – on Nixon’s time in Congress (The Contender) and as Eisenhower’s vice president (The President and the Apprentice) – meticulously debunked derogatory stories about Nixon, and this one on the 1960 campaign does the same. Many believe Theodore White’s Making of the President,1960 is the only authoritative account of that contest, but Gellman points out how White set out to idolize Kennedy and villainize Nixon – never once actually speaking to Nixon, either during or following the campaign. Gellman is an excellent writer, putting his readers right in the center of historic events. His final chapter, bringing the campaign all together is simply outstanding.

By Irwin F. Gellman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Campaign of the Century as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Based on massive new research, a compelling and surprising account of the twentieth century's closest election

"[Gellman] offers as detailed an exploration of the 1960 presidential race as can be found."-Robert W. Merry, Wall Street Journal

"A brilliant work . . . the research is absolutely phenomenal . . . This book should receive every accolade the publishing industry can give it, including the Pulitzer Prize."-John Rothmann, KGO's "The John Rothmann Show"

The 1960 presidential election between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon is one of the most frequently described political events of the twentieth century, yet the accounts to…


Book cover of Geneva: the addictive new psychological suspense crime thriller for 2024, now a Richard and Judy Book Club pick!

Miranda Rijks Author Of Make Her Pay

From Miranda's 3 favorite reads in 2024.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Reader Mountain-lover

Miranda's 3 favorite reads in 2024

Miranda Rijks Why did Miranda love this book?

This is a tense, sometimes distressing and compelling story, extremely original book set in Switzerland. It’s about Nobel prize winner Sarah Collier who is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s. She’s invited to be the guest speaker at the launch of a new biotech called Neurocell. Nothing is as it seems in this fast-paced thriller.

By Richard Armitage,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Geneva as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of The President's Man: The Memoirs of Nixon's Trusted Aide
Book cover of Watergate: A New History
Book cover of Campaign of the Century: Kennedy, Nixon, and the Election of 1960

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