After the Fall: The Remarkable Comeback of Richard Nixon

“As Richard Nixon left the White House for the last time in August 1974, his future was bleak. Watergate and its bungled cover-up had led to Nixon’s resignation in disgrace. The “long national nightmare” was over, but what would become of the thirty-seventh President? Nixon’s friends and advisers reached out to President Gerald Ford seeking a pardon, as Nixon was in physical and mental distress. Nixon’s status was in limbo, a blood clot nearly killing him. Ford waffled in public regarding pardoning Nixon, but ultimately thought it would end the country’s suffering. Nixon recovered from his near-death experience but was facing financial ruin from the surgery and his back taxes. He needed to get back into the public eye and remake himself, as he successfully did in the past. His keen mind for world affairs and political advice brought more than a few leaders to call on him. His multi-part interview with David Frost showed contriteness, yet his strong resolve. His time in the wilderness would ultimately prove short-lived, as the politician in him could never be sidelined.

After the Fall is one of the few books about Richard Nixon to explore the polarizing figure in his two decades post-resignation. The author received permission from the Nixon estate in gaining access to Nixon’s papers, and the author spins this into journalistic gold. The book highlights the vulnerability and humility of an often misunderstood figure. A+
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