Richard Millhous Nixon

[Shoshana O'Keefe]

Seriously nice pick, Gaby.  You brought the magic that day.

Let's get to business:

Doodle poll.  Open to times other than 1:00 but that's the default because it's a nice time of day to meet.  Let me know if you can come on a particular day but at a different time.

Some book recommendations:

Nixonland  I really, really recommend it.  It is long but is both a legitimate biography AND a wonderful description of cultural changes during that time, which I would argue is essential if your goal is to understand Nixon.  And I should say that I haven't actually read the last 200 pages or so, so I'm not sure how much treatment there is of Watergate.  I think it was 1971 when I left off.  

Another one that looks interesting is President Nixon: Alone in the White House.  The Amazon review liked it but says its desire to not be political causes it to leave out some critical analysis.  Sounds like a legitimate book otherwise, and it's 200 pages shorter than Nixonland.  I may go for this one after I finish Nixonland.

There are a few others, but be careful of the Republican apologist ones, unless you're into that sort of thing.  I found a few that sounded like they might have been alright until I saw that all the positive reviews came from Fox News contributors.  

I would appreciate it if anyone finds and chooses another book to let me know.  I want to be aware of what's out there so I can help others find the right book.

But first things first - get that doodle filled out and we'll set a date.  I might have more book recommendations in the next email.

Shoshana

[Gabriella Raymond]

I have already ordered Ambrose's "Nixon: Ruin and Recovery" - the second of a three volume biography.

It might end up falling into the "apologist" category, though I would describe him more as falling into a "fanboy" mentality based on the Eisenhower biography I read of his.

Shoshana

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[Nathan Phillips]

I thought about the Ambrose books, mostly because I think he’s one of the greatest historians of our time. But I don’t think I can bring myself to read 2500 pages about Nixon (in all three volumes). BTW - Ruin and Recovery is the third volume in the series, covering 1973-1990. I was contemplating reading the other two but will probably pick another.

Is there a favorite for audio book options? Mike, find anything you like?

-Nathan

---

Nathan Phillips

nathanp...@mac.com

510-517-1505

[Michael Williams]

I downloaded NixonLand; it's 36 hours, but this guy had a long career and was a real piece of work, I think it'll be amusing and informative if I'm ever at a dinner party:D

[Nathan Phillips]

Very good! I’ll give it a go as well. Thanks!

---

Nathan Phillips

nathanp...@mac.com

510-517-1505

[Shoshana O'Keefe]

So I'm about to call it for Sunday April 19th.  A few of you haven't responded to the doodle poll.  Please do so soon or forever hold your peace.

Shoshana, President of President-Themed Book Clubs

[Sally Francis]

Hi, All —

Re: books

I’m re-reading the first part, at least, of Nixonland. It’s really interesting all the way through, but less about Nixon himself later on, and only starts with his life as an adult. I noticed in Perlstein that he only references Ambrose’s volume 2, and (as a psychologist with no current clients), I want to know more about this complicated guy’s childhood. So I’m going to read Ambrose vol.1. Wish me luck!

Sally

[Shoshana O'Keefe]

I'm certain there is a chapter about his childhood in it. Keep reading- the book skips around!

But also, Ambose... More power to you! I have a 2+ week vacation between now and our next meeting so maybe I'll tackle it too.

[Shoshana O'Keefe]

Thanks for participating, everyone!  I'm calling it for Saturday April 19 at 1:00.  

See you all then!

On Wed Feb 04 2015 at 3:38:17 PM Shoshana O'Keefe <shoshan...@gmail.com> wrote:

So I'm about to call it for Sunday April 19th.  A few of you haven't responded to the doodle poll.  Please do so soon or forever hold your peace.

Shoshana, President of President-Themed Book Clubs

On Tue Feb 03 2015 at 3:53:47 PM Nathan Phillips <nathanp...@mac.com> wrote:

Very good! I’ll give it a go as well. Thanks!

---

Nathan Phillips

nathanp...@mac.com

510-517-1505

On Feb 3, 2015, at 3:16 PM, Michael Williams <yodas...@gmail.com> wrote:

I downloaded NixonLand; it's 36 hours, but this guy had a long career and was a real piece of work, I think it'll be amusing and informative if I'm ever at a dinner party:D

On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 2:33 PM, Nathan Phillips <nathanp...@mac.com> wrote:

I thought about the Ambrose books, mostly because I think he’s one of the greatest historians of our time. But I don’t think I can bring myself to read 2500 pages about Nixon (in all three volumes). BTW - Ruin and Recovery is the third volume in the series, covering 1973-1990. I was contemplating reading the other two but will probably pick another.

Is there a favorite for audio book options? Mike, find anything you like?

-Nathan

---

Nathan Phillips

nathanp...@mac.com

510-517-1505

On Feb 3, 2015, at 2:25 PM, Gabriella Raymond <gabyr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have already ordered Ambrose's "Nixon: Ruin and Recovery" - the second of a three volume biography.

It might end up falling into the "apologist" category, though I would describe him more as falling into a "fanboy" mentality based on the Eisenhower biography I read of his.

On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 1:42 PM, Shoshana O'Keefe <shoshan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Seriously nice pick, Gaby.  You brought the magic that day.

Let's get to business:

Doodle poll.  Open to times other than 1:00 but that's the default because it's a nice time of day to meet.  Let me know if you can come on a particular day but at a different time.

Some book recommendations:

Nixonland  I really, really recommend it.  It is long but is both a legitimate biography AND a wonderful description of cultural changes during that time, which I would argue is essential if your goal is to understand Nixon.  And I should say that I haven't actually read the last 200 pages or so, so I'm not sure how much treatment there is of Watergate.  I think it was 1971 when I left off.  

Another one that looks interesting is President Nixon: Alone in the White House.  The Amazon review liked it but says its desire to not be political causes it to leave out some critical analysis.  Sounds like a legitimate book otherwise, and it's 200 pages shorter than Nixonland.  I may go for this one after I finish Nixonland.

There are a few others, but be careful of the Republican apologist ones, unless you're into that sort of thing.  I found a few that sounded like they might have been alright until I saw that all the positive reviews came from Fox News contributors.  

I would appreciate it if anyone finds and chooses another book to let me know.  I want to be aware of what's out there so I can help others find the right book.

But first things first - get that doodle filled out and we'll set a date.  I might have more book recommendations in the next email.

Shoshana

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[Shoshana O'Keefe]

What a reasonable question, Mike!!

Of course I mean Sunday April 19th.  

On Wed Feb 04 2015 at 8:08:35 PM Michael Williams <yodas...@gmail.com> wrote:

Do you mean Sunday 4/19? Or Saturday 4/18?

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[Krzysztof Odyniec]

I believe this (April 19) is the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the shot heard 'round the world. I only know this because I used to live in Boston and Hannah grew up in Concord (that one)

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

Emerson, "Concord Hymn"

[Krzysztof Odyniec]

Rick Perlstein on Fresh Air:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93848994

[Shoshana O'Keefe]

Thanks, Chris!  I should mention that I've recently realized that book doesn't cover Watergate.  So, that sucks.  Kind of a problem for the club, as that is certainly an important topic when discussing Nixon.  If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.  Maybe we could assign some extra study material about that subject?  If someone wants to read a few hundred extra pages, it's definitely covered in the beginning of The Invisible Bridge, the sequel to Nixonland that focuses on Reagan, but that might not be the ideal solution given limited time.

While we mull that over, I'll send the latest dispatch from my trip with Laura, now in its Washington DC phase.  To catch you all up, the Hamilton musical was A-mazing, covering his life in an amazing amount of detail, mostly in rap form.  I can't believe this thing got made.  Obviously we don't have any pictures of the performance but here is a picture with me and Laura in front of a statue of AH himself.  

Another great relic from our trip is something we saw that the Smithsonian Museum of American History today - the actual induction balance machine invented by Alexander Graham Bell!  Totally fucking amazing. Note the totally inadequate explanation on the plaque. They also have the hat Lincoln was wearing at the Ford Theater.  

A-Mazing.

[Sally Francis]

Hi, all —

For those of you/us who are currently a bit overwhelmed by the amount of written material about our boy Dick — here’s a suggestion:

 I was initially suspicious of Oliver Stone’s “Nixon” movie —because I don’t like his sort of hysterical take on history, but I ended up liking the movie quite a bit. Anthony Hopkins doesn’t resemble him, but he’s an amazing actor and does what I thought to be impossible: create some sympathy for this tortured, screwed up disaster of a president. Lots of quasi-psychology, some of it pretty convincing. Also some dark hints of nefarious CIA doings, never spelled out, but intriguing anyway —we know that the CIA was out of control then, so probably accurate. Pat gets in some good licks, too. The movie’s focus, naturally, is on his emotional disintegration during and after Watergate. Shosh is now in possession of a DVD, which I’m sure she’ll make available.

I’m currently slogging through the first volume of Ambrose — skimming, now. He’s still VP. Sigh.

Sally

On Mar 3, 2015, at 8:15 PM, Shoshana O'Keefe <shoshan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks, Chris!  I should mention that I've recently realized that book doesn't cover Watergate.  So, that sucks.  Kind of a problem for the club, as that is certainly an important topic when discussing Nixon.  If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.  Maybe we could assign some extra study material about that subject?  If someone wants to read a few hundred extra pages, it's definitely covered in the beginning of The Invisible Bridge, the sequel to Nixonland that focuses on Reagan, but that might not be the ideal solution given limited time.

While we mull that over, I'll send the latest dispatch from my trip with Laura, now in its Washington DC phase.  To catch you all up, the Hamilton musical was A-mazing, covering his life in an amazing amount of detail, mostly in rap form.  I can't believe this thing got made.  Obviously we don't have any pictures of the performance but here is a picture with me and Laura in front of a statue of AH himself.  

Another great relic from our trip is something we saw that the Smithsonian Museum of American History today - the actual induction balance machine invented by Alexander Graham Bell!  Totally fucking amazing. Note the totally inadequate explanation on the plaque. They also have the hat Lincoln was wearing at the Ford Theater.  

A-Mazing.

<IMG_0760.JPG><IMG_0783.JPG>

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[Nathan Phillips]

I’m fighting my way through Nixonland. It’s well written I think, and detailed very nicely. But I’m just angry all the time now…. One thing that keeps me going is the fact that I’ll get to see DIck get his just desserts around Watergate. The idea I might not get there is killing me so I’m just going to ignore that. If I don’t get my Watergate fix, I’ll very gladly watch the movie. Thanks!

---

Nathan Phillips

nathanp...@mac.com

510-517-1505

[Brian Andrews]

What!?!?!! Nixonland doesn't cover wategate in its 900 pages? The book is well written but It making me paranoid and anxious. Each paragraph has about three racial injustices and two underhanded political schemes. I am a third of the way in,but now may need to change course...

Brian Andrews
www.brianandrews.org
510.421.0036

[Sally Francis]

Ambrose vol 3 is titled : "Ruin and Recovery” It covers Watergate, till the Very End…

I will skip vol 2, I think, and read Nixonland

Sally