The Haldeman Diaries: Inside the Nixon White House - Hardcover

H. R. Haldeman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0399139621 ISBN 13: 9780399139628

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1994

Synopsis

Never-before-published diaries from Richard Nixon's late Chief of Staff offer a meticulously detailed behind-the-scenes account of his years at the White House that included Agnew's resignation, Cambodian bombings, and Watergate.

About this title

Reviews

These diaries landed immediately on the best-seller list after their publication (no prepub galleys were available for review). Historians, however, won't extract much beyond daily reminders of Nixon's bark-off persona, especially his habit of airing all options, from the ludicrous to the realistic. Chief of Staff Haldeman was the PR guy, the scheduler, the enforcer (the lord high executioner, Nixon once said) who, though totally trustworthy as a sounding board for his boss, was a nonsubstantive decision maker. Haldeman dramatically tells, for example, of the August 1971 demolition of the world financial system without exhibiting much understanding of the economic ramifications. At bottom, Haldeman's diary is another thimbleful poured into the huge vat of Nixonia; however, the book's juicy quotations (such as those Nightline ran) boost interest dramatically. Gilbert Taylor

Edition details

• Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0399139621
• ISBN 13: 9780399139628
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 698