With so many Watergate books, it must be asked: Do we need another? In this instance, yes. Because . . . Olson provides a concise and readable overview of the entire mess, making often highly complex and convoluted information accessible, not to mention interesting. . . . Olson's book is particularly timely. Watergate grew out of the Vietnam War and ... Read morethe rationalizations of a wartime president who believed his actions were justified in the name of national security. Today we again are a nation at war (against terrorism). There has never been a better time to recall the lessons of Watergate, lest history repeat itself.
John Dean in The Chicago Tribune Succinct and lively and apt to find its way into courses on U.S. history since 1945. . . . [Olson's argument is] compelling. . . . [He] explains, in a most thoughtful way, why Watergate happened.
Journal of American History Olson has put together this concise and comprehensive synthesis of Watergate to fill three purposes: to provide a readable account for those unversed in this now-receding history; to examine the unraveling of the Watergate cover-up; and to argue that the unmasking of the scandal, and Nixon's ultimate resignation, was the product of a bipartisan effort. . . . A brilliant synthesis, accessible to nonspecialist undergraduates, of a history that all presidency students need to know.
Perspectives on Political Science Olson's book provides an excellent, compact narrative of a crucial moment in the history of the American presidency.
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