GOP 'Dirty Tricks': A Riveting History

You wouldn't think this anatomy of a political scandal (which should be dry as dirt) could be so fascinating and relevant over forty years after it brought down a presidency, but so it is. I looked forward to every possible opportunity to listen, and even purchased the Kindle edition in order to finish the book faster. The narrator is excellent, although occasionally the listener can hear him sipping water in between sections or chapters. The book is long, but never boring, and I ended up wishing it had been just a little longer so that Nixon's resignation could have been the final chapter, rather than just his defiant "I am not a crook" speech and his final State of the Union, in which he vowed never to quit.

One caveat: See the excellent movie (with Robert Redford & Dustin Hoffman as Woodward & Bernstein) before listening to or reading the book. The book is far more detailed, but when you see the film first, you'll have a good mental picture of the basic cast of characters that will help you keep them all straight while listening.

Grade: A+

28 people found this helpful

Disturbing. But we knew that.

The narrator was brilliant. You could even hear a bit of Dick Nixon in his voicing of Nixon's words.

Listening to this in July of 2016, I can see the effects of Nixon's paranoia still deeply entrenched in the GOP to this day. And now the bleed over to the far left. "Blame the press" was the Nixon White House's primary line of defense. I am struck at how this correlates to the far left and the mid to far right.

If you can't win on facts, blame the messenger. Unfortunately, it is far more effective now than it was then

We need fewer amateur bloggers and more pros like Bob and Carl. Pros that are committed to getting it right. Pros that see "the competition" getting today's scoop as confirmation of yesterday's, and tomorrow's, stories.

This should be required reading/listening for every voter, every four years.

17 people found this helpful

I had forgotten all that really happened...

I had forgotten how much nasty stuff really happened during Watergate and the truly great work that Woodward and Bernstein did. This is a great read and very well narrated by Richard Poe. Anyone interested in history and an amazing true story should refresh with this one.

6 people found this helpful

THE FUMBLING OF AN ASSUAGED

At high school mid to late ‘70s I was really keen on reading mostly books on which movies were based. For example “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, “Marathon Man”, “Black Sunday”, “The Omen”, “Zorba the Greek”, “To Kill a Mocking Bird” and the book under review. And then I’d read only to make me understand these movies, all of which were in my 2nd language and spoken very hastily.

Then reading “All the President’s Men”, I didn’t have a clue whatsoever as to what it was all about. I was in my mid-teens, on the tip of Africa and knew absolutely nothing about the inner workings of US politics. Upon lending this book to a school friend I asked him what he thought of it (although I myself wasn’t capable of forming any such opinion): “Boring” he said, “like reading a newspaper.” I retorted: “But they ARE newspaper men!” To which he replied “Ok, small wonder; now it makes sense.” My friend obviously knew a little more about form than content.

Listening to this book now refreshed my memory; almost therapeutically allowing me to relive and reconstruct past events―like cheating on myself by only now allowing myself to understand more in retrospect than what had as a teenager been completely incomprehensible to me.

In conclusion allow me these seemingly insignificant acknowledgements. I'd often enhance my vocabulary by jotting down words the meanings of which I didn't know and consult a dictionary. Two of the abovementioned books in their very opening lines already contributed to my vocabulary. Harper Lee’s “Mocking Bird” taught me the word “assuage” and Messrs Woodward and Bernstein gave the word “fumble”. These contributions to what I regard as my intellectual development (political enrichment notwithstanding) I still cherish and am most grateful for even now as an adult, more than 35 years down the line. "The Child is the Father of the Man"—William Wordsworth.

28 people found this helpful

Great story, amazing performance

This is the kind of non-fiction book that is truly unbelievable despite ones’s previous knowledge and the detailed accounts of the facts. Amazing story by outstanding writers!
When it comes to audiobooks, narrators can be divided into two groups: the ones that read and the ones that perform. Richard Poe is one of the best performers I have had the pleasure to listen to.

1 person found this helpful

Incredible story

Better than a Hollywood suspense movie, and it did happen !. Amazing how the American democracy defended itself from destruction from the inside.

1 person found this helpful

Great read

The performance is fantastic and the work of Woodward and Bernstein demonstrates the need for a vigorous free press.

3 people found this helpful

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

This book shows what happens when people in power will do anything to stay in power at any cost. It’s a shame that real journalism such as this and the pentagon papers reports don’t exist anymore. Today’s journalism if you can call it that is all garbage. Anyway everyone should read this because it is truly a great book

5 people found this helpful

Truly worthy of its acolades.

Would you listen to All the President's Men again? Why?

I have a deep interest in the life and times of Richard Nixon.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The narration appropriately recognised the gravity of the situations unfolding as the book progressed.

Which scene was your favorite?

probably the last ounerground meeting with deep throat.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

politics is a shabby game.

Any additional comments?

surprised that it took so long to arrive in the audible collection. the wait was worth it: a compelling account of an extremely interesting periond in american history and politics, and the narration was of a standard worthy of the quality of the book.

5 people found this helpful

i lived through this tragedy reading the news and watching the hearings--just as appalling second time round

just what you would expect, the political horror story of the 20th century told by our premier journalists. gripping, interesting, a story you must be familiar with if you vote. the book goes quickly and everyone will learn something. the movie was great too, but the extra detail is important.

2 people found this helpful