First published 1976
Theodore Sorensen draws on his years as Kennedy's lawyer and advisor to dissect the Watergate scandal and Nixon's presidency. He rejects simple explanations that dismiss Nixon as an anomaly or frame Watergate as typical presidential behavior. Instead, Sorensen identifies what made Nixon's actions uniquely dangerous while offering candid reflections on the Kennedy White House. He argues that the presidency appears more powerful from outside than it actually is, constrained by bureaucracy, press, Congress, and courts. Despite these limitations, Sorensen advocates for a stronger executive role in economic policy. Yet Vietnam and Watergate compel him to demand accountability reforms. He deflates presidential mystique, proposes better selection processes, and identifies warning signs of presidential megalomania. His comparison between Nixon and Kennedy staff operations provides insider perspective on White House dynamics. Through examples of presidential power used well and poorly, Sorensen shows readers how the White House operates and how it should function.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, non-fiction, biography-memoir, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, power-dynamics
Period: Watergate
196 pages · Paperback · MIT Press