In this epic and revelatory joint biography, one of America's most distinguished historians probes the lives and times of two unlikely leaders whose partnership dominated the world stage and changed the course of history. Tapping into a wealth of recently declassified documents and tapes, Robert Dallek uncovers fascinating details about Nixon and Kissinger's tumultuous personal relationship and the extent to which they struggled to outdo each other in the reach for foreign policy achievements. He also brilliantly analyzes their dealings with power brokers at home and abroad, while recognizing how both men were continually plotting to distract the American public's attention from the growing scandal of Watergate. Authoritative, illuminating and deeply engrossing, Nixon and Kissinger provides a startling new portrait and a new understanding of the immense power and sway these two men held in affecting world history.

2008-06-07 An interesting but really depressing book

If you ask people to describe Richard Nixon, they'd probably mention Watergate and Foreign Policy and use phrases like cunning, paranoia, bunker mentality and his desperate need to be number one. If they knew him better, they might even describe him as anti-semitic, for while he wasn't a Klan style racist, there was an element of anti-semitism to his character (as I learned from this book).

If you asked those same people to describe Henry Kissinger, they might mention his shuttle diplomacy and Nobel Peace Prize (for his work on Vietnam of all places) and use terms like ego, intellectual snobbery, and desperate need to be considered a leader. If they knew him better, they might mention his Jewishness.

This book examines the strange relationship between Nixon and Kissinger as they try to use foreign policy to deflect criticism of their personality and policies in other areas (inflation was 15% while they were in office).

It's a sad and rather depressing book. Both Nixon and Kissinger are presented as people who have some policy successes (the recognition of Red China, detente with Russia and the SALT I negotiations), but who have too many personality and policy faults (their over stated egos, along with Watergate and the failure in Vietnam) to be considered to true top draw political figures (in my humble opinion).

Overall, the book is interesting, you'll learn a good amount about two of the most interesting individuals in modern American political history. It does, however, leaves some holes. Firstly, the intricacies related to the formal replacement of Taiwan as the "true representatives of the Chinese people" in the UN isn't really covered (despite much of the book being about developing a relationship between America and China). This might be because Taiwan was treated shabbily (as suggested in the Doro Bush Koch book about George Bush Senior, who was the US Ambassador to the UN at the time) or because they were outwitted by Mao on the issue (as has been suggested by Jon Halliday and Jung Chang in their biography of Mao), but whatever the reasoning, its implementation isn't covered in the detail I'd like.

Secondly, when Dallek introduces the book, he claims that Nixon's drinking, drug abuse and mental instability should have been used to unseat him under Article 25 of the Constitution during the time leading up to Watergate. While you can see why he might make that decision (given the patch evidence he produces), I would argue he overstates his case. This is especially given that the son of Nixon's doctor wouldn't release Nixon's medical records.

Finally, Nixon's anti-semetism is pretty much glazed over, as is Kissinger's willingness to let Nixon's call him anti-semitic names. Blandly stating that Nixon's lower middle class upbringing (and Kissinger's pathological need to be Secretary of State) is the cause of his respective point of view is a gross oversimplification, in my view, and I would argue that it needs to be examined in greater detail, if I'm honest.

Other than that, this is a good book.