The Watergate
- 432 pages
- 16 hours of reading
Since its opening in 1965, the Watergate complex has been a chic Washington address, home to power brokers and the center of a scandal that toppled a president. Joseph Rodota paints a vivid portrait of this landmark and its notable residents—politicians, journalists, socialites, and spies—who have shaped America's political landscape for decades. The irrepressible Martha Mitchell, wife of Nixon's attorney general, captivated the nation with her outrageous interviews from her Watergate duplex. Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia celebrated New Year's Eve together at the Watergate, sharing wild game dinners. Monica Lewinsky sought refuge in her mother’s Watergate apartment during President Clinton's impeachment, while neighbor Senator Bob Dole brought donuts to the reporters outside. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hosted chamber music concerts in her living room, remembered for both the soaring music and cheap snacks. Rodota uncovers the mysteries of the Watergate, including Elizabeth Taylor's refusal to move in with her sixth husband and a surprising link to Ronald Reagan. He explores how the Nixon break-in altered the Watergate's reputation, leading to generations of "-gate" scandals. Once dubbed a "glittering Potomac Titanic," the Watergate was filled with boldface names and ultimately doomed. This work offers a captivating inside look at the legendary building's passengers and crew.
