Before the Fall

More about the book

The memoir offers a nuanced exploration of Nixon's presidency, analyzing his successes and failures across various domains such as the Vietnam War, foreign policy, and race relations. Safire delves into Nixon's efforts to bridge party divides while acknowledging the corruption that ultimately marred his administration. He presents Nixon as a complex figure, blending traits of historical leaders and literary characters, capturing the tension between idealism and cunning in his approach to governance. This reflective narrative seeks to balance the good with the bad in Nixon's legacy.