When Richard Nixon occupied the White House, his two closes advisers
were Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman. The former filled the role of
chief of staff while the latter served as the president’s chief
domestic adviser.In this book, Ehrlichman gives his own first
hand account of what took place in the White House during the Nixon
presidency. While he was unquestionably involved in the Watergate
cover-up, Ehrlichman worked on other major policy endeavors of the
administration. On the domestic front in those years, there were
Supreme Court nominations to be made, a new vice president to be name
(following the disgraceful withdrawal from the vice presidency by Spiro
Agnew), and battles to be fought with Congress over Nixon’s legislative
agenda.Ehrlichman writes about all of that, as well of the personal relationships be observed among the members of the First Family.Adjusting
to life in the White House can put a strain on any family. Ehrlichman
reflects upon the effects he felt it had upon the members of Nixon’s
immediate family, his wife, Pat, and daughters, Julie and Tricia.Ehrlichman
offers his characterizations of other key players in the Nixon White
House as well. Among them were Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and Al Haig.
Ever present, too, was Nixon’s close personal friend Bebe Rebozo.Although
he did have to serve time in jail as a result of his connection to
Nixon, upon his release he devoted his professional endeavors to
writing.