Watergate: A New History

Watergate: A New History is a comprehensive narrative account of the political scandal that ended President Richard M. Nixon's presidency. The story begins in 1971 with the publication of the Pentagon Papers, classified documents revealing decades of American involvement in Vietnam. Angered by the leak, Nixon instructed his advisors to win his reelection by any means necessary, leading to covert operations code-named GEMSTONE, dirty tricks, and questionable fundraising efforts—much recorded on the White House taping system. On June 17, 1972, security guard Frank Wills discovered tape on doors at the Watergate office complex and called police. The arrest of five men attempting to bug the Democratic National Committee offices triggered investigations by journalists, congressional committees, and intelligence officers. As the conspiracy unraveled, the nation faced a government crisis that ultimately led to Nixon's downfall. Graff draws on newly public documents, transcripts, and revelations to recount the scandal's full scope, from backroom political maneuvering to Senate hearings and the Oval Office itself. The book was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History.