Analysis Of The Watergate Crisis

In The Watergate Crisis, Michael A. Genovese analyzes the factors leading up to the Watergate crisis, what the whole scandal meant to Americans at this time, what the Watergate scandal has come to mean currently, and how it has molded American politics permanently. Genovese offers a detailed psychoanalysis of Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, and the possible motivations behind his actions before, during, and after the Watergate crisis. Genovese provides a thorough and superb record of the events of Watergate in which he includes the ways many members of Nixon’s Administration got their hands dirty and their futile efforts at washing them clean.
The Watergate Crisis concludes that the profoundly memorable and intensely appalling atrocity, Watergate, “tested our system and ourselves.” Genovese does not merely tell of the events of Watergate, he goes on to dissect the effects of the incident. In the preface, the author tidily summarizes the influence of this crisis by stating that “time has not altered the sting of Watergate. It remains a profoundly sad and unnecessary scar on the political landscape.” This book delves into how presidential corruption is the worst possible offense because it results in the deep-seated distrust of the government.
Genovese does not utilize a chronological sequencing method to compose The Watergate Crisis; instead he combines a series of chapters, each of which are focused on crucial facets of the Watergate catastrophe. Genovese provides a chronology of the events that transpired in the form of a timeline, in addition to the list of the key players in the introduction to the book, the conclusion comprises an array of biographies about them as well. The appendices only add to ...

... middle of paper ...

...o immoral acts with ease. These immoral acts were accomplished by Nixon’s ability to “shed what seemed to be deeply felt and long-held beliefs when it suited his career. Though his chameleon-like quality aided his rise to power, it did not guide him in the uses of power.”
Genovese’s The Watergate Crisis is exceptionally well written and provides tremendous insight to readers, not only of the scandal itself but about the orchestrator of the orchestra known as Watergate. Being a book of history, which is often a difficult field to write in if one intends to both get the point across and keep the audience interested, Genovese does an impeccable job on both avenues. As only a part of a series it is hard to imagine what more there is to be explored after reading The Watergate Crisis seeing as the author makes a great use out of its each and every one of its 224 pages.