Nixon's Darkest Secrets: The Inside Story of America's Most Troubled President

Don Fulsom

Jan 2012 · Sold by Macmillan

About this ebook

A veteran White House reporter reveals our 37th president was even more sinister and haunted than we knew.

Richard Nixon left the White House in 1974 as our most disgraced president, but the American people never knew the full extent of his demons, deceptions, paranoia, prejudices, hatreds, and chicanery.

Calling on his work in covering Nixon, scores of interviews with members of Congress, White House staffers, and others close to our nation's thirty-seventh president, and invaluable, newly declassified documents and recordings, veteran journalist Don Fulsom sheds new light on "Tricky Dick." The author's revelations include:

- That the future president sabotaged the 1968 peace talks for political gain
- By the time Nixon became president in 1969, he had linked to the mob for more than two decades and, as president, had a close connection with New Orleans boss Carlos Marcello, the most powerful Mafioso in the nation
- The president had a drinking problem and top aides referred to him as "Our Drunk"
- Nixon had a misogynist streak and was abusive toward first lady Pat Nixon
- The intimate and possibly homosexual nature of Nixon's relationship with confidante Charles "Bebe" Rebozo, a banker with mob ties
- Testimony alleging that the president had ordered the killing of White House reporter Jack Anderson

Fulsom's examination of these and other startling aspects of Nixon's personal and political dimensions paint an unflinching portrait of a leader who was once the most powerful man in the world. Nixon's Darkest Secrets provides a chilling final chapter in literature on our most troubled president.

Ratings and reviews

I refuse to read this book! In being family of Richard Nixon this man, Fulsom, has made me very angry. How could you come up with such false accusations? Clearly this book can't be factual, but more opinionated as Donna proved. She has studied Nixon for years, how long did you study him before you wrote this ungodly book?? I can't do anything but shake my head about this book Mr. Fulsom. I WILL be sharing my knowledge of such book with my family.

I have been studying Nixon for about FIVE years, reading every book about the man that I can find. Yes, I am a Nixon Nut, and there is no shortage of information out there about the man. Nixons life could scarcely be less private than a political version of Jim Carreys character in the movie Truman. Nixon was so involved in "being president" when he was before the cameras that he seemed oblivious of anything else. In all of my readings regarding Nixon, the only thing that I have concluded about Nixon that has not been explored by the media is that he may have had ASPERGERS syndrome, look it up. But that is speculation on my part.  Nothing that I have read about Nixon or heard on the tapes has led me to believe what is touted in the Don Fulsom book. Nothing. In fact, Nixon's own voice from tapes and interviews show considerable tenderness and love for his wife. People close to Nixon, including Haig, have attested to just how close the Nixon family was. Nixon is arguably the most investigated man in America during the last century. He was investigated by scores of political enemies who would have loved to destroy him, including Jack Anderson, if there was anything to EITHER of Fulsoms fevered speculations it would surely have come out. Bear in mind, at that time, homosexuality was regarded as an illness by the APA and a considerable liability for anyone seeking public office. Yet not one of Nixon's enemies who sought his destruction for past grievances made this accusation against Nixon, not one. Plus, Rebozo was investigated both before AND after Watergate, the only red flag was Mafia connections.  Surprising to me is that Don Fulsom touts his experience as "worked closely with Nixon" WHO does he think he's kidding here? Reporters report ON politicians, they don't work WITH them! See, having read the books outlined by Fulsom as his sources, I know the rest of the story behind the details he leaves OUT. He also seems unable to plumb the facts about Rebozo, he states that Rebozo had only "brief" marriages, when in fact Rebozo was still married to his wife, whom he married during middle age, at the time he died at the age of 85. That doesn't sound like a brief marriage.  In fact Rebozo left half his fortune to his wife Jane. But of course Don Fulsom leaves out ANYTHING that doesn't help paint the picture he is trying to sell to the public. And he calls himself a journalist?  As to "hand holding" what does that mean anyway? Google Nixon holding hands and you can find a picture of Nixon absent-mindedly holding Roy Acuffs hand after Roy showed him how to throw a Yoyo. What? Is Roy Acuff yet another Gay lover?  See YOUTUBE Nixon Bowling and holding a young female bowlers hand.  Are we to think there was anything going on between them? Politicians are adept at taking people by the hand, THOUSANDS of people. Now why don't we look at the tapes themselves. They cooked Nixon's goose in Watergate, did they not? Look for conversations available at the Nixon library, or the Miller Center. I will tell you that I have listened to many of Nixon's private conversations with Rebozo (CGR). Not bragging here, you can too. Not only are they brief (2 minutes or so) and unremarkable, with Nixon practically hanging up on his friend at times, but they often reveal a preconception on Nixon's part that his friend Rebozo was quite "the player" with the ladies.  So if Rebozo was anything but heterosexual, it seems Nixon was not aware of it.  Why did Fulsom ignore dozens of private conversations between the two? Why? Because they DISAGREE with his innuendo. Fulsom EVEN insanely suggests that Nixon hated HIS OWN DAUGHTERS! I guess Don Fulsom can read Minds! Fulsoms personal loathing of Nixon is thus flagrantly revealed. Stunning Bias. Comically ironic is how the book ends, with a picture of Fulsom himself HOLDING HANDS with Richard Nixon. Gee Fulsom, et tu? -Donna J Christensen

Reading this book was like listening to the ramblings of an old man who once asked Nixon a question at a press conference and who has been dinner out on the story ever since. The text is repetitive and badly edited. Stay away.

About the author

DON FULSOM is a longtime White House reporter and former United Press International Washington bureau chief who has covered presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. He is an adjunct professor at American University in Washington D.C., where he teaches "Watergate: A Constitutional Crisis."