Watergate: A New History

The 50th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, part of a suite of “dirty tricks” employed by President Richard Nixon and his supporters, is upon us, leading to a flurry of titles exploring numerous facets of the events that led to Nixon’s downfall. In his latest, historian and journalist Graff (The Only Plane in the Sky) explores the Watergate conspiracy in fascinating detail, covering the full scope of the scandal, from the leak of the Pentagon Papers to the break-in and its aftermath. A colorful cast of players emerges, from the White House “plumbers” to Judge John Sirica to Nixon himself. Narrator Jacques Roy strikes the right tone for an audiobook of this size and scope. His straightforward narration uses tone and pace to keep the narrative moving at a brisk clip. Listeners won’t find cheap Nixon impersonations or unnecessary bombast, but that’s not needed here. The story, bizarre as it is, takes center stage, as it should. At just over 25 hours, it’s a significant investment of time, but listeners will emerge with a new understanding of Watergate and its ramifications for our current political moment.