The Strong Man: John Mitchell and the Secrets of Watergate

Outside of his better balancing my opinion of the man I and 98% of the country saw as evil incarnate in 1973 (myself at the tender age of 16), I think Rosen's biggest contribution here is the clear descriptions of the the Watergate scandal itself and its cousins the ITT/Dita Beard, and Robert Vesco scandals. Good historic information, not really covered as well by other authors.

In the Strong Man, James Rosen attempts to weave the biography of John Mitchell around the Byzantine elements of the Watergate. At the same time he visits the other incidents, misbehavior, and misadventures that make up much of this mans life. One must give credit to Mr. Rosen for a balanced and fairly honest portrait. He has avoided a hagiography as well as a hit piece to try to ascertain who John Mitchell really was and exactly what did he do.
This is far more difficult than one might think. His tenacity and dedication to access material that has been hidden and sources left uninterviewed does credit to his reliability and genuousness. In reading about John Mitchell, one is reminded of Churchill's comment on Russia: "It is an enigma wrapped in a mystery". One of the most important consequences of this work and one of the core reasons to recommend it, is the very complexity that made up John Mitchell and the world he inhabited. It shows with singular clarity that life doesn't offer easy or simple choices. We are constantly bombarded with the conflict of two rights. A constant Hobson's choice of morality vs. law; ethics vs. morals.
This incredible battle finds no greater example than the situations that Mitchell found himself in. Delaying truth (Watergate) for the greater good (Nixon's reelection). Regardless of whether one thinks of Nixon being the "greater good", it reflects the moral dilemmas that permeate the worlds political and intellectual landscape. Issues we face today, such as Guantanamo Bay incarceration, no-knock warrants, secret prisons, hard interegations, etc. Interestingly we find a parallel in today's political campaign to the Nixon-Mitchell illegal intervention in the Vietnam Peace negotiations and Mr. Obama's recorded attempt at interfering with the Iraq governments negotiations with the Bush administration regarding the withdrawal schedule of US troops from Iraq.
Two points left me a little unsatisfied. Mr. Rosen's inability to get the Nixon deposition, done in California, opened with the FOIA law (clearly not his fault, but leaving one salivating over any clarity it might provide), and his conclusion regarding Martha's contribution to his downfall. She certainly contributed to his distraction at crucial moments, depression and mental stress, but in the final analysis, she had nothing to do with his decisions that overroad his better instincts and personal code. For this, only John Mitchell is responsible and he clearly knew and accepted this failure in a noble and admirable way. Nobility-Failure/Strength-Weakness; these conflicts remind us all that there is no one act that sums up a man. People are complex and history is obligated to reflect the completeness of ones being, not paint one dimensional views. Heroes can be cowards and cowards can be heroes. Good people can do evil things and evil people can do good things. This dicotomy in people, Mr. Rosen has succeeded in exposing most marvelously.

This is an important work. Not just because it sheds new and important light on Watergate, the players and the illegal, personal and political reasons some engaged in dishonest persecution of the guilty, while choosing to let the most guilty go free(another Hobson's choice that needs revelation). It reveals truthfully the difficulty faced by those in power as to what the "Right Thing to do" really is. What are the highest reasons for action. Are there things more important than the law and should we as individuals make that call. It also reflects the intense complexity of a very private man who did all he could to thwart such a comprehensive analysis. In the end, it is a nice man, intellectually superior to those around him, in over his head doing something he didn't want to do in the first place. What is left is for us to see if we can learn from this in our responsiblities as citizens of a Democracy and not find ourselves "Asleep at the switch" as one person said of Mr. Mitchell.

James Rosen has tackled an interesting subject. John Mitchell's role in the Nixon administration ordinarily is glossed over. He's characterized (or caricatured) as a hard-line conservative, law and order guy. Rosen brings him to life. His descriptions of Mitchell's softer side and of his relationship with his second wife, Martha, are illuminating.

Rosen could have used a tougher editor, however. He repeatedly de-emphasizes Mitchell's role in the abuses of the Nixon administration. He lets Mitchell off the hook for his own abuses of power, giving Mitchell the benefit of every doubt and highlighting any exculpatory evidence. It's a slanted portrayal, and obviously so.

The editor also might have helped eliminate some of the self-congratulation that Rosen engages in, citing repeatedly his use of unpublished notes from HR Haldeman and other recently declassified or released sources. While those sources are important, Rosen reminds the reader ad nauseum that only he is looking at these events with those sources at hand. At best, it's distracting; at worst, it's further evidence of his interest in redeeming John Mitchell in the face of strong evidence that he did commit crimes -- or at the very least looked away while others committed crimes.

It's a solid read for anyone interested in Watergate and the Nixon administration, but it has flaws, too.

I am still reading the book and I find it fascinating. I like the way James Rosen writes.

'The Strong Man: John Mitchell & The Secrets of Watergate'

With, `The Strong Man', James Rosen makes a remarkable contribution to Watergate literature. This one and only in depth look at John Mitchell, perhaps the most important figure of the Watergate-era, succeeds not only in it's deep historical insights, but demystification of long held assumptions of this turbulent time in America.

This book organizes, with great skill, the several scandals surrounding the Nixon presidency, including Vesco, ITT, The Chennault Affair and obviously Watergate. By segregating these stories and breaking down the context of each with great care, the roles individual actors played and the aggregate scandalizing effect is elucidated as never before in the denouement of Watergate prosecution. Mr. Rosen's research of these events is absolutely superb, his descriptions easy to follow, illuminating in it's `warts and all coverage' and an overall romp of a fun read.

`The Strong Man' should be read by anyone even remotely interested in the `60's and `70's, especially the Nixon presidency. The insightful conclusions the author arrives at are magnificently well thought out and will be an eye opener to even the most ardent fan of the Watergate era. The prose is smart and incisive; the story gripping and funny; the contribution immense. In addition to the skillful writing, `The Strong Man' was clearly well edited and to be enjoyed by any fan of contemporary American history.

- JC