Description

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"One reason Koncewicz’s narrative is so compelling is that it’s also a redemption story."—The Washington Post

"Excruciatingly timely."—Kirkus Reviews

In more than three thousand recorded conversations, the Nixon tapes famously exposed a president’s sinister views of governance that would eventually lead to his downfall. Despite Richard Nixon’s best efforts, his vision of a government where he could use his power to punish his political enemies never came to fruition because members of his own party defied his directives. While many are familiar with the Republicans who turned against Nixon during the final stages of the Watergate saga, They Said No to Nixon uncovers for the first time those within the administration—including Nixon’s own appointees—who opposed the White House early on, quietly blocking the president’s attacks on the IRS, the Justice Department, and other sectors of the federal government.
 
Culling from previously unpublished excerpts from the tapes and recently released materials that expose the thirty-seventh president’s uncensored views, Michael Koncewicz reveals how Republican party members remained loyal civil servants in the face of Nixon’s attempts to expand the imperial presidency.
 
Delving into the abuses of power surrounding the Watergate era and showing how they were curbed, They Said No to Nixon sheds light on the significant cultural and ideological shifts that occurred within the GOP during the pivotal 1970s. Koncewicz deftly demonstrates how Nixon’s administration marked a decisive moment that led to the rise of modern conservatism and today’s ruthlessly partisan politics.

About the Author

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Michael Koncewicz is the Cold War Collections Specialist at the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at New York University. He previously worked for the National Archives at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. 

Praise For…

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"One reason Koncewicz’s narrative is so compelling is that it’s also a redemption story."
— The Washington Post

"In researching and analyzing the Republicans within the administration who questioned, ignored, and, on occasion, disobeyed orders from their commander in chief, Koncewicz connects the Watergate era to larger political and cultural shifts."
— Journal of American History

“Closely argued and thoroughly documented, They Said No to Nixon makes a convincing argument about how hard Nixon tried to politicize the federal government, and the vision of authoritarian power that he held dear."
 
— New York Labor History

“Brief but scholarly in all the right ways—and excruciatingly timely.”
— Kirkus Reviews

"They Said No to Nixon executes deep scholarship with a theatrical flair… quite stunning."
— New Mexico Historical Review