Richard Nixon

California's Native Son

By: Paul Carter, Tricia Nixon Cox - Foreword by

Narrated by: Rick Adamson

Modern biographies of Richard Nixon have been consumed with Watergate. All have missed arguably the most important perspective on Nixon as California's native son, the only U.S. president born and raised in California. By shifting the focus from Watergate and Washington to Nixon's deep, defining roots in California, Paul Carter boldly challenges common conceptions of the thirty-seventh president of the United States.

More biographies have been written on Nixon than any other U.S. politician. Yet the territory traversed by Carter is unexplored, revealing for the first time the people, places, and experiences that shaped Richard Nixon and the qualities that garnered him respect from those who knew him well.

Nixon succeeded early in life, excelling in academics while enjoying athletics through high school. As a military man in the South Pacific during World War II, he was admired by his fellow servicemen. Returning to his Quaker roots after the war, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, and the vice presidency, all within six short years. After losing his gubernatorial race he reinvented himself: he moved to New York and was elected president of the United States in 1968. He returned to Southern California after Watergate and his resignation to heal before once again taking a place on the world stage.

©2023 Paul Carter (P)2023 Tantor

If you hate Nixon, I dare you to read this book.

If you do read the book with an honest heart, you will be surprised.

Author Paul Carter read thousands of oral histories of people who knew Nixon and shared what common people and some of Nixon's family members knew about him. Big surprise for someone like me that wrote him off in 1974 with his resignation. I watched most of the Watergate hearings on PBS during the Spring and Summer of 1973. Hearing the Nixon family side of things revealed a man who was a devoted husband and father, a committed Christian, and a man who felt shame but redeemed himself with the rest of his life.

The stereotypes of a loner, "tricky," brooding, paranoid politician don't make sense anymore. I know what people shared in their oral histories may have been biased in favor of him. But no more than the history books I have read, except Ambrose's, that were biased against him. A complicated man. A talented leader. I am glad I voted for him in 1968, casting my first vote. I wish I had vote for him again in 1972 with the new dimensions I see from this book.

The book was refreshing and renewed my correct opinion of a great president.

Liked the story of his family life. I am happy the real man is being written about and hopefully history will be kind to his memory. I would like his girls to know they had a great dad.