Welcome to the Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates interview series.

I'm Paul Vogel-Zang and this is episode number 3 46.

As part of our Smithsonian Associates series, we are joined today by author John Farrell. John Farrell will be appearing at the Smithsonian Associates, May 8, 2019, and his presentation is entitled Richard Nixon, an inevitable fall.

John Farrell's new book, Richard Nixon The Life, is a biography of our most controversial

president. John Farrell, the book Richard Nixon

Life, was a finalist in the Pulitzer Prize biography category in 2018.

Was Richard Nixon an idealistic dreamer seeking to build a better world?

Arguably yes in his early years in politics, but then things changed.

Our guest today.

Author, Biographer John Farrell discusses with us, Nixon's personal and political journey from naval lieutenant to disgraced president, telling a story of Nixon, who was a very complicated, intelligent man.

Dick and Pat made their way out to the south lawn.

Walks down a long red carpet,

shook hands with a funereal vice president,

and climbed the steps of the presidential helicopter, Army One.

At the last, Nixon turned and grimacing, gave one sweeping defensive wave, as if to ward off unquenchable grief.

Then he thrust his arm skyward flashing the trademark ves for victory, turned and entered the helicopter.

Army One lifted from the lawn, rose above the muggy capital,

the National Mall dimmed in a summer morning's haze.

Below, L'Anfant's grand boulevards and Brumedes' halls and corridors pulsed with

visionaries, parvenues and hustlers, with dreams and scheming with avarice, ambition, rivalry and purpose. and whose ranks with such American audacity the awkward grocer's boy had presumed to join

had come so near only to fall.

It's so sad, Pat said, to no one in particular.

...