Overview

Have you ever thought you completely knew a story, inside and out, only to see some new information that shatters what you had come to accept as unquestioned fact? Well, Richard Nixon is that story, and Nixon’s First Cover-up is that new information. With few exceptions, the religious ideologies and backgrounds of U.S. presidents is a topic sorely lacking in analysis. H. Larry Ingle seeks to remedy this situation regarding Nixon—one of the most controversial and intriguing of the presidents. Ingle delves more deeply into Nixon’s Quaker background than any previous scholar to observe the role Nixon’s religion played in his political career. Nixon’s unique and personally tailored brand of evangelical Quakerism stayed hidden when he wanted it to, but was on display whenever he felt it might help him advance his career in some way. Ingle’s unparalleled knowledge of Quakerism enables him to deftly point out how Nixon bent the traditional rules of the religion to suit his needs or, in some cases, simply ignored them entirely. This theme of the constant contradiction between Nixon’s actions and his apparent religious beliefs makes Nixon’s First Cover-up truly a groundbreaking study both in the field of Nixon research as well as the field of the influence of religion on the U.S. presidency. Forty years after Nixon’s resignation from office, Ingle’s work proves there remains much about the thirty-seventh president that the American public does not yet know.

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An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages--or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author's extensive knowledge of Quakerism. --Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon's First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. --John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations Nixon's heritage featured what the author calls an 'intensive' Quaker upbringing (p. 45), a conversion experience at age thirteen, matriculation at Whittier College, and Sunday school teaching at the East Whittier Friends Church following his graduation from Duke University Law School. Yet his renunciation of that heritage included his naval service in World War II; his spurning of the local Friends congregations while in Congress, the vice presidency, and the presidency; and his disparagement of those Quakers who protested his prosecution of the Vietnam War. To Ingle, the Watergate scandal was the logical culmination of a public life that had long since forsaken moral clarity for political ambition. --Catholic Historical Review By carefully assessing the former president's religious backgrounds and beliefs, Ingle's work benefits Nixon scholars and historians of American religion alike. --Fides et Historia By highlighting Nixon's religious life and its evolution over time, Ingle is able to provide depth and dimension to the person and character of one of America's most villainized public figures. --Reading Religion A spirited case that Nixon's religious views helped shape his character and actions, and deserve consideration by both scholars of the American Presidency and those interested in Quaker Studies. --Quaker Studies Ingle usefully addresses what he correctly labels as a shortcoming in Nixon scholarship: a lack of careful analysis of Nixon's religious background and beliefs. Both Nixon scholars and students of American religious history are well served by this book. --Journal of American History Nixon's heritage featured what the author calls an 'intensive' Quaker upbringing (p. 45), a conversion experience at age thirteen, matriculation at Whittier College, and Sunday school teaching at the East Whittier Friends Church following his graduation from Duke University Law School. Yet his renunciation of that heritage included his naval service in World War II; his spurning of the local Friends congregations while in Congress, the vice presidency, and the presidency; and his disparagement of those Quakers who protested his prosecution of the Vietnam War. To Ingle, the Watergate scandal was the logical culmination of a public life that had long since forsaken moral clarity for political ambition. --Catholic Historical Review Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon's First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. --John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages--or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author's extensive knowledge of Quakerism. --Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter Nixon's heritage featured what the author calls an intensive Quaker upbringing (p. 45), a conversion experience at age thirteen, matriculation at Whittier College, and Sunday school teaching at the East Whittier Friends Church following his graduation from Duke University Law School. Yet his renunciation of that heritage included his naval service in World War II; his spurning of the local Friends congregations while in Congress, the vice presidency, and the presidency; and his disparagement of those Quakers who protested his prosecution of the Vietnam War. To Ingle, the Watergate scandal was the logical culmination of a public life that had long since forsaken moral clarity for political ambition. Catholic Historical Review Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon s First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author s extensive knowledge of Quakerism. Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon s First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author s extensive knowledge of Quakerism. Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon s First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author s extensive knowledge of Quakerism. Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon's First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. --John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages--or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author's extensive knowledge of Quakerism. --Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter

Nixon's heritage featured what the author calls an intensive Quaker upbringing (p. 45), a conversion experience at age thirteen, matriculation at Whittier College, and Sunday school teaching at the East Whittier Friends Church following his graduation from Duke University Law School. Yet his renunciation of that heritage included his naval service in World War II; his spurning of the local Friends congregations while in Congress, the vice presidency, and the presidency; and his disparagement of those Quakers who protested his prosecution of the Vietnam War. To Ingle, the Watergate scandal was the logical culmination of a public life that had long since forsaken moral clarity for political ambition. <i>Catholic Historical Review</i> Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. <i>Nixon s First Cover-up</i> stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. John Robert Greene, author <i>The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations</i></p> An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author s extensive knowledge of Quakerism. Randall Balmer, author of <i>Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter</i></p>

Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon's First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. --John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages--or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author's extensive knowledge of Quakerism. --Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter

Extremely well written, impeccably researched, and highly accessible. Ingle presents an active thesis which will engage both Nixon scholars and readers. Nixon s First Cover-up stands alone on its subject, and it is an excellent addition to the Nixon literature. John Robert Greene, author The Limits of Power: The Nixon and Ford Administrations An excellent scholarly treatment of a topic unexplored in such detail. One might expect that a religious biography of Richard Nixon might consume all of, well, four or five pages or, as Nixon himself did in his autobiography, dispatch the matter in three short paragraphs. H. Larry Ingle, however, has produced a worthy study of the topic, one that delves into archival materials and also calls on the author s extensive knowledge of Quakerism. Randall Balmer, author of Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter

Author Information

H. Larry Ingle is the author of Quakers in Conflict: The Hicksite Reformation and First Among Friends: George Fox and the Creation of Quakerism. Retired from the History Department of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.

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