After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1970, John Kerry became a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War. In this oral history interview for the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Senator Kerry (D-Massachusetts) describes what it was like to be a veteran and an opponent to the Vietnam War during the Nixon years, and his reaction to finding out that administration officials were tracking his activities.

More Info »

In 1968 William Ruckelshaus began his career in the Nixon administration as the Assistant Attorney General. He was later appointed administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting director of the FBI and finally Deputy Attorney General of the Department of Justice. In an excerpt from an oral history interview with the Nixon Presidential Library, Mr. Ruckelshaus describes life in the Nixon administration during Watergate, the “Saturday Night Massacre” and his resignation.

More Info »

Journalist and Ronald Reagan biographer Lou Cannon worked for the San Jose Mercury News from 1961 to 1969 and then the Washington Post from 1972 to 1998. During this time he covered many political campaigns and figures – including President Nixon. In an oral history interview with the Nixon Presidential Library, Mr. Cannon reflects on the war in Vietnam, how the Washington Post covered Watergate, President Nixon’s resignation and what Ronald Reagan thought of Richard Nixon.

More Info »

In 1968 William Ruckelshaus began his career in the Nixon administration as the Assistant Attorney General. He was later appointed administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting director of the FBI and finally Deputy Attorney General of the Department of Justice.

More Info »

In 1968, William Ruckelshaus began his career in the Nixon Administration as the Assistant Attorney General. He was later appointed the first administrator of the EPA, acting director of the FBI, and finally Deputy Attorney General at the Justice Department. In this oral history interview with the Nixon Presidential Library, Mr. Ruckelshaus describes his early years with the administration, his relationship with John Mitchell and the controversy over his appointment as acting director of the FBI.

More Info »

David Gergen began his political career in 1971 as a staff assistant on President Nixon’s speech writing team. He talks about his relationship with President Nixon, the speechwriting process, and how he came to write President Nixon’s letter of resignation.

More Info »

Starting in 1969, Jeb Magruder worked as a Special Assistant to President Nixon. He joined the Committee for the Re-election of the President in 1970, and then moved to the Commerce Department. In 1974 he was sentenced to prison on Watergate-related charges, prompting him to publish a memoir, “An American Life: One Man's Road to Watergate.” In this oral history recorded for the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Jeb Magruder discusses his memoir, his prison sentence and his life after his release in 1975.

More Info »

In 1969 Jeb Magruder began working as a Special Assistant to President Nixon. After doing some work on the midterm elections of 1970, he became the Deputy Campaign Director with the Committee for the Re-Election of the President and then went on to work for the Commerce Department.

More Info »

Dwight Chapin first worked for Richard Nixon on his 1962 California gubernatorial campaign. After the 1968 presidential election, Chapin became President Nixon’s Appointments Secretary. He ultimately resigned and served nine months in prison on Watergate related charges. In this oral history recorded for the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Chapin discusses advance work for the president’s Moscow trip, Watergate, his meeting with Nixon after serving prison time for making false statements to a Grand Jury, and his views on the managerial and political breakdowns that led to Watergate.

More Info »

Dwight Chapin first worked for Richard Nixon on his 1962 California gubernatorial campaign. After the 1968 presidential election, Chapin became President Nixon’s Appointments Secretary. He ultimately resigned and served nine months in prison on Watergate related charges. In this oral history interview, Chapin discusses White House colleagues Charles Colson and John Dean, Vietnam War demonstrations, Nixon’s China trip and the 1972 campaign.

More Info »