Heath Hardage LeeThe Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady

Before I add my humble opinion on the life and times of "The Mysterious Pat Nixon", as conveyed by the brilliant Heath Hardage Lee, let me say I was very open to learning more about her. Which is more than I can say of the press in DC and New York during Pat's tenure as Second and First Lady. What biased and superficial hacks they were then. The recent review in the NY Times of this book carries on the tradition of what could have been, should have been, a fair look at a formidable First Lady but instead turned into a sophomoric hatchet job by an academic who not only knows better, but could not wait to burnish her nonsensical subjective questions on how progressive Pat Nixon wasn't without a shred of evidence, just earnest BS.I am biased towards the Nixon Administrations, based on the brilliant biography of her husband penned by the estimable Conrad Black. I was also primed for this book based on Ms. Lee's earlier history of "The League of Wives," which everyone should read to learn about the casual disregard the Administration before Nixon's, LBJ's "Just Society," and its failure to support and assist the American patriots and MIA captured and tortured by the North Vietnamese, in violation of the Geneva convention.Readers will learn that Pat Nixon was a self-made modern woman who managed adversity astonishingly well. As a California native, a frontier during her time, Pat faced down adversity with determination and hard work. Caring for ailing parents as a young woman and then her brothers when they were orphaned as teenagers. She earned college degrees (USC) and teaching credentials while holding down multiple jobs. She taught business courses at a high school in Whittier, CA, where eventually she met, resisted and married Richard Nixon.Heath Hardage Lee chronicles Pat Nixon's journey through the Depression, marriage, moving across the country a couple of times during the War years. This icludes a stint in San Francisco where she thrived alone as Richard was stationed in the Pacific. The author's story telling ability shines through all of this history and the development of an interesting, educated and resourceful woman thriving in difficult times unfolds compellingly.Pat Nixon was a full partner in all of her husband's political fights as he moves from small town California lawyer to the Congress, then to the Senate and then to Eisenhower's Vice President. Her tireless work on behalf of the Richard Nixon the candidate and the Republican Party mirrored Republican women throughout the country. This support and hard work formed the base of the party and no doubt they all looked up to Pat Nixon, a stylish, composed American leader. Pat sacrificed time with her daughter's as she and the future President chartered a political path that was ambitious and, in the end, successful but not without heartbreak.The country at large noticed Pat Nixon as Second Lady, traveling the globe with her husband the Vice President, admirably representing the American people mid-century at the height of the cold war.The 1960 Presidential election, long considered pivotal and controversial, is well documented by the author and we learn of Pat's mistrust of the Kennedy family, well founded in my opinion.The 1968 through Watergate years well document the inside story of the East Wing vs. the West Wing of the White House during Nixon's administrations. All the while, the Pat Nixon the country saw, and the world witnessed in solo visits as First lady, particularly in a devastated post earthquake Peru, are without question admirable, compassionate and influential.I highly recommend readers to the book and the open minded readers will learn, as I did, that you'll no longer think Pat Nixon is a mystery and you will wonder how she is not accorded the credit she deserved as a paragon of modernity.

Like many, I knew next to nothing about Pat Nixon when I picked up Heath Hardage Lee's book, but I knew that I should know about this important First Lady who was at the center of so many crucial 20th century events. "The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon" pulled me in right on the first page. What challenges Mrs. Nixon faced during her early years and with what vibrancy and strength did she meet them...and how bravely she weathered the many storms of political life! HHL's skillful and sensitive storytelling, combined with deep and broad research, brings history to life and places the reader at Mrs. Nixon's side, where to understand her is to admire her greatly. A fascinating and inspirational life story. Thank you, HHL, for introducing this reader to one of my now-favorite women in history.

I went into this book blind. I knew nothing about Pat Nixon, nor much about her husband and his presidency. I vaguely know about Watergate and Nixon’s famous quote, but that is the end of my knowledge regarding the Nixons. I felt this book would give me some good history and help deepen my knowledge about the Nixons.This book was well written and provided detailed insight into the former First Lady. I truly enjoyed this insightful book that helped me learn more about Pat Nixon. The narrator was perfect for this book, as I felt she delivered the story in a way that made me feel connected to the history that I was learning.

Great read on a special lady that most don't know much about.

I was first drawn to this book by the interesting title. Then there was my opinion of Richard Nixon: raised in a yellow-dog Democrat family, I was a young adult during Nixon’s presidency. My generation was the one fighting in Vietnam. Morning newspapers and evening news continued to barrage the American public with the horrors of that war. And then there was Watergate.What I remembered about Richard Nixon was not flattering. And I knew nothing about the very private Mrs. Nixon. This book portrays Nixon as a family man, deeply in love with his wife, and highly influenced and supported by her. She worked tirelessly behind the scenes during his entire career—though the highs and the lows. According to Lee, her accomplishments included her support of women, her posture on the world stage, and her quiet behind-the-scenes management of the White House.As the Watergate scandal deepened, Nixon withdrew, keeping his family in the dark. Lee presents Nixon in a sympathetic light. This is an era that many readers lived through. They may be enlightened by some of the details in this book.Much of this book is based on extensive interviews with Julie and David Eisenhour, Pat Nixon’s staff, and friends of the Nixon’s. I don’t know how unbiased this account is, but I did enjoy the book.