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Richard M. Nixon remains an enigma even thirty years after his resignation. Of the many portraits of this complex man, none have been more intimate or revealing than this memoir from his personal physician, friend, and confidante of more than forty years, John C. Lungren, M.D. Dr. Lungren, with his son and co-author John C. Lungren Jr., portrays Nixon as a paradoxical man—intense, compassionate, guarded, intelligent, resilient, deeply religious, enormously successful but ultimately tragic.

Lungren describes his battle to restore the president’s health after his resignation and reveals previously unknown details about Nixon’s two intensive hospitalizations, his near fatal vascular collapse, and his depression. Lungren experienced firsthand Nixon’s thoughts and feelings during the public scrutiny of federal prosecution for his role in the Watergate break-in. Accused of shielding his friend, Lungren himself came under fire; his private office was even burgled in an apparent attempt to copy Nixon’s private medical records.

Using previously unpublished sources, original correspondence, and private photographs, Healing Richard Nixon places Nixon in a new light. No future research or conclusions about Nixon—the man or the president—will be complete without consulting this fascinating memoir.

The late John C. Lungren M.D. became Richard Nixon's personal physician in 1952.

John C Lungren Jr. is a former reporter for Knight-Ridder and author of Hesburgh of Notre Dame:Priest, Educator, Public Servant.

"Lungren describes the real Nixon, as he struggled with and ultimately overcame near-fatal illness, depression, and political ridicule to become an ‘elder statesman’ constructively advancing international stability."—Choice

"Rather than retelling the familiar facts, the authors provide a fresh perspective: that of Nixon’s personal physician, a post the senior Lungren held from 1952 until the early 1980s."—ForeWord

"Out of all the books written about President Richard Nixon, the Lungrens have authored one of the few chronicles I find to be totally accurate. Brings the reader a personal view of Nixon which only would be available to a long-time personal friend and a doctor who stayed within his code of ethics even under the pressure of Watergate."—Herbert G. Klein, Former Nixon Administration White House Director of Communications

"Essential reading for anyone wishing to understand all the dimensions of a great architect of peace."—John H. Taylor, Director, Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace

"Valuable for its conversation about Nixon's medical ordeals. Dr. Lungren admires Nixon but recognized some of his faults."—Library Journal

Publication Date

2003

Publisher

The University Press of Kentucky

Place of Publication

Lexington, KY

ISBN

9780813122748

eISBN

9780813159539

Keywords

Richard M. Nixon, United States presidents

Disciplines

Political History

Healing Richard Nixon: A Doctor's Memoir
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