Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
2-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
History
Advisor
Robert "KC" Johnson
Committee Members
Jonathan Sassi
Jonathan Rosenberg
Danny Orbach
Subject Categories
Political History | United States History
Keywords
Watergate, J. Edgar Hoover, Alger Hiss, United States, Mark Felt, Imperial Presidency
Abstract
This work examines Nixon’s lifelong preoccupation with secrecy and control of information. The project explores how, from early childhood up to his final years, the lure of the clandestine influenced Nixon’s actions and career decisions, and especially his political career. It also tries to discern what led him to form a de facto intelligence agency, secret and unconstitutional, loyal only to him. Nixon named this organization the Special Investigations Unit, but it is better known as “The Plumbers” – the men who performed the break-in at Watergate. Instead of interpreting Nixon’s idiosyncratic behavior as the result of consuming paranoia, this study views him as a man who was entranced with the world of espionage throughout his life and secretly perceived himself as an intelligence agent\director and acted according to that image. When he became President, he used the powers of his high office to fulfill his intelligence aspirations, and thereby brought down his presidency.
Recommended Citation
Brodsky, Maayan, "Questionable Intelligence: Secrecy and Espionage in Richard Nixon’s Life" (2024). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5620
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