The Arrogance of Power
The Secret World of Richard Nixon
Chapter One
His fragile masculine self-image always drew him to the strong and the tough-and
the ultimate power of the presidency.-Dr. Arnold Hutschnecker, psychosomatic
medicine specialist and psychotherapist consulted by Richard Nixon
The strain on Nixon had started to show long before he reached the Senate. There
had been the twenty-hour workdays during the Hiss case, the skipped meals, the
refusal to take time out for relaxation. It made him quick-tempered with
colleagues, as well as "mean" with his family. When he had trouble sleeping, he
resorted to sleeping pills. The campaign against Helen Douglas had only driven
him to greater limits.
As a senator he continued to work obsessively. When his secretaries left for the
day-Nixon had nine-their boss regularly went on working into the evening. He
often did not get home for dinner, if at all. "Many times," said Earl Chapman, a
friend in whom Pat confided, he worked "until the small hours....Maybe if he
gets through early enough he'll come back home, but man ... read full excerpt from: The Arrogance of Power ebook
