The subtitle of Jeffrey Frank's engrossing history of a famous Washington partnership, "Ike and Dick," is: "Portrait of a Strange Political Marriage." But it might well have been: "How Eisenhower Tormented Nixon Through the Years."
In 1952, the World War II general-turned-Republican presidential nominee maneuvered to boot the Navy veteran-turned-California senator off the GOP ticket. In the lead-up to the 1956 election, President Eisenhower nudged Vice President Nixon to, ahem, consider another administration post. Even after the presidency, Ike tried to cool his grandson's ardor for Dick's youngest daughter, Julie.
On and on it goes through 17 years, between their first campaign together and Eisenhower's death in 1969. Mr. Frank's volume is ostensibly an account of the relationship between two towering 20th-century figures, but this is really a Nixon book, with the odd coupling portrayed chiefly from his perspective.
Read Full Article »