In Nixon's Web: A Year in the Crosshairs of Watergate

By Ed Gray and L. Patrick Gray

Book Overview

The last untold story of Watergate--by the FBI director who maintained his silence for more than thirty years L.Patrick Gray III was the man caught in the middle of the Watergate scandal. He was a lifelong Republican, but Richard Nixon considered him a threat. Closing in on the conspiracy, Gray became the target of one of Watergate's most shocking acts--Nixon's "smoking gun" attempt to have the CIA stop the FBI investigation. And when the U.S. Senate focused its attention on Gray in April 1973, the White House threw him to the wolves; John Ehrlichman famously advised that he be left to "twist slowly, slowly in the wind." This book is Gray's firsthand account of what really happened during his crucial year as acting director of the FBI, based on a never-before-published first-person account and previously secret documents. He reveals the witches' brew of intrigue and perfidy that permeated Washington, and he tells the unknown story of his complex relationship with his top deputy, Mark Felt, raising disturbing questions about the methods and motives of the man purported to be Deep Throat. Gray's book was completed and expanded by his son, the journalist Ed Gray, who has supplemented the text with revelatory excerpts from documents, tape transcripts, and third-party accounts. Every other major figure has told his story, and now Patrick Gray's unique inside account will change the way we think about the crisis that destroyed the Nixon presidency.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805082565
• ISBN13: 9780805082562
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Times Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.1" x 1.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

A man more screwed by Nixon there never was!

Before this book, there was only so much that could be seen at Watergate. The novels (All The President's Men), the conspirators stories, Barry Sussman's newspaper non-fiction account, but to see L. Patrick Gray's, the acting Director of the FBI May 2, 1972-April 26, 1973, side of the story is extraordinary. If this book had come when some of the main conspirators were still alive it would be a best seller for months. John...

An essential portrait

In Nixon's Web is a valuable source for Watergate junkies. It also provides new information about the Hoover-era FBI and the actions of old guard Hoover loyalists like Mark Felt. Finally, it fleshes out our picture of L. Patrick Gray who for too long has been portrayed as a cardboard villain in order to highlight the noble heroism of Deep Throat. The flesh and blood Mark felt comes off badly in Gray's telling. He was an...

Extremely Interesting Book!!

This book is very easy to read and extemely interesting. I felt very bad for Pat Gray because he is still accused of things that he was never found guilty of doing. He tried to change the FBI and the people working closest with him were never on his side. It's a sad story. I was very disappointed in Mark Felt, Bernstein and Woodward. Felt lied to Gray on many occasions, probably because he wanted the top job. Felt was...

Gripping First-hand Account

I found the book fascinating. It was a real page-turner for me. Parts are absolutely gripping, especially when L. Patrick Gray is sitting in Nixon's office perplexed at what his boss is trying to tell him. Gray is an honest man and a straight-shooter and Nixon is trying to get him to be a conspirator without coming right out and saying it. Gray's mind just doesn't have a place for the idea that the President of the United...

Great Watergate book

What a great book. L. Patrick Gray is a tragic figure. Stumbles into the FBI Directorship job, gets caught up in all the FBI backstabbing, and on top of it, gets his name thrown in with the criminals of Watergate. Even more tragic is that Mark Felt comes out a hero for being Deep Throat. Without giving anything away, Nixon's Web will give the interested Watergate reader a very different perspective. It's really easy and...