Rating: 
Summary: Essential Regardless Of Flaws
Review: A critic of Kutler claimed that he was "dean-for-life of the Nixon haters" and that Nixon's words had been distorted in this book. Even if there are some transciption errors, this book is essential for anyone interested in Nixon. Short of going to the archives at College Park, MD, this is the only source currently available for this material.
Rating: 
Summary: Masterful Logic Leads Astray
Review: A fine addition to any Watergate library. Kutler is a dazzling professor who often turns fine logic and thinking to the wrong conclusions. As a litigation historian he can shed copius amounts of illumination onto America's law. However, the fine paths which are followed by Kutler often lead to the wrong conclusion. He has made brilliant arguments for the separation of church and state which in the end only elegantly confirm the opposite conclusion. Our high law not only encourages religous affiliations in civic life, but that government cannot in fact prohibit this free exercise of religion by not only any individual, state, judge or other federal official but by even the federal government itself. It is always a joy to consume a Kutler premise, but even more enjoyable to find the true conclusions.
Rating:
Summary: Masterful Logic Leads Astray
Review: A fine addition to any Watergate library. Kutler is a dazzling professor who often turns fine logic and thinking to the wrong conclusions. As a litigation historian he can shed copius amounts of illumination onto America's law. However, the fine paths which are followed by Kutler often lead to the wrong conclusion. He has made brilliant arguments for the separation of church and state which in the end only elegantly confirm the opposite conclusion. Our high law not only encourages religous affiliations in civic life, but that government cannot in fact prohibit this free exercise of religion by not only any individual, state, judge or other federal official but by even the federal government itself. It is always a joy to consume a Kutler premise, but even more enjoyable to find the true conclusions.
Rating: 
Summary: Kutler Again Refuses to Create a Historically Useful Book
Review: As the Nixon tapes continue to come out, they continue to confirm that President Nixon did not order the White House burglary. It is unfortunate that historians from the babyboomer era continue to attack Richard Nixon's Presidency rather than aspire to use the tapes in context and actually make a meaningful contribution to history. For years, journalists have been waiting for the tapes to come out to prove that Nixon lied about his role in Watergate but now that the tapes are out, writers like Anthony Summers creat new and ridiculous scandals (Nixon beat Pat Nixon but nobody knew until now. LOL). Although Nixon used profane language in private, current records show that JFK and LBJ also used strong language. In fact, Harry Truman's diaries show that he often used anti-semitic language. Richard Nixon was one of the best friends Israel ever had and his domestic goals for civil rights was certainly not racist. JFK, while claiming to be supporting Ngo Dien Diem, planned to overthrow and assasinate the Vietnamese leader and he also bugged Martin Luther King and moitored the Civil Rights movement. Put into context, it is evident that Nixon was not much different from anyone else fighting in the political arena. As President Bill Clinton said at Nixon's funeral in 1994, it is important that we look at Nixon in the context of his entire life and take into consideration the political atmosphere of the Cold War. If Mr. Kutler wants to produce a true contribution to history, he will produce a work that puts the tapes into context.
Rating:
Summary: Kutler Again Refuses to Create a Historically Useful Book
Review: As the Nixon tapes continue to come out, they continue to confirm that President Nixon did not order the White House burglary. It is unfortunate that historians from the babyboomer era continue to attack Richard Nixon's Presidency rather than aspire to use the tapes in context and actually make a meaningful contribution to history. For years, journalists have been waiting for the tapes to come out to prove that Nixon lied about his role in Watergate but now that the tapes are out, writers like Anthony Summers creat new and ridiculous scandals (Nixon beat Pat Nixon but nobody knew until now. LOL). Although Nixon used profane language in private, current records show that JFK and LBJ also used strong language. In fact, Harry Truman's diaries show that he often used anti-semitic language. Richard Nixon was one of the best friends Israel ever had and his domestic goals for civil rights was certainly not racist. JFK, while claiming to be supporting Ngo Dien Diem, planned to overthrow and assasinate the Vietnamese leader and he also bugged Martin Luther King and moitored the Civil Rights movement. Put into context, it is evident that Nixon was not much different from anyone else fighting in the political arena. As President Bill Clinton said at Nixon's funeral in 1994, it is important that we look at Nixon in the context of his entire life and take into consideration the political atmosphere of the Cold War. If Mr. Kutler wants to produce a true contribution to history, he will produce a work that puts the tapes into context.
Rating: 
Summary: A New Insight Into History
Review: If you are interested in how Nixon and his staff handled the Watergate issue, then the book Abuse of Power: The New Nixon Tapes by, Stanley Kutler is a great one to read. Kutler does a great job of setting the private conversations up with comments as to what they cover. He also gives some explanations at the beginning of the major areas of the book. I was happy that they did not edit much of the conversations that took place because they serve a good point in the overall book. What struck me the most about the book was just how desperate Nixon kept getting. I almost started to think that maybe he even believed the lies he was telling. It was so fascinating to see how he would come up with a "cover" story and then keep presenting it to his staff to see if they would replace their understanding of the events with his. What is sad is the amount of denial that Nixon encountered at the end. He was trying so hard to justify his actions; I started to think that he was trying to change reality with his force of will. Many of the conversations are very revealing and interesting. It makes me wonder, if at times, Nixon forgot he was being taped? I got a good understanding of why Nixon and his family fought so hard to keep the tapes private. In my opinion, these tapes have set back all the work Nixon did after leaving office to rebuild his reputation. It will help you if have read something else to give you some background on the conversations. Hopefully, this will not be the only book on the Watergate scandal that you read. Overall, the book is interesting and well written.
Rating:
Summary: A New Insight Into History
Review: If you are interested in how the Nixon and his staff handled the Watergate issue then this is a wonderful look into the private conversations that took place. The author does a good job of setting most of the conversations up with comments as to what the conversation covers. There are also some explanations at the beginnings of the major areas of the book. I would have preferred a little bit more editing out of some of the conversations, but they do serve a point in the overall book. What struck me the most was just how desperate Nixon kept getting. I almost started to think that maybe he even believed the lies he was telling. It was so fascinating to see how he would formulate a "cover" story and then keep presenting it to staff to see if they would replace their understanding of the events with his. What is sad is the amount of denial that Nixon was sliding into at the end. He was justifying his actions so hard, I started to think that he was trying to change reality with his force of will. Many of the conversations are very revealing and interesting. I wonder if at times Nixon forgot he was being taped? Why would anyone think that what he was up to would stand the test of time and be thought of as acceptable behavior. You get a good understanding of why Nixon and his family fought so hard to keep the tapes private. In my opinion, these tapes have set back all the work Nixon did after leaving office to rebuild his reputation. My only warring would be that this should not be the first or only book on Watergate that you read. It will help you if have read something else to give you some back ground on the conversations. Overall the book is interesting and a good addition to your Nixon collection.
Rating:
Summary: A Look at a Sad Man
Review: If you are interested in how the Nixon and his staff handled the Watergate issue then this is a wonderful look into the private conversations that took place. The author does a good job of setting most of the conversations up with comments as to what the conversation covers. There are also some explanations at the beginnings of the major areas of the book. I would have preferred a little bit more editing out of some of the conversations, but they do serve a point in the overall book. What struck me the most was just how desperate Nixon kept getting. I almost started to think that maybe he even believed the lies he was telling. It was so fascinating to see how he would formulate a "cover" story and then keep presenting it to staff to see if they would replace their understanding of the events with his. What is sad is the amount of denial that Nixon was sliding into at the end. He was justifying his actions so hard, I started to think that he was trying to change reality with his force of will. Many of the conversations are very revealing and interesting. I wonder if at times Nixon forgot he was being taped? Why would anyone think that what he was up to would stand the test of time and be thought of as acceptable behavior. You get a good understanding of why Nixon and his family fought so hard to keep the tapes private. In my opinion, these tapes have set back all the work Nixon did after leaving office to rebuild his reputation. My only warring would be that this should not be the first or only book on Watergate that you read. It will help you if have read something else to give you some back ground on the conversations. Overall the book is interesting and a good addition to your Nixon collection.
Rating:
Summary: Listen to Abuse of Power, edited by Kutler, as Book on Tape
Review: If you grew up during the Vietnam era (or not), and cut your teeth on Watergate and the resignation of a president, listen to Abuse of Power as a book on tape. Hear the participants speak for themselves in the privacy of their offices. Kutler's Abuse of Power is based on tapes hitherto suppressed as Nixon, in his lifetime, vigorously sought to repaint his image.
Also recommended to read alongside the tapes: Secrets, A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers by Daniel Ellsberg, and the Haldeman Diaries. Although flawed by grammatical and spelling errors, the Breaking of a President 1974, compiled by Marvin Miller, is also worth reading because it contains thumbnail personal histories of each of the players in the above volumes, and day-by-day breaking news of that era, with lots of pictures.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing mayhem! Where will it end?
Review: It doesn't seem possible that one could still find conversations that shock and appall coming out of the Nixon White House. Maybe the Nixon Estate should have dumped all the tapes at once and we'd all be over our astonishment at the arrogance and criminality of the Nixon Administration. Kutler has done an excellent job of editing. On a larger scale, he has done a service to the reading public. M. Carlota Baca, Santa Fe
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