Post Presidency
Best Selling Author and Elder Statesman
Posted January 2024
New Jersey Study
By the summer of 1979, the Nixon's were ready to move from California and on to better and brighter times. They wanted to be near their children and grandchildren who lived on the East Coast. Settling first in New York City in 1980 and later in suburban New Jersey, Nixon began his final comeback chapter. Working in his offices and home studies, he earned a living by writing, using his books to engage with the leaders and issues of the day.
By the summer of 1979, the Nixon's were ready to move from California and on to better and brighter times. They wanted to be near their children and grandchildren who lived on the East Coast. Settling first in New York City in 1980 and later in suburban New Jersey, Nixon began his final comeback chapter. Working in his offices and home studies, he earned a living by writing, using his books to engage with the leaders and issues of the day.
The studies in Saddle River, and later in Park Ridge, NJ, reproduced here, were Nixon's refuge and workshop for the writing of the eight books that would follow the successful publication of his memoirs in 1978. Here Nixon spent hours making notes on yellow notepads, using his experience and knowledge to predict and analyze the issues that would shape the world in years to come.
A Bestselling Author
In his later years, former President Nixon wrote in order to speak to the global issues he knew best. The greatest passion of his long career was foreign policy. Seven of his last eight books explore the significant challenges to the United States on the world stage and his insights - gained from travel, conversation, and actions on the highest levels - on how to address them.
In his later years, former President Nixon wrote in order to speak to the global issues he knew best. The greatest passion of his long career was foreign policy. Seven of his last eight books explore the significant challenges to the United States on the world stage and his insights - gained from travel, conversation, and actions on the highest levels - on how to address them.
Nixon's final book, Beyond Peace, was completed just a few weeks before his death and published posthumously.
Brainstorming
Nixon began his books with the thinking process he'd employed all his life: jotting down ideas, structure, arguments, and questions on his trusty yellow notepads.
Nixon began his books with the thinking process he'd employed all his life: jotting down ideas, structure, arguments, and questions on his trusty yellow notepads.
- Nixon's handwritten notes for Beyond Peace, June 1993 (Facsimile)
Research
Nixon worked with researchers - like Monica Crowley - who pulled together packages of material on different topics and questions at his direction/
Nixon worked with researchers - like Monica Crowley - who pulled together packages of material on different topics and questions at his direction/
- Memo on Beyond Peace from Nixon to researcher Monica Crowley, December 1993 (Facsimile)
Manuscript to Publication
After working through these research materials, Nixon began composing the book by dictation - recording the text that would be transcribed as the final draft. In the final stage of the process, Nixon edited the final draft manuscript and then worked with his publisher to hone and polish the final text.
After working through these research materials, Nixon began composing the book by dictation - recording the text that would be transcribed as the final draft. In the final stage of the process, Nixon edited the final draft manuscript and then worked with his publisher to hone and polish the final text.
- Nixon's handwritten edits on manuscript of Beyond Peace (Facsimile)
