Best Biographies of Richard Nixon (2026): 5 Compared

The best biographies of Richard Nixon range from balanced full-life portraits to Nixon’s own telling of his story, so the right one depends on how much Watergate, how much presidency, and how many pages you want. This list is for adult readers choosing one Nixon biography to start with. We compared five books by scope, print length, edition and what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Being Nixon by Thomas	9.7/10	Buy
2	President Nixon by Reeves	9.7/10	Buy
3	The Memoirs of Richard Nixon by Nixon	9.7/10	Buy
4	Tricky Dick by Stone	9.6/10	Buy
5	Richard M. Nixon by Drew	9.6/10	Buy

1

Being Nixon by Thomas

Evan Thomas·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A full-life portrait of Nixon's contradictions, for the reader who wants one comprehensive biography.

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Pros

• 641 pages cover Nixon's whole life, from the navy years through the post-presidency
• The description presents a balanced view of his achievements and his flaws
• 2016 reprint edition from Random House Publishing Group

Cons

• At 641 pages it is a long commitment for a first Nixon biography
• The description discusses Watergate-era wrongdoing, so preview for younger readers
• No reading age or grade level is stated

2

President Nixon by Reeves

Richard Reeves·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A presidency-focused account built on interviews and declassified documents, for the reader who wants the White House years in depth.

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Pros

• 721 pages built on interviews and recently declassified documents and tapes
• Stays on the presidency rather than retelling the whole life
• Published October 10, 2002 by Simon and Schuster

Cons

• The description discusses a wartime killing and political corruption, so preview for younger readers
• Presidency-only scope means less on Nixon's early life
• No reading age or grade level is stated

3

The Memoirs of Richard Nixon by Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Nixon's own 1,120-page account, for the reader who wants the story in his own words.

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Pros

• 1,120 pages written by Nixon himself, the only first-hand account here
• First edition from Grosset and Dunlap, published January 1, 1978
• Covers his full career in his own telling

Cons

• The listing is a 1978 first-edition seller copy, so check the condition notes before ordering
• A memoir argues its author's case; pair it with an independent biography
• No reading age or grade level is stated

4

Tricky Dick by Stone

Roger Stone·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A sympathetic account by a Nixon associate, for the reader who wants the case for Nixon from his own camp.

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Pros

• 720 pages tracing Nixon's career from the 1947 House race through the comeback
• 2017 reprint edition from Skyhorse
• Written by a longtime Nixon associate, a perspective the other books lack

Cons

• The description argues disputed claims about the 1960 election and Watergate, so read critically
• Partisan framing suits a reader who wants that view, not a neutral first biography
• No reading age or grade level is stated

5

Richard M. Nixon by Drew

Elizabeth Drew·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A pointed 208-page series volume assessing the presidency, for the reader who wants the short version.

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Pros

• 208 pages, the shortest read here, from the American Presidents Series
• First edition from Times Books, published May 29, 2007
• Focused assessment of the 1969 to 1974 presidency

Cons

• 208 pages cannot carry the full-life detail of the longer biographies
• Narrow presidency focus skips the comeback and later years
• No reading age or grade level is stated

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More picks to compare

• A Life in Full by BlackFull-life biography weighing Nixon's achievements against his scandals.Check on Amazon
• Who Was Richard Nixon? by StineIllustrated biography for readers 8 to 12, 112 pages.Check on Amazon
• One Lost Soul by SillimanNixon biography through a religious lens, 336 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. None of the five main listings states a reading age or grade level, so no reading-level points were given. Print lengths run from 208 to 1,120 pages, and two of the five listings are reprint editions.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best biographies of richard nixon

Pick the scope before the page count

Being Nixon gives a full-life portrait in 641 pages, while President Nixon keeps its 721 pages on the White House years and the scandals that ended them. The Drew volume is a pointed 208-page assessment of the presidency for a reader who wants the short version. For more American lives, browse all history and biography lists.

Check which edition the listing sells

The Memoirs listing here is a 1978 first-edition seller copy, not a current reprint, so confirm the condition notes before ordering. Being Nixon is a 2016 reprint edition and Tricky Dick a 2017 reprint, both from their listed publishers. When the format matters, the full nonfiction shelves hold more options by era.

Before you buy

• Check which edition the listing sells: the Memoirs listing here is a 1978 first-edition seller copy, while Being Nixon is a 2016 reprint.
• Biographies differ in scope: full-life portraits like Being Nixon against presidency-focused accounts like President Nixon.
• For a young reader, the Who Was Richard Nixon? listing gives a reading age of 8 to 12 years and grade level 3 to 7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Nixon biography should I read first?

Start with Being Nixon for a balanced single-volume portrait at 641 pages, or President Nixon for the White House years. Readers who want Nixon’s own telling can try the 1,120-page Memoirs.

Are these biographies right for students?

The five main picks are adult biographies. The Who Was Richard Nixon? listing gives a reading age of 8 to 12 years and grade level 3 to 7, which suits a younger reader.

Which of these covers Watergate?

President Nixon centers on the scandals that ended the presidency, Being Nixon covers Watergate inside a full-life portrait, and the Memoirs give Nixon’s own account of the same years.

Still deciding? Our top pickBeing Nixon by Thomas

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