The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan

Rick Perlstein's portrait examines America during the turbulent 1970s, a period of political and economic crisis. In January 1973, President Richard Nixon announced the end of the Vietnam War and prepared for a second term, but televised Watergate hearings exposed serious misconduct in his administration. Following Nixon's resignation, congressional investigations revealed CIA involvement in assassinating foreign leaders. The fall of South Vietnam made the sacrifice of approximately 58,000 American lives seem meaningless. With the economy in decline and Americans reconsidering their nation's place in the world, political observers predicted successful politicians would embrace a more modest national outlook. Ronald Reagan, however, rejected this assessment. When he challenged President Ford for the 1976 Republican nomination, pundits dismissed his chances—until his campaign gained unexpected momentum. Reagan was developing the conservative political culture that would come to define American politics, promoting patriotism rooted in American exceptionalism rather than national limits. Set against events including the Arab oil embargo, the Patty Hearst case, and New York City's near-bankruptcy, the book explores what it means to believe in America and examines competing visions of national identity and patriotism.