NIXON

US, 1995, 192 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, James Woods, Powers Boothe, Ed Harris, Bob Hoskins, E.G.Marshall, David Paymer, David Hyde Pierce, Paul Sorvino, Mary Steenburgen, J. T. Walsh, Tony Plana, Brian Bedford, Kevin Dunn, Fyvush Finkel, Annabeth Gish, Tom Bower, Tony Goldwyn, Larry Hagman, Edward Herrmann, Madeline Kahn, Dan Hedaya, Tony Lo Bianco, Saul Rubinek, Robert Beltran, John Diehl, John C. Mc Ginley, Michael Chiklis, David Barry Gray, Joanna Going, George Plimpton.
Directed by Oliver Stone.


American writers have turned us cautious when an Oliver Stone film is released, especially if it looks at recent American history. We have had his Vietnam films, a look at troubles in El Salvador and his recent satire on media madness, Natural Born Killers - and, of course, his exercise in conspiracy theories, JFK. Now he has made a three hour study of Richard Nixon. It is less flamboyant in style than its predecessors, though there is plenty of visual flair.

At first it is difficult to follow as we are introduced to the Watergate break-in. It needs patience but, once it gets going, there is plenty to hold attention. Nixon's long political life is surveyed. He is presented as a man who is desperate for love (black and white flashbacks of his childhood highlight this) but convinced that people hate him. And he gets more and more hostile and arrogant as the difficult 70s go on and he resigns.

Anthony Hopkins does not look so much like Nixon, but gives a strong interpretation (watch him put on Nixon's smile, especially with the reporters on the plane back from China). Stone does not say this is accurate Nixon but rather an interpretation of Nixon and, as such, is most stimulating. The supporting cast, led by Joan Allen as Pat Nixon, is excellent, especially James Woods as Haldeman and Paul Sorvino as Kissinger. Is Stone now preparing a 3 hour epic on Ronald Reagan? Powerful political interpretation.


1. Audience interest in Richard Nixon? opinions about him? Knowledge of history, his personality, his presidency and disgrace?

2. The film offering an overview of American history, politics, the 1930s to the 1970s, the transitions?

3. The work of Oliver Stone, his films, the touch of the melodramatic, interest in conspiracies as well as interpretations? His visual skills and style? A biography, portrait, an interpretation – presentation of facts, imagining scenes, the hostility towards Nixon – but not demeaning him?

4. The reconstruction of the periods, the various shifts in time, explanations? The past and the childhood in black and white? Some scenes slipping between colour and black-and-white, to what purpose? The black-and-white for the college days and his marriage to Pat? The transition to the 1940s, Nixon as a lawyer, his political activity, the Chamber’s case, the footage of Hiss and his interrogation? The glimpses of the Mc Carthy and House of Un American activities, personalities like Robert Taylor and anti-Communism? Nixon and his defence of himself, television, the story of the dog, Chequers? the people whose careers he destroyed? The Eisenhower years, Nixon’s vice presidency? The visuals of the campaign against John F. Kennedy, the television debate, his losing it, issues of Cuba? His failure to be elected Governor of California, his concession speech? Out of politics, in business, his contacts with the South and the support in Texas? Bobby Kennedy as a nominee? The assassination? Nixon being sure of his election, persuading Pat to support him? The Vietnam era, the decisions, the issues, the bombing of Cambodia? The visit to China? The visit of Brezhnev? The buildup to Watergate, his political associates, their links, with criminals, the cover-up, the opening of the case, political tactics, his resignation?

5. The Watergate focus, the visuals, the breaking, Gordon Liddy, Howard Hunt, the Cubans, getting information about Daniel Ellsberg, the leaking of the Pentagon Papers? The break in on the Democratic offices? Arrest and imprisonment?

6. Nixon, his involvement, the range of tapes, seeing him tape discussions, his covering up? Hunt, the connections with Cuba, Kennedy, Castro, his being paid off? Mitchell, his support, his being targeted to take the blame? the role of Henry Kissinger?

7. Anthony Hopkins, the portrait of Nixon, intense, his words, his manner, Nixon in 1970s, his pondering things, his memories, his explanations?

8. Nixon’s childhood, the stern father at home, the meals, Nixon always telling the story of his honourable father, his store, selling before oil was found? His Quaker mother, her use of language, Thee and thou? Harold as a genial brother, the younger brothers? The issue of the cigarette, his lying to his mother, her forcing the truth? The meals? Tuberculosis, Harold and his brothers, their deaths? The dispersing of these memories throughout the film? Nixon feeling guilt for the death of his brothers? Their faces recurring?

9. His mother, her Quaker background, stern, wanting obedience, the deaths of her children, the issue of Richard and his lie? Her face appearing, sitting in the chair, a judgement on Nixon? The interview with her in her old age, the comments about her children, evasive about Nixon?

10. His meeting with Pat, calling her Buddy, the memories, driving her, the proposal, at college, football, his intensity and sport, the commentators on his drive? The wedding?

11. His California background, the town of Whittier, his education there, lawyer, California politics?

12. The point is made that Nixon was not likeable, loved – and people wondering had he been loved would there have been a difference?

13. Alger Hiss, the footage, Whitaker Chambers, Nixon’s comment about catching Hiss in a lie, destroying him? Nixon and his reputation, hated, his self-defence speech, Chequers, the dog? The support of Eisenhower, vice president, yet involved with Senator Mc Carthy and the hearings? The
meetings and influence during his time as vice president?

14. The 1960 campaign, the Jewish adviser, advice that all was lost, his associates, the introduction to Bob Haldeman? The television debate, Nixon being stumped about Cuba, Nixon’s aids accusing Kennedy of breaking faith in revealing confidential material? The failure, Pat and her response, the statistics about his defeat?

15. Pat and the politics, smoking, watching, knowing that he had lost? The other members of staff, the media personnel? Her supporting him for the governorship of California, his failure, his speech? Urging media accuracy? Pat, becoming desperate, the issue of divorce, wanting Nixon to give up political work? His agreeing?

16. The visit to Dallas, the atmosphere against Kennedy, the hostility in the South, his meeting with the business Texans, their support, talk, wealth, their bigotry? His return and the issue of the second term, his being in a stronger position, there be more explicit about niggers and the EPA, his taking stands in saying the people had elected him?

17. The scene in Dallas, Nixon at the airport? Kennedy’s death, the issue of the funeral, his not ringing Bobby Kennedy, wanting to go through Johnson?

18. The picture of J. Edgar Hoover, his relationship with Clyde Tolson, his reputation, over the decades, at home, the intimations of the homosexual relationship, the flamboyant gay style, the waiter and the flirting? Going to the races, the presence of the gangster, the tips, the horse stumbling and the others crashing, means to an end? Nixon going to the racecourse, not wanting to be seen with the gangster – but with memories of meeting him in Cuba? Getting Hoover’s support? Hoover’s preference for Nixon over Bobby Kennedy? His death in the 70s?

19. Robert Kennedy, the nomination, his death? Johnson not going for a second term? Nixon knowing that he would win? The campaign, going on television, the better arguments and presentation?

20. Pat Nixon, her character, the asking for divorce, his persuading her to support him for the campaign for the Presidency? Her drinking? The scene at the dinner and his not confiding in her, telling his assistant that Mrs Nixon had finished her dinner? His love of his daughters, his wife saying that they knew him only from television? The campaign, their loyalty, the wedding sequence and his joy? The family being present during his resignation speech?

21. Post Watergate, Nixon and his secrets, the meeting between Hunt and Dean, discussions about money, Hunt’s hold? Nixon and his listening to the tapes? The memories and the flashbacks, his excising the 18 minutes?

22. The role of Henry Kissinger, Nixon in China, with Mao, the achievement, the surprise of changes of stances over two decades? The Paris talks and the culmination of peace after all the bombings – and the revelation of Nixon’s involvement, the scenes with Nixon and his extremely hawkish attitudes towards stopping the war? Talking to the journalists on the plane from China, their applauding him? Kissinger and the issue of leaks, Ellsberg and the
Pentagon papers, the blame on Kissinger? The meeting with Kissinger, Kissinger feeling insulted and walking out?

23. The character of Haldeman, loyalty over all the years, Erlichman and his role? Dean? Advice, loyalty – and Haldeman knowing that they would be let go? The two listening to the resignation speech? Mitchell, blame, loyalty? The sequences with his wife and her talking and blaming Nixon?

24. Alexander Haig, the role of the military, hawkish, the confrontation with Kissinger, the document for resignation, explaining the alternatives and the effect for Nixon? Nixon facing it, kneeling and praying with Kissinger, signing the document?

25. The tone of his resignation speech, try to hold onto some dignity? The family, leaving?

26. Gerald Ford, the pardon, Nixon and his retiring to work on the tapes, the number of tapes, editing, those made public?

27. The funeral, the words of President Clinton, the other presidents all present?

28. Nixon’s achievement, his personality, Nixon as crooked, his ambitions in power, the religious dimension – but remembered by many as Tricky Dickie?