Table of Contents

Contents

Cast of Characters

A Note to the Reader

1.Introduction: The Backstory

PART ONE

2.The Games Begin (September 17, 1971)

3.Priority One: A Southerner (September 18)

4.The Push for Poff (September 20)

5. Priority Two: Two Conservatives (September 23-28)

6.Poff Goes Poof (September 29-October 2)

PART TWO

7.Testing How Byrd Might Fly (October 2-11, 1971)

8.Going with Friday and Lillie (October 12-14)

9.The Chief Justice and Other Problems (October 14-18)

PART THREE

10.Powell and Baker (October 19, 1971)

11.While Howard Baker Dithered (October 20)

12.The Rehnquist Choice (October 21)

13.Afterword

A Note on Sources

Chronology

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Copyright © 2001 by John W. Dean

About the Author

John W. Dean appears frequently on television, discussing matters relating to the Nixon presidency. He regularly reviews books for The New York Times Book Review, Chicago Tiibune, and Salon.com. He writes a regular column on legal, government, and political matters for the Internet publication Writ at wwwfindlaw.com

Reviews

Robert D. Novak National Review The inside look at chaos in deciding who should fill Supreme Court vacancies is a delight....Dean has performed a valuable service in recording Nixon's tortuous course to a decision.

David Greenberg The Washington Monthly The most detailed behind-the-scenes account ever written of a high court nomination...impressive for many reasons: its lucid prose, its subtle humor, its relentlessly logical argumentation...a terrific page-turner.

Garrett Epps The Washington Post Watergate buffs will find [The Rehnquist Choice] jolly nostalgic fun.