Richard Nixon is hands down America's most fascinating politician, says Evan Thomas, author of a new book on the nation's 37th president.
"How [could] a guy that shy, that kind of ill-at-ease around other human beings … become the most powerful person in the world through politics, through getting elected? People had to cast their votes for him," Thomas said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
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"He's an absolutely fascinating character. The most interesting political figure of the 20th century."
Thomas — author of
"Being Nixon: A Man Divided," published by Random House — said many lose sight of the fact that Nixon, the son of devout Quakers, accomplished a lot during his presidency from 1969 to 1974.
They included achieving détente with the Soviet Union, reestablishing relations with communist China and creating the Environmental Protection Agency.
"We forget. You look at his record for better, for worse, and a lot of people think he was a liberal," he said, referring to Nixon's efforts to desegregate Southern schools and end the draft.
As well, Nixon's words didn't always reflect his actions, Thomas said.
"This is one of the complicated things about Richard Nixon, because he can make anti-Semitic comments ... He did in a big way … but he loved [Israeli Prime Minister] Golda Meir."
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