Nixon's image and media portrayals
Nixon's career was frequently dogged by Nixon's personality, and the public perception of it. Editorial cartoonists such as Herblock and comedians had fun exaggerating Nixon's appearance and mannerisms, to the point where the line between the human and the caricature version of him became increasingly blurred. He was often portrayed as a sullen loner, with unshaven jowls, slumped shoulders, and a furrowed, sweaty brow. He was also characterized as the very epitome of a "square" and the personification of unpleasant adult authority. Nixon tried to shed these perceptions by staging photo-ops with young people, and even cameo appearances on popular TV shows such as Laugh-In and Hee Haw (before he was president). He also frequently brandished the two-finger V sign (alternately viewed as the "Victory sign" or "peace sign") using both hands, an act which became one of his best-known trademarks. Once the transcripts of the White House tapes were released, people were shocked at the amount of swearing and vicious comments about opponents that Nixon issued. This did not help the public perception, and fed the comedians even more. Nixon's sense of being persecuted by his "enemies," his grandiose belief in his own moral and political excellence, and his commitment to utilize ruthless power at all costs led some experts to describe him as having a narcissistic and paranoid personality. During the Watergate Scandal, Nixon's approval rating had fallen to 25%.
- The book and movie All the President's Men tell Woodward and Bernstein's story of the Watergate affair.
- Best-selling historian-author Stephen Ambrose wrote a three-volume biography (Nixon: The Education of a Politician 1913-1962, Nixon: The Triumph of a Politician, 1962-1972, Nixon: Ruin and Recovery 1973-1990) considered the definitive work among many Nixon biographies. The detailed accounts were mostly favorably regarded by both liberal and conservative reviewers.
- Conservative author Victor Lasky published a book in 1977 called It Didn't Start With Watergate. The book points out that past presidents may have used wiretaps and engaged in other activities that Nixon was accused of, but were never pursued by the press or the subject of impeachment hearings.
- Chuck Colson gives an insider account of the Watergate affair in Born Again.
- H.R. Haldeman also provides an insider's perspective in the books The Ends of Power and The Haldeman Diaries: Inside the Nixon White House
- G. Gordon Liddy, gives his version of the Watergate Scandal in his autobiography Will.
- The movie Nixon directed by Oliver Stone.
- Nixon in China is an opera dealing with Nixon's visit there.
- The comedy Dick (film) tells the tale of the watergate scandal by saying that Deep Throat (Watergate) was two teenage girls. They choose the name because their older brother saw Deep Throat (film) at the theater. They get in the White House since they are presidential dogwalkers.
- From 1976 to 1979, Nixon was portrayed on NBC's Saturday Night Live by Dan Aykroyd.
- Richard Nixon was elected president of the world in Matt Groening's cartoon series Futurama, claiming that the Constitution stated that nobody may run more than twice, and he is now just a head in a jar. Many other people are heads in jars on Futurama, but Nixon's is the one with the biggest role. He also appears in The Simpsons in flashbacks or on television.