"The White House Plumbers" by Egil "Bud" Krogh and Matthew Krogh delves into the clandestine operations of Nixon's White House, focusing on the ill-fated attempts to stem leaks that ultimately led to the Watergate scandal. Egil Krogh recounts his journey from being tasked with heading the Special Investigations Unit to overseeing covert actions that backfired spectacularly. This gripping narrative exposes the inner workings of power, loyalty, and moral compromise at the highest levels of government, offering a cautionary tale about the consequences of placing loyalty above principle. It's a compelling read that sheds light on a pivotal moment in American political history.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The book covers Egil “Bud” Krogh's involvement in what happened before the Watergate scandal. It details his involvement with Nixon and his group of fixers. The author treats the book as a space to explain his actions and apologize for them. For someone interested in learning about this topic, this book serves as a good addition to expand on the information commonly found, but should not be the only resource used.
I did find the book to be a bit slow and repetitive. The writing style is more dry and dull at the beginning and improves as the book goes on.

Egil “Bud” Krogh was one of the men known as the “White House Plumbers,” which was a small group of operatives that dressed as tradesmen in order to illegally break into and ransack private offices for the purpose of digging up dirt on political opponents. Krogh’s job, together with E. Howard Hunt, was to lead a small team of men to burglarize the office of Dr. Fielding, the psychiatrist that treated journalist Daniel Ellsberg, in search of a way to discredit Ellsberg, whom President Richard Nixon regarded as an opponent.

My thanks go to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the review copy and audio book. This book is for sale now.

Few people shy of the Boomer generation will have personal recollection of the Watergate scandal that brought down a sitting U.S. president for the first time, and the burglary of Fielding’s office was the first illegal event that set it all in motion. Nixon was furious that the Pentagon Papers had been released and that the U.S. Supreme Court had come down on the side of the First Amendment and the free press. Consequently, the president decided that the executive branch must go it alone, and sought a way to discredit the journalists behind it. That was how all of this came about. He howled about national security, and may or may not have believed it; or, he may have sought to cover up lies he had told to the American people about the war in Indochina, and since he couldn’t force the publication out of circulation, the next best thing would be to persuade the public that its authors—or annotators, at any rate—were crazy and not to be believed. This background information comes from me, not from the book.

At any rate, this political memoir comes to us courtesy of Bud Krogh, and also his son Matthew, who completed it after Bud’s death. For the purpose of this review, I will use the name Krogh to refer to Bud, unless otherwise noted.

Krogh was brought into this mess by John Ehrlichman, one of the two advisors that were nearly as close as a second skin to Nixon during his time in office. Other accounts refer to both as cold-blooded thugs, and my earlier reading leads me to agree with them, but to Bud, Ehrlichman was a noble soul dedicated to his country and his president, a fine, devout individual that was like a second father to him growing up. It didn’t occur to him, initially at least, that anything he was being asked to do was corrupt or scandalous; here, I find myself shifting in my seat. Surely he must have wondered why this secret little group of men, not even government employees, were being tasked with this job, rather than the agencies that ordinarily do the cloak-and-dagger jobs? He claims that Nixon couldn’t trust FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who was a slimy character, and that makes at least a little sense to anyone familiar with him. Yikes.

The writing as well as the accountability are uneven throughout this book. The prologue sounds sketchy to me. Those of us that have spent any time at all watching criminal trials take place is familiar with the vaguely nebulous language I see and hear at the beginning of this thing. Instead of saying that he has done something very wrong and is sorry, he says he has made bad choices, and he is sorry about “what happened.” This is the language that guilty people use when their attorney has told them to show remorse. Someone not listening carefully might think that the speaker has apologized, but they’ve actually distanced themselves from wrongdoing. During this portion of the memoir, I glanced at the text and also the device playing the audio, half expecting to see a little slime leaching from its margins.

And yet, at the end, the prose is more eloquent, and the accountability rock solid. Krogh goes to the psychiatrist in order to apologize in person, once he is out of prison. He visits Nixon to apologize to him (which baffles me, but okay.) He claims to have declined a presidential pardon. He never loses an opportunity to put on a hair shirt prior to his many speaking engagements. And so it goes.

One could surmise that the early portion was written by Krogh, and the end written by his son, but even if that is true, those speaking engagements were taken by Bud, not by Matthew, and likewise the specific apologies rendered. So who knows?

The narrator for the audiobook is Peter Krogh, who does a fine job.

If you are interested in studying the Watergate scandal and haven’t read any other books about it, this is not the one. Krogh’s involvement ended with the break-in to Fielding’s office, and he helped cover it up, lying under oath as he was told to do, but he had nothing to do with the Watergate Hotel burglary of the Democratic National Committee’s offices. In short, though famous enough to be remembered for his actions, he was not a central player. For those interested in reading just one book about this scandal, I’d go with All the President’s Men, by Woodward and Bernstein; The Nixon Defense, by John Dean; or Nixon: The Life, by John A Farrell. These are all fairly lengthy; if you are looking for something less lengthy, try One Man Against the World, by Tim Weiner.

As a general read for the uninitiated, I’d give this book 2.5 stars. For Nixon and Watergate buffs, I rate it 3.5 stars.

Quite a bit has been written about Watergate, but this was my first introduction to Egil 'Bud' Krogh. It's a first hand account of the formation of the group that would become known as the White House Plumbers, and the role they played in the Nixon administration. However, it's more than just an historical account. It's the story of integrity, a word Krogh uses repeatedly in the book. He takes the reader through his time in Washington D.C., climbing the political ladder to the Oval office. He talks about his personal feelings and how he dealt with time behind bars, expressing a humility that would have bypassed many in his situation. It's a great book, and I highly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by his son, Peter Krogh.

This book was not quite what I was expecting. While I thought the narrator was good, as he was very close to the action, II expected a lot more inside information and news the general public didn't necessarily know regarding the break-in at Dr. Fielding's office and the subsequent Watergate scandal. However, most of what was shared in the book was not a surprise though I was not aware of how deep Nixon's paranoia ran when it came to being watched, and making sure his secrets were kept. It was more focused on the author, Krogh, and his personal struggles following his decision to maintain his blind loyalty to the president, all the while orchestrating and approving acts he knew were illegal. I would have like a little more behind-the-scenes revelations, and a little less personal introspection about integrity, but overall, it was a quick informative read for those who are interested in learning the basics of the events that led to the infamous Watergate.

This is a great read for anyone interested in US History, giving readers a look into the events that lead up to Watergate.

Egil "Bud" Krogh writes this memoir relating the events leading up to Watergate from his perspective, and accepting the consequences of his role and actions. The story is interesting, but I did feel a little lost on the history. I actually am not well-versed in Watergate and stopped reading a few chapters in to pick up "All the President's Men" by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to get some background before moving back into this memoir.

I liked Mr. Krogh's reflections towards the end on his actions and taking responsibility. This is not a book that points fingers or places blame elsewhere, but a person who acknowledges his mistakes and is putting his story out for others to get insights.

I listened to this audiobook, but I think I would have preferred to read this one.

When I was in 11th grade, I took a class called "International/National Affairs" with one of my most favorite teachers ever. In this class we looked at and discussed many topics, both current and in the past, all relevant still. One of the topics was Watergate and we both read "All the President's Men" and watched the excellent movie [I have the movie about Mark Felt on my TBW list and it got bumped up because he is mentioned in this book and reminded me I want to know more about that man. At the time of me being in HS, "Deep Throat" was an unknown and there was always a lot of speculation]. Of all that we learned in that class, this is the one section that really stuck with me; perhaps its my love of History and Presidents, or the fact that a President did something awful and unethical and was unrepentant to the end about it, I am not sure, but Watergate has always stayed with me and I have been intrigued by anything written about it.

This book is a very good read and a good look into the beginnings of what became the downfall of President Nixon. Bud Krogh is one of the few that were convicted that was repentant from almost the beginning and his redemption story is inspiring. The fact that he wrote this with his son [Matthew] and then that same son finished it when his dad died and then the second son narrates it, just shows how he worked to repair all that was broken and how he spent his life making things right.

IF you are fascinated by the whole Watergate scandal, this is a great book to read about the beginnings of that time. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read it. It was really interesting to read about the man who turned himself in and was repentant from the beginning and worked from the start to make amends. I am not sure that really is the case with all of them. All that he was able to achieve afterwards is, I believe, simply because he was truly repentant and made amends with the people he hurt AND because he was willing to serve the sentence he was given. That goes a long way in my book of someone who made a mistake, realized it and worked to correct it for the rest of his life, long after it was not needed. Well done.

I was also able to get an audiobook ARC for this book and I am so glad I did. Mr. Krogh's son Peter narrates this, and I love how his sons worked to finish this after their father died. While not the best narrator I have ever heard, I am not sure anyone else would have done the whole story any kind of justice like his son reading it would. Even though he was young when the original act happened, I am sure there was much discussion about the White House years through out his and his brother's life [and why good people sometimes do bad things and how to make that right] and he was, in my opinion, the perfect fit to read his father's story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Egil "Bud" Krogh, Matthew Krogh, Peter Krogh - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillian Audio for providing both the book ARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow -- this was such an educational and honest read! Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Bud + Peter Kroch for an ARC of this biography/memoir. Several books tell the tale of "Tricky Dicky's" road to Watergate and the greed that led him there, but few tell the story of redemption. This book falls into the latter; it is well-painted portrait of remorse, amends, and forgiveness -- words that one likely wouldn't expect to hear when discussing the Nixon Administration.

Author and narrator set the stage for readers by depicting how quickly greed took hold of Nixon and his men. Nixon's ability to manipulate and to cunningly suck people into blindly following him caused the men of his administration to fall like dominos. Perhaps they didn't want to admit it at the time, but they knew they'd get caught. Rather than focusing heavily on the events of the Watergate break-in, the author educates readers on what <i>led up</i> to said grand finale of the Nixon administration's demise.

Bud Krogh's story isn't another sad and pitiful tale that pins blame on deceitful major players in Nixon's administration. Krogh is one of the few men who made the decision to take full responsibility for his decisions and actions. He didn't just write an apology letter; no -- he claimed he was guilty as charged, and he was clear that he wanted no mercy. He didn't want a presidential pardon. He didn't want leniency. He may have set a poor example for the American People at first, but he ultimately redeemed himself by showing them that he isn't above the law.

It was heartwarming to learn that after Krogh served time and paid for his egregious actions, he met with Nixon to formally apologize for his role in the fall of the Nixon Administration. This truly is a story of someone who was able to move on, but only after doing what he knew was right. Few men involved with Nixon and Watergate could say the same.

Thank you to the Krogh family to sharing their story.

Wonderful to read a book with true inside information on the Watergate scandal and its origins. The timeline was hard to follow many times as the author hopped from a person's future actions and back to the present without smooth transitions or indications, often within the realm of a few sentences. I often found myself distracted by these tidbits from the future and questioning if I had missed a part of the narrative. Thankfully, my questioned were always answered later so that, despite the confusion throughout the book, I was still able to understand everything by the time the book concluded. Also, the narrator performed a great "Nixon" voice!

The White House Plumbers is the interesting and thought provoking first hand account of Egil ‘Bud’ Krough and the events leading up to Watergate. As a history buff, this was right in my wheelhouse. I have read numerous books and articles about the Watergate scandal, but never a book from inside The Plumbers.

This book details Nixon’s paranoia surrounding the leaks in his administration, and the top secret mission The Plumbers were asked to undertake. This is Bud Krough’s first hand account beginning with the inception of the The Plumbers, and the actions they took out of blind loyalty to their president which led to the downfall and resignation of a sitting president.

What stunned me most was his deep moral convictions and reasons for pleading guilty, his desire for atonement, and serving his jail sentence so that the country could heal. It was his deep desire that Americans could begin to trust their government again.

Although this book didn’t have a lot of new information, it was an interesting and new angle to the Watergate scandal. It was definitely worth my time.

I'll be honest, I mostly requested this because I'm really excited about the upcoming HBO series, and doesn't everyone want to read the book first? (and I often prefer to listen to non-fiction in audiobooks over reading them). I didn't love this, but I didn't hate it. I've always been kind of drawn to the Watergate Scandal, ever since I first heard of Margaret Mitchell in my 20s (in the late 90s). She didn't have much of a part in this particular telling, but that's OK. I learned a few new tidbits about some of the main players and some other things (time lines especially) were clarified. Overall, I think this could have been better with more professional narration (I believe a family member of the author narrated). It felt a little monotonous at times and I felt myself distracted easily. Overall, I liked the book and think it was well-written. I'm looking forward to HBOs adaptation.

My thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to review this audio book.

I was a kid during Watergate so this gave me interesting background info to understand the event. Short listen. Interesting but not wowed.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Egil ‘Bud’ Krogh, Matthew Krogh, MacMillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

As an avid history buff, I was eager to get my hands on this book about the White House Plumbers. While I have read a great deal about Watergate, never have I taken the time to explore anything written by those men who were involved in the break-ins that would one day bring down a sitting US president. Egil ‘Bud’ Krogh and his son, Matthew, tell a great story in a handful of chapters, explaining how Nixon became paranoid about national security, which snowballed into worry about the Democratic Party leading up to the 1972 general election.

It was the summer of 1971 when Egil ‘Bud’ Krogh found himself sitting in a top-secret meeting within the White House. While Krogh expected to be talking about some part of the Vietnam War, things soon took a turn. President Nixon was highly worried about the leaking of the Pentagon Papers, a covert history of the war in Vietnam. Krogh was handed a file and tasked with heading up the Special Investigations Union—SIU—nicknamed ‘The Plumbers’. Their job would be to find the leak and plug it once and for all. This began a series of events that Bug Krogh would never forget.

Fuelled by a dedication to his country and president, Krogh blindly followed the direction of those above him as he sought to find proof of the security leak. The primary goal was to sully the name of Daniel Ellsberg, presumed to be the core of the leak and a potential Soviet spy. Working to do whatever was asked of him, even when it was highly illegal, Krogh began by organising a break in at the office of Ellsberg’s psychiatrist, in hopes of finding damning evidence. These steps would one day bring down Nixon’s presidency and leave an indelible mark on the country for decades.

After committing this crime, Krogh left the SIU and chose to work within the Administration, lying when called upon to testify during the Watergate hearings. When the truth about his involvement surfaced, Krogh pled guilty to his actions shedding some unique light on what happened during those late night meetings and just who gave the orders, as well as who knew what was happening at any one time. His frankness and eagerness to tell all is both intriguing and resonates just how corrupt the Nixon inner circle turned out to be.

Exploring his attempts to put his life back together after time in prison, Bud Krogh explains his meetings with Nixon in 1974-75, as well as trying to regain his ability to practice law. While it was a superficial exploration, the reader can take something away they likely did not know.

Having now died, Bud Krogh’s story went with him to the grave, but this written account helps shed some light on the actors long deemed guilty, even if they deflected any responsibility at the time. While short and somewhat crafted as a primer, it was a refreshing look at Watergate, the role of paranoia in the early 1970s, and how Richard Nixon’s intoxication with power proved to be his downfall.

While this was not a stunning publication, full of revelations and finger-pointing towards new and mysterious actions in the Waterhouse debacle, it was still worth my time. Bud Krogh provides some blunt admissions and interesting insider views from 1971 and 1972, particularly related to illegal break-ins that Nixon could use for his own power games. Using short chapters and a clear narrative, Krogh presents eye-opening tales of events, naming names and eagerly explaining just what happened. His views, while surely tainted from years passing between the events and this publication, prove forthright and well worth the reader’s time. Surely a way to ‘ease one’s conscience’ before death, Bud Krogh was able to leave this world with a clean slate and likely allowed Matthew to see what happened when the younger Krogh was just a child. Short and to the point, the read was swift and a decent piece of writing, but lacked the depth and intensity I had hoped I would find with a piece of this nature.

Kudos, Messrs. Krogh, for this piece. While little was shocking, the entertainment value that emerged while reading and piecing things together proved well worth my time.

This was a very interesting and informative book! There is a lot of stuff out there on watergate but this book gives an inside view from a key player in what was going on behind the scenes. The author gives us his perspective on his personal experiences with Nixon and his staff. I love that he reminds us that we must take responsibility for our actions and do what is right no matter who are boss is. I did see that this book is to be made into a mini series. I’ll definitely be watching it, even after reading the book.

This book assumes you already know quite a bit about the Watergate scandal. I feel like if were really going to understand this, I would be looking up references the whole time. There are throw away references to things it seems like I should know, but I don’t.