Fascinating detail about a name I know well from Watergate studies, but a man I didn't really know at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the oppotunity to read this book.

Fifty years ago when we were glued to ur TV sets watching the self destruction of Richard Nixon the chairman of the committee was a strong and steady presence. As the core of democracy was attached from with in Peter Rodino presented a solid actor for all who watch to hold onto. He gave Americans hope that we would come through this trial and be better for it.

Thank you Amplify Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Mr. Book just finished Watergate’s Unexpected Hero: The Life of Peter W. Rodino Jr, by Lawrence Spinelli.

I did find an error in one of the first pages of the book. The date of the break-in at the Watergate hotel was said to have been “June 22, 1972”, when it was actually the 17th. Fortunately, that turned out to be an isolated incident. I made a few random fact checks on details throughout the book and it passed each time.

One of the big highlights of the book, prior to Watergate, was Rodino’s early time on the House Judiciary Committee. That was one of his two top choices when he first got to Congress, but wasn’t able to initially achieve that goal. But, during his first term in Congress, after a member of the committee died, he was able to make the switch, thanks to work he did behind the scenes prior to that. Rodino’s work on civil rights and his relationship with the Johnson administration were also among the highlights of this biography.

Of course, the big highlight of the book was the discussion of Rodino’s time as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment proceedings. But, as the book showed, there was a lot more to his life and time in Congress than just that period.

I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews

I originally finished reading this on June 17, 2024, coincidentally the 52nd anniversary of the Watergate break-in.