LeadinghistorianDavidReynoldstakesafreshlookatthecontroversialcareerandembattledpresidencyofRichardNixon. ReynoldsarguesthatNixonwasgenuinelysuccessfulasaninternationalstatesman,withhishistoricvisitstocommunistChinaandtheSovietUnionhelpingtothawtheColdWar.Yetbehindthescenes,Nixon'sdiplomacywasastoryofintrigueandrivalry.ThemethodsthatwonhimacclaimontheinternationalstagealsodoomedhispresidencyintheinfamousWatergatescandal. Anintimatepsychologicalprofile,thefilmrevealshowNixonwasdrivenbyadeepinferioritycomplexandruthlessambitiontoescapealoveless,impoverishedbackground.Nixonclawedhiswaytothemostpowerfuljobintheworldyetcouldnevershakeoffthispast. WiththehelpofNixon'sscribbledmemos,audiorecordingsandrarelyseenhomemoviefootageandphotos,thefilmthrowsnewlightonNixon'sobsessivesecrecy,relentlessdeceptionandparanoidmistrustofkeyaides,especiallyhisforeignpolicyadviserHenryKissinger. Shyandtortured,NixonranhispresidencylargelyfromahideawayofficeacrosstheroadfromtheWhiteHouse.Thefilmrecreatesthis,his'den',theplacewhereNixondreamedofgreatnessbutwashauntedbyhisdemons.