Word: agnew
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...Agnew's story-line is far-fetched, Ehrlichman's is only slightly more plausible. Because Ehrlichman writes about clearly recognizable figures in the not-so-distant-past, you could even say that his plot is more ludicrous. He starts with a quick summary of the 1960s: President William Curry (Harvard grad) dies in a plane crash and is succeeded by President Esker Anderson (who "exudes...a crude inelegance" and decides not to run for reelection). The main story begins with the presidential campaign between Republican Richard Monckton and former Vice-President Edward Gilley...
First, you can see what Agnew and Ehrlichman's primary concerns were during most of their public lives. Both novels contain lengthy descriptions of the Oval Office (in all of its awesome splendor), Airforce Two (Agnew), Airforce One (Agnew and Ehrlichman), and Camp David (Ehrlichman). The material spoils of power are given prominent places in both books: the authors dwell on chauffeur-driven limos, deferring butlers and maids, posh furnishings, fancy restaurants, sumptuous Government repasts (Agnew likes to show that he's a connoisseur by having Canfield comment on the quality of food and wine), and above all, alcohol. Booze...
THERE ARE ALSO more subtle attitudes at work in The Canfield Decision and The Company. For instance, Agnew's portrayal of Canfield makes him out to be similar to Henry II in his relationship to the assassination of Thomas a Becket. Canfield joins forces with certain devious elements, but only involuntarily at first and eventually in an indirect way. According to the evidence in the book, Canfield is guilty of lesser crimes than those with which he's finally charged. He's only guilty of misfeasance, not malfeasance (though he can't prove it because important witnesses have disappeared...
...least one level the two novels are Agnew's and Ehrlichman's exercises in rationalization; they are attempting to show Washington "as it really is" to vindicate themselves...
...second thought, maybe it isn't worth reading these thriller-chillers. It sure is funny though when Spiro Agnew kills off his fictional counterparts to Walter Cronkite, Ben Bradlee, and Barbara Walters. His powers for delineating detail (with gory, sensationalistic precision) seem to reach their apex at these points in the narrative...